A picture of Marcus Garvey in 1924 courtesy of WikipediaSeveral months ago I read a remarkable book by Tommie Shelby called We Who Are Dark that I highly recommend. One of the most important statements he made was the following:
"Strains of black nationalism have become, for all practical purposes, a constitutive component of the self-understanding of a substantial segment of the African American population. These strains run so deep that an uncompromising and comprehensive attack on them will surely be met with hostility or suspicion, if it is taken seriously at all...The transformation of black political consciousness-or the political consciousness of any group, for that matter-is more likely to come about if the new vision can be comprehended as an extension of, rather than a radical rupture with, traditional beliefs of the group."
Shelby explains some of the elements that have constituted the various strains of black nationalism in American history, including the following:
"black self-determination, racial solidarity and group self reliance, various forms of voluntary racial separation, pride in the historic achievements of persons of African Descent, a concerted effort to overcome racial self-hate and to instill black self-love, militant collective resistance to white supremacy, the development and preservation of a distinct black cultural identity, and the recognition of Africa as the true homeland of those who are racially black."
If as, I have said in the past black people have be called by Almighty God to provide spiritual leadership in the creation of a new civilization and the Baha'i Faith is the key to unlocking this potential, then it is important to address black nationalism as "constitutive component of the self-understanding of a substantial segment of the African American population". This of course is a book length topic to get into so I'm only going to get the conversation going with a few Baha'i Thoughts. Shoghi Effendi has suggested that there is a "sane and legitimate patriotism" and my question is whether or not there is a sane and legitimate black nationalism? Here is one selection from the Baha'i Writings that may provide some illumination:
"Let there be no misgivings as to the animating purpose of the world-wide Law of Bahá'u'lláh. Far from aiming at the subversion of the existing foundations of society, it seeks to broaden its basis, to remold its institutions in a manner consonant with the needs of an ever-changing world. It can conflict with no legitimate allegiances, nor can it undermine essential loyalties...It does not ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race."
Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah
When I consider this statement in light of the question of whether or not there is a "sane and legitimate" black nationalism it seems to me "the world-wide Law of Baha'u'llah" does not aim at the subversion the existing foundations of African American life but seeks to "broaden its basis". It cannot conflict with ones "legitimate allegiances, nor can it undermine essential loyalties" that African Americans may have with each other or those institutions that have helped us to survive enslavement and systemic discrimination. It does not "ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, differentiate" African Americans from Americans of other backgrounds. It rather, "calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiriation than any that has animated" the African American community thus far in our history. I believe that it is possible for some strains of black nationalist thought and Baha'i thought to exist comfortably in the same mind and heart. While I may not walk around in a T-Shirt proclaiming myself as a Baha'i Black Nationalist, I can embrace black nationalism as a kind of moral imperative within the context of that "wider loyalty" and "larger aspiration" that the "world-wide Law of Baha'u'llah" requires.
What do you think?
Olá! I am Brazilian and I came to know you, its ideías and would like to be able to talk on diverse subjects in blog. I wait its visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I think? How much time do you have? Because as KRS-one once said ..."I think very deeply ..." (Boogie Down Productions, 1988)
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that so-called black nationalism has a natural place and finds its true expression within the World Order of Baha'u'llah in the same way that every true ideal ever expressed will find its final and most perfect consummation within the framework of Baha'i thought ... a framework that has been graciously bestowed upon us by the Ancient of Days, yet left up to each individual to cultivate and nurture. I see the day fast approaching when black nationalism will be reunited with reality and truth ... a reunion that is destined for us:
"O SON OF BEING!
Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me. Enter therein and tarry not. This is that which hath been destined for thee in Our kingdom above and Our exalted dominion." (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, No. 6 from the Arabic).
In order for this reunion to happen, we must first divorce ourselves from reflecting what is false and delusional. How do we know what is true? For me, the recognition of absolute truth comes mainly through reading and meditating on the Baha'i writings. 'Abdu'l-Baha tells us that:
"Bahá’u’lláh once compared the coloured people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the Spirit shines forth." ('Abdu'l-Baha in London, page 67)
One brief statement with so many precious gems engraved within it. From each gem a myriad of lights can be seen glinting and flashing under the bright rays beaming from the Sun of Reality. The ability to reflect "that which is before it ..." seems to mean that whatever the pupil is looking at, it will faithfully mirror. Perhaps both inwardly and outwardly. The question then becomes: What is "before it"? Is it violence, aggression and cruelty? Is it an overly-sexualized self-image? Is it the celebration of a self-centered, material-driven world view? These are all things that can be found in abundance in our present day society. Or is it the beauty, light and love that comes from attraction to the Source of all power? These are the things that are found in the Faith of Baha'u'llah, the same way they have always been found in the world's faith traditions (such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.) Where, then should we fix our gaze? American culture dictates that we watch the TV as much as it watches us. It has become the eye of an anguished world, and it faithfully reflects its sore-sickness into our consciousness (if we allow it to).
