Comments for Something Within

Comment on Overlooking the Lioness by ms.M

ms.M — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:44:57 +0000

I’m very late to the proverbial game, having only discovered this blog today but I want to add that woman of many races have suffered the consequences of the decline in consciousness of hip hop, especially as hip hop or hip POP has become so mainstream and marketable. It’s now 2012 and you might be surprised at the number of white and brown (as in asian, latina etc) women booty popping and shaking their collective tales on youtube and (theoretically) delighting in the disgusting comments left by male viewers. I’m not entirely sure what they are emulating. What they incorrectly assume black women are like or why they think men want women to be like. I can’t tell.

One tenant of feminism (at least modern feminism) that I truly appreciate is the idea that the oppression of any woman is the business of all women. That we will never have true equality until women everywhere are free (not just rich women or white women or educated women) all women.

In that sense, all women should be outraged when black women are demeaned

I find that as hip hop simultaneousouesly becomes less conscious and more widespread the “demeaning women is really cool” culture has been eaten up by men and women of all backgrounds and classes. Of course, patriarchy and misogyny has LONG existed in those communities, yet never before did it look so damn trendy. Instead of men (and the few women who’ve made it in hip hop, largely by marketing their sexuality) becoming more conscious and standing up for women (particularly black women) and setting an example for men of all races to confront their own sexist ways and male privilege…hip hop’s made misogyny not only marketable but super duper cool. I rarely listen to the radio anymore and cling to examples of the conscious men and women who remind me of one of the often forgotten tenant of hip hop “knowledge of self”

Comment on What’s that you were saying about Traditional Marriage? by Carm

Carm — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:57:42 +0000

Ms. Anne, with all due respect…anything that robs any person of their human dignity and respect is not of any God that I serve or know. Isn’t this the rule or regulation one should use to determine if something is ‘of god’….?

Are we supposed to forget that the marriage arrangement,at one time (in still in many places on this earth), demeaned women because it was hetero arrangement. That is troubling.

And this whole statement is mind boggling and confusing. –> This whole “Same Sex” issue is not about Equality; it is selfish and self-serving. Huh?

Comment on Hush Now, Don’t Explain: The POTUS Does Not Owe the Black Church an Apology by Carol Estes

Carol Estes — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:42:37 +0000

Thank you for your profound & very insightful response. Aw a woman of African heritage, & a United Methodist Church ordained elder, Rev. Bryant does not speak for me. As a servant leader, my role is to guide, to nurture, to motivate, to help make known some unknowns, to assist in the process of spiritual growth & to reflect God’s unconditional love of equality for everyone of us (despite our human condition). Black churches are full of gays & lesbians, and most often they are the folks giving the most money. Yet, we when it comes to being acknowledged as a full person, in loving healthy relationships, our brothers & sisters are woefully ignored. Maybe, just maybe, if Christian folks, particularly those of African heritage, lived into action Jesus’ teaching to love (see, tolerate, honor) each other, we might have a lower rate of newly diagnosed Black (young) women with HIV/AIDS, and young black men (& women, too) might be less preyed upon by sexually closeted church authority figures. And, maybe, Rev. Bryant’s comments will start a black clergy movement affirming same-sex marriages in black churches. I am continually praying for my beloved United Methodist brothers & sisters to really practice our universal church’s motto, “Open Minds, Open Hearts & Open Doors.”

Comment on Otis Moss, III and Marriage Equality by Kenneth

Kenneth — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:06:25 +0000

AMEN Brother

Comment on What’s that you were saying about Traditional Marriage? by Ms. Anne,Fl

Ms. Anne,Fl — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:50:12 +0000

Let’s rememember that even with the cows and the goats, way back then, the arranged marriage was still between a Man and a Woman — Not Same Sex. I cannot for the life of me understand how All of these people, who, by the way, are Married to Opposite partners, are Now-a-days, so in favor of What they themselve DO NOT Practice, This New kind of Hypocrisy is just mind-boggling and totally beyond the rules,regulations, and approval of God. This whole “Same Sex” issue is not about Equality; it is selfish and self-serving. People should stop trying to Use God to justify their appetites and self-serving agendas. Pray !!!

Comment on Hush Now, Don’t Explain: The POTUS Does Not Owe the Black Church an Apology by Rev.Michaele L. Moore

Rev.Michaele L. Moore — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:16:11 +0000

Dr. Weems, thank you for sharing your educated and insightful perspective. I am an African-American lesbian who is a former Elder in the AME Church I agrees with you that President Obama does not owe us any explaination at all he has clearly stated his stance it is the Black church that is not clear. In my opinion they want members of the LGBT community to be involved in the church as , Down low pastors, muscians, elders, deacon and other perspective offices as long as we are silent. The problem arises when people want to live authentically they have a problem. I stand on the scripture found in John 4:24 “God is a spirit and those that worship God must worship God in spirit and in truth.” The truth is love should be expressed in a commited and healthy relationship- same-sex marriage, is a definite positive institution for this truthful expression.
It hurts me to my heart that those leaders in the AME church and other denominations are choosing to take on this negative theology and philosophy.I too know Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant personally,actually since he was a child in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I continue to be dissapointed at his lack of progression and inclusivity. The AME church along with other mainstream denominations are dying, and need to dust off their liberation theology books and re-read them again, and again and again. Same-sex marriage is a commitment of love not of sex. Same- sex marriage is about vowing to honor, respect and support your respective life partner. Same- sex marriage is about standing for the one you love in all areas not just lying with them in the bedroom. Rev. Jamal ought to be more careful in asking for an explaination from our POTUS, since he my brother in ministry has some explaining to do of his own. The bible also says in Matt. 7:1 ” Judge not lest you be judge.” HELP US LORD JESUS. Thanks again Dr. Weems for your insightful leadership.