Because the Baha'i writings have many truths, I am always looking for a deeper and more profound understanding of every word, line and paragraph. I love the analysis of the "pupil of the eye" concept that was presented earlier on this site. Recently I found myself wondering if the "pupil" referred to in this quote could also mean "student." What has history and America in particular taught black people? Have we learned it well? In order to be the conduit through which "the light of the Spirit shines forth," where should our learning now take us?
Any thoughts on this are welcome....
Liz from PA
Liz from PA
ReplyDeleteMy God, I'm so knocked out by this comment that I need to go and think about it before I can really respond. In the mean time I hope that others can also weigh in. I like that you got into the issue of the pupil of the eye reflecting that which is before it, which I have not explored as deeply as I could. I will have to do that more. Come back again soon my sister.
I'm still thinking about this one.
ReplyDeleteMe too Malik, Me too. I barely even scratched the surface of this important issue which is why I'm looking forward to other people's thought. Confusion about black nationalism and it consistency with or lack of consistency with Baha'i Thought can prove an obstacle to fulfillment of the mission of the Baha'i Faith which requires the participation of people of African Descent. Any effort that can be made to explore how these two streams of thought can harmonize will be a positive thing for all involved.
ReplyDeleteMalik and Phillipe,
ReplyDeleteYour caution is admirable and most appropriate. Phillipe, you are so right about potential obstacles. In my eagerness to be a part of this dialogue, I may have jumped in too quickly. It is certainly true that people with a history of oppression are the ones most likely to be lured into erroneous thoughts and actions in the name of justice. Any ideas created by the minds of men must be weighed against the Book of God to test for validity. Shoghi Effendi himself spoke about the danger of embracing certain "isms," as pointed out by the Universal House of Justice in a discourse about the last hundred years:
"Like opportunistic infections, aggressive ideologies took advantage of the situation created by the decline of religious vitality. Although indistinguishable from one another in the corruption of faith they represented, the three belief systems that played a dominant role in human affairs during the twentieth century differed sharply in their secondary and more conspicuous characteristics to which the Guardian drew attention. In denouncing "the dark, the false, and crooked doctrines" that would bring devastation on "any man or people who believes in them", Shoghi Effendi warned particularly against "the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism." (Century of Light, page 26)
Although we're not talking about these particular "isms," I think the warning against "aggressive ideologies" is strong enough for us to take special care. It is imperative that we exercise the utmost wisdom and caution when talking or even thinking about these issues:
"The consequence of humanity’s infatuation with the ideologies its own mind had conceived was to produce a terrifying acceleration of the process of disintegration that was dissolving the fabric of social life and cultivating the basest impulses of human nature." (Universal House of Justice, Century of Light, page 27).
And we sure don't want none of that. If our quest for justice leads us down the wrong path, we risk falling into the fire of self and passion. Phillipe, you were right to say "some strains of black nationalist thought" and I commend you for this.
The Blessed Beauty Himself issues a warning:
"Beware that ye swell not with pride before God, and disdainfully reject His loved ones. Defer ye humbly to the faithful, they that have believed in God and in His signs, whose hearts witness to His unity, whose tongues proclaim His oneness, and who speak not except by His leave. Thus do We exhort you with justice, and warn you with truth, that perchance ye may be awakened." (Gleanings, page 128).
Every time I open my mouth I fervently wish to be one who "speak(s) not except by His leave," and I hope I have not overstepped this all-important boundary in my previous posting. My comments about black nationalism don't stand alone in a vacuum, I am hoping they will be viewed in the context of a wider discussion about how, when seen through the Baha'i lens, all truth will be exalted and all falsity will be eliminated. Really I'm less interested in any "ism" and more engrossed with how the Faith tells us to seek justice:
"O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice: turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes." (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, No. 2 from the Arabic)
Hmmm. In reference to justice, Baha'u'llah tells us to "set it then before thine eyes." So here we see one important thing the "pupil of the eye" needs to have "before it." But how do we do this?
Is it just that we use our pupil of the eye capacities to mirror back to the world what it has shown us? Or is it just that we be willing to cast to the side of the road, like the Babi's on their way to Fort Tabarsi, anything that slows our journey toward the Beloved, be it earthly treasures or thoughts that have long been precious to us but may not be in conformity with the teachings of Baha'u'llah, Who assures us that:
"The day is approaching when God will have exalted His Cause and magnified His testimony in the eyes of all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth. Place, in all circumstances, Thy whole trust in Thy Lord, and fix Thy gaze upon Him, and turn away from all them that repudiate His truth. Let God, Thy Lord, be Thy sufficing succorer and helper. We have pledged Ourselves to secure Thy triumph upon earth and to exalt Our Cause above all men, though no king be found who would turn his face towards Thee. (Gleanings, page 249).
The pledge of Baha'u'llah to "secure thy triumph upon earth" is very awe-inspiring. So let us be caught up in the holy ecstasy of prayer. Let us gather together, both amongst ourselves and with every soul who wishes to join us and beckon mankind unto this Most Great bounty. This is our true destiny, and nothing should deter us from it.
"Seized with transports of joy, and raising high her voice, she thus exclaimed: 'May my life be a sacrifice to Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me, hast bestowed upon me Thy bounty, and hast directed towards me Thy steps. Separation from Thee, O Thou Source of everlasting life, hath well nigh consumed me, and my remoteness from Thy presence hath burned away my soul. All praise be to Thee for having enabled me to hearken to Thy call, for having honored me with Thy footsteps, and for having quickened my soul through the vitalizing fragrance of Thy Day and the shrilling voice of Thy Pen, a voice Thou didst ordain as Thy trumpet-call amidst Thy people...' " (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, page 15)
Who has been awakened by this trumpet-call? Please share your thoughts ...
Your sister in Spirt,
Liz
Liz, no need to apologize, I don't think that you overstepped any boundaries in your previous comments. In my experience, my past ten years of study and practice of the Baha'i teachings has made me even more "militant" regarding the liberation struggle of people of African Descent. While I would not identify as a Black Nationalist, as a Baha'i I have a moral and spiritual commitment to the advancement of African peoples throughout the Diaspora because the Faith encourages me to do that. Such a commitment is inseparable from a Baha'i identity in my current understanding. For some Baha'is though this is not so clear and causes some ambivalence because some understand the Faith to suggest that a belief in the oneness of humanity contradicts any kind of moral priority given to one's own ethnic or racial background. I believe that this way of seeing the Faith is a simplistic one that does not take into account the historical and contemporary realities of people of African Descent or any other ethnic minority for that matter. As I have said in the past, race consciousness does not have to result in racial prejudice and the Baha'i Faith offer the possibility of a more balanced approach to issues of diversity than is practiced in much of the wider society. Baha'is of African Descent have the opportunity to advance the learning regarding these challenging issues, issues that humanity as a whole is struggling with.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting conversation and relevant to many peoples who have been victims of oppression the world over and who try to find an expression which brings out the best in their soul and cultures whilst being part of a world community.
ReplyDeleteThanks June, I would agree with that. I'm not an expert but my impression is that people in your part of the world are dealing with challenges regarding race and ethnicity as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you shared your thoughts.
June, this is very true. And when we do find that right form of expression, it's such a beautiful experience; one of those feelings you wish you could just package up and give away as gifts.
ReplyDeleteAs for Baha'is of African descent, we know that our guidance clearly indicates that we have a very specific part to play in the unfolding of the World Order of Baha'u'llah. In the whole of the human body, every part is important...and the pupil of the eye is indeed a cherished component. Identifying and clarifying the nature of our role is urgently necessary, and one of the reasons I find this blog to be such an essential tool for bringing relevant issues into sharper focus. Baha'i Thought is what it's all about.
I have an idea. In an effort to further explore the pupil of the eye concept, from time to time I will be posting quotes from the Holy Scriptures that mention eyes, vision, and sight. I think I'll post them under the "pupil of the eye" blog from March 2006. I would love it if anyone who comes across one of these quotes in their readings would cut & paste it at that location as well. Eventually this collection of quotes will be used as the basis of a special devotional gathering ... Phillipe, since I'm such a novice at this whole blog thing, would you be so kind as to provide a direct link with that page?
Here is the first quotation of this series:
"We cherish the hope that through the loving-kindness of the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, obscuring dust may be dispelled and the power of perception enhanced, that the people may discover the purpose for which they have been called into being. In this Day whatsoever serveth to reduce blindness and to increase vision is worthy of consideration. This vision acteth as the agent and guide for true knowledge. Indeed in the estimation of men of wisdom keenness of understanding is due to keenness of vision. The people of Baha must under all circumstances observe that which is
meet and seemly and exhort the people accordingly."(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, page 35)
Thanks to all for following my barrage of thoughts on this compelling topic ...
Liz
Liz, what a wonderful idea. I will include a direct link to that 2006 post and hope that I get an invitation to that devotional meeting. Awesome quote. I started a similar compilation of quotes from the Bible and the Quran that also speak of the importance of light, vision, and the eye. You've inspired me. Stay tuned for some posts on the challenge of "double-consciousness"
ReplyDeletePhillipe, thanks for making me aware of the discussion and of this blogspot. I feel that ultimately Blacks of African descent in America can have co-existing black nationalist and Bahai thoughts. I see, however, two barriers to this effectively happening: Black racial identity development and the concept of acculturation.
ReplyDeleteOne's identity is comprised of many variables: nationality, religion, gender, political orientation, educational status, and socioeconomical status. Also, the effects that one's family and community have on forming the identity. Individuals who rely on strains of black nationalist ideology as a primary means to identify themselves, are in fact utlizing one small portion of identity development(political orientation) to identify their whole being. People of African descent in America should broaden the basis of their identity development, which will include religion.
The history of acculturation in America contributes to some of that hostitlity and suspicion Mr. Shelby commented on. Ethnic groups when migrating to America abandoned much of their culture to fit in with the greater Euro-American culture. People of European descent changed the pronounciation of their names, and also their outward apeparance to fit in. People of African descent non-voluntarily lost their culture and identity. My sense of those entrenched in their black nationalist identity do not want acculturate into the greater Euro-American culture. Other ethnic groups today, as well, do not want to abandon components of their culture (e.g., abandoning their language).
In order for one to possess co-existing Bahai thought and Black nationalist thought, I feel one must not view the Bahai faith as an acculturation process. One does not have to compromise one's identity to achieve the "wider loyalty" and "larger aspiration" that the "world-wide Law of Baha'u'llah" requires. They are developing another facet of their complex identity. Unfortunately, acculturation has been a reflection in the pupil of our eyes.
"Let the white make a supreme effort in their resolve to contribute their share to the solution of this problem, to abandon once for all their usually inherent and at times subconscious sense of superiority, to correct their tendency towards revealing a patronizing attitude towards the members of the other race, to persuade them through their intimate, spontaneous, and informal association with them of the genuineness of their friendship and the sincerity of their intentions, and to master their impatience of any lack of responsiveness on the part of the people who have received, for so long a period, such grievous and slow-healing wounds. Let the Negroes, through a corresponding effort on their part, show by every means in their power the warmth of their response, their readiness to forget the past, and their ability to wipe out every trace of suspicion that may still linger in their hearts and minds."
(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p.40)
Phil L. (Providence)
Phil: Thank you so much for raising these excellent points. Your clarity of thought and ability to identify both the potential of and barriers to achieving a harmonious balance are so welcome in this dialogue. Your words bring to mind the beloved Guardian's approval of the "sane and legitimate" approach to these questions. I especially like the way you talk about the limiting effects of over-reliance on just one small part of who we really are. Again, thank you for sharing these pearls of understanding!
ReplyDeleteLiz
Thanks Phil for weighing in. I agree that black nationalist tendencies can lead to a narrowing of one's world, a narrowing that ironically reinforces assumptions about reality that are the fundamental basis of racial prejudice. I agree that the Baha'i Faith cannot be an agent of a discredited and highly problematic acculturation process that results in some kind of Euro-Persian culture pretending to represent unity in diversity. One of the goals of this blog is to explore the possibilities of new models of how minorities and majorities relate to each other and negotiate the reality of differences between and among populations. Part of this involves looking clearly at past and present models and understanding what their limitations are so that we do not simply recreate them in a Baha'i context. This is ultimately a spiritual and moral process that has profound social implications for all humanity. The system of leadership and social organization offered by Baha'u'llah provides the framework in which these new models can be discovered and applied all around the planet. As June in Australia mentioned, the experiences of whites and Aboriginals there share some similarities to relations between blacks and whites in America. Thanks for such a thoughtful and intelligent response. This is the best discussion thread this blog has ever had.
ReplyDeletePhillipe & friends:
ReplyDeleteThank you, each and all, for your comments. This discussion of race, identity and a "wider vision" has been thought provoking--in fact, I find it difficult to narrow my responses to each wonderful comment.
But here is an attempt:
'Abdu'l Baha'i says that the union between white and black in America will be the "assurance of world peace". An astounding statement!
Are we who are American Baha'is truly willing to travel down what Shoghi Effendi describes as a "long and thorny road" to achieve this unity within our own community?
We believe that the Faith is our vehicle. How should we utilize this vehicle? What should we take on our journey? What excess baggage should be jettisoned?
In speaking of His Cause and its principles, Baha'u'llah frequently urges "Ponder in your heart"
(i.e: "Ponder in your heart how it behooveth you to be."). This pondering seems to be a pre-requisite to any progress. Is it any wonder that prayerful soul-searching on this "most challenging issue" is not for the faint-hearted, black or white?
The "pupil of the eye":
So many Baha'i writings link vision, and justice, which, in turn, are linked to unity.--
--"The pupil of the eye, surrounded by the white". If the world of humanity is analagous to an eye, it would seem that we who are not identified as African American, should also ponder our role, and our intimate connection with the pupil. What is the function of the white? To guard, protect,facilitate, surround? How does the harmony of the eye permit it to function as a whole? What will this look like in a unified humanity?
Judith in PA
Judith welcome to the discussion. I like what you said about the role of the "white" part of the eye relative to the pupil. It is fascinating and worth "pondering" deeply. Future generations, freed from the blindness of racial prejudice and oppression will have an understanding of these things that we can barely comprehend at this point in the history of humanity. May we all do our part to hasten that glorious new day.
ReplyDeleteJudith:
ReplyDeleteYour comments remind me of recent discussions on vision, action and reflection. In my community, there has been a noticeable increase in diversity at recent gatherings. I see groups of people reaching for a more diverse unity that goes beyond acculturation, consulting on "new models of how minorities and majorities relate to each other and negotiate the reality of differences between and among populations," as Phillipe said. I see us taking action, and - very soon now - reflecting on whether those actions resulted in the right impact.
Hand of the Cause Ruhiyyih Khanum had strong words for the North American Baha'i community in terms of allowing the revolutionary tenets of the Baha'i Faith to be reduced to acculturation. The following excerpt from her 1961 letter contains such valuable guidance:
"It seems to me if we Bahá'ís, and especially the teachers and assembly members, do not ponder more deeply what lies ahead in the next stages of our development we are not going to be properly oriented towards the work we are carrying on.
"Bahá'u'lláh warned us against the evils of civilization when carried to extremes, the Master and particularly the Guardian, elaborated on this theme until at the end of his life Shoghi Effendi fairly thundered against our civilization--particularly the American variety of it. The future culture and civilization is therefore scarcely likely to be patterned on it It occurs to me (speaking for myself) that we have confused the things so highly praised in our teachings, such as freedom of speech, the democratic method of election, the ideal of justice for all and integrity in administrative affairs, with our materialistic civilization which the Guardian stigmatized as corrosive and corrupt in western civilization and against the dangers of which he constantly warned us. It is these inherent weaknesses that may lead to the greatest catastrophe in history.
"I remember when we had the first Japanese pilgrim here, Shoghi Effendi said to him that the majority of the human race was not white and that the majority of Bahá'ís would not be white in the future. As up until very recently the Bahá'ís of the world were almost exclusively white it is only natural that their virtues and their faults should have colored the Faith and its community life. It is illogical to suppose that what we have now is either mature or right; it is a phase in the development of the Cause; when peoples of different races are incorporated in the world-wide community (and in local communities) who can doubt that it will possess far greater power and perfection and be something quite different from what we have now? And yet let us ask ourselves frankly if we do not believe that what we North American Bahá'ís have, is the real thing, practically a finished product, and it is up to the rest of the world to accept it? I think this is our mentality; it was mine up until a few years ago."
That third paragraph also speaks to the immense spiritual powers that will be released should these efforts prove successful, which Judith noted.
I am thrilled that these Baha'i Thoughts are coming from so many different quarters. Liz -- I look forward to the quotes on eyes, vision, etc., and I will pass on anything I find.
Ya Baha'u'l-Abha!
Thanks Lev for contributing these illuminating comments attributed to Ruhiyyih Khanum. We all have to be careful of imperialistic attitudes that pass as religious devotion but perpetuate oppression. Well meaning believers of all faiths can fall into this trap and it takes conscious effort to not do so. I'm glad that you are seeking practical efforts to achieve higher levels of unity in diversity rather than uniformity. I also look forward to seeing your contributions to the compilation that Liz has been inspired to create. I'm excited that this humble post has generated so much commentary and hope to keep it going.
ReplyDeleteHi ya'll. I came across this blog from the Baha'i Youth site. I am pleased with the content of the blog and the quality of the comments, I'm all too used to the back and forth banter that's not very constructive at all. As a new African-American Baha'i a few months in (although I've more or less been in the community for about 2 years or so), I've been trying to contemplate how this declaration re-forms my identity, as a Baha'i first and foremost and then how that affects the rest of what I would call my personality.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably already been mentioned, but I feel like there are many valid models to help us to start thinking about the relationship between the 'pupil' and the white of the eye, both as separate entities as well as compliments to the other. With that being said, it's always important to continue pushing those relationships and how can they be viewed and revised. It's a fine balance not to let a particular ideology or thought dominate one's viewpoint.
We've been given the Faith as a major framework to to work within as well as our own experiences to add to the plethora of meanings that framework may hold for humanity. It's exciting & it's challenging, but it's encouraging to hear people trying to forge their way toward a more unified...and celebrated humanity.
Strive on.
Erin, welcome to the Faith and to this discussion. Thanks for sharing your point of view. I wonder if you could say more about the number of models that you were thinking of and how to maintain the balance you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteHappy 12 Day of Ridvan, almost to all.
Phillpe, thank you for the welcome and Happy 12th Day of Ridvan to everyone as well. Ah, to clarify, I think I may have been 'off' a little in my comparison. The models I think I was referring to were any number of social theories on race or black nationalism, or the Faith even to get us to think about how we've been interacting in the past, the implications thereof and where to go from here. As for keeping the balance, we are always in danger of being too set in our thinking. Of course it's easier for some people than others to admit that what we think is truth might not be. It's important to not be too attached to our ideas. Just like with the Faith, there are many levels of meaning. The deeper we dig and the less we use any sort of theory or interpretation as the be all, end all, the richer our understanding can become.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a question open to anyone, it seems as if our particular community has issues with bringing African-American Bahai's to different functions like Feast. Is basic outreach and dialogue the key to bridge that disconnect? This q. might be for another discussion, but could be a way to think about how we would interact in our own communities if this was happening (and it very well may be)
Erin, I like what you are saying about the multiple levels of meaning and the need to dig deeper and not get too attached to any particular way of thinking. Divine Revelation is meant to expand and deepen our thinking, not narrow it and of course we must weigh any system of thinking springing from the limitations of the human mind against the Word of God.
ReplyDeleteAs for the issue of African Americans and Feast etc., this is a fair question and I hope that other people will take this on. I'm going to be addressing some aspects of this challenge in a future post. I don't think where ever you are is the only place this is happening though, which is one of the reasons that I spend so much time talking about race on this blog. What do other people think about Erin's question.
In response to Erin's question, I think we must determine if this is a generalized problem with African-Americans and feast, or are they problems within specific communities. If we believe it is a generalized problem, my concern would be if these behaviors are a microcosm of those played out in society i.e., a lack of comfortability outside of our homogenous group. I completed this semester a course on multicultural counseling. One of the areas discussed was the attrition rate of minorities with Euro-American therapists. Erin's question leads me to think about the attrition problem in another context. Is there an attrition rate with African-Americans in the faith and why? I hate answering her question with yet another question...my apologies.
ReplyDeletePhil L.
Thanks Phil, it is true we have to be careful not to make generalization about what may be a local challenge. I have my opinions, but have not personally seen any hard data about this issue. I do believe that the National Teaching Committee may have it. You might want to contact them and see what you learn.
ReplyDeletePhil did bring up a good question about attrition rates. And I imagine the answer to my question will in fact lead to even more questions, so to Phil, no need for apologies. Being in a Baha'i Community and wanting to build unity and having some basic tools to figure out how to usher in the process is...a good start. I'm sure my problem isn't isolated, this is a reflection of the society as a whole--a society which is divided and in need of help from the Divine Physician. Everyone still needs A LOT of healing and reflection to continue to unravel these issues.
ReplyDeletei was just passing through and thought that this post made a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteJust when I thought I'd be safe just skimming your blog, with one eye open, night/ morning. Oh the depth...
ReplyDeleteAyesha 4:06AM CST
"Happy New Year", again! ;)
Nice to see this post still has some traction Ayesha. I guess I should return to this topic at some point. I actually read an interesting article that talked about the black church as a nation-building environment.
ReplyDelete