Dear Black Church,
December, 21, 2024
So many of today's African American professionals and social elitists in traditional careers (non-sports or non-theatrical) did not possess successful experiences nor premium credentials prior to their elevations; someone gave these prior seekers an opportunity to shine. However, it is grossly noticeable that since these same prior seekers have "arrived" to their top statuses... they appoint, hire, or select only fellow elite credential carriers. These prior seekers seem to forget their humble, inexperienced, and uncredentialed beginnings... the time when when someone opened the door of opportunity, despite their lack of qualifications. However, leaders in Black Church History, the Bible, as well as contemporary leader reflect and provide a timeless practice for assisting in the oppressed in becoming partners of progress.
In the Bible, when David became King, he asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet." "Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar." So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel" (II Samuel 9:3-5). In short, David remembered where he came from, how he became King, the promise that he made, and then chose to bless a crippled man to sit and live in his kingdom. Jesus did the same as he selected the Disciples, who eventually blossomed into successful, world-changing Apostles. Consequently, David became one of Israel's best Kings throughout its history, and Jesus became Savior of all... far beyond his death.
Similarly, in Black Historic Church history in the U.S., these sanctuaries were dually used to help lift the formerly enslaved. These houses of worship served as schools/training institutes, and later colleges and universities,[1] where learned parishioners taught prior enslaved people literary arts as well as vocational skills,[2] so that they could strive and thrive in the new, albeit harsh, society.[3] Thus, the Bible and social history, are filled with these, what I call, metanarrative blessings, or what practical theologians called the praxis from Black phronesis (aka educational phronesis).[4] Similarly, Paulo Friere, a Brazilian scholar in education, viewed oppressed people's plight in schools for increasing their economic and qualities of life mobility, as limit-acts for countering their oppressive limited situations.[5] Resultantly, these select institutions' works significantly aided in lifting their people's belonging and liberation in their local vicinities and nations.
What lessons can we glean from David, Jesus, the m/paternal institutions of mentioned oppressed people, and other metanarrative blessers? First, today, when arriving to your status of elite business professional, noted professor/dean, successful pastor, or other leading roles in society, reach back and offer interns, recent graduates, aspiring ministers, or other seekers, an opportunity to grow and blossom as you have. Martin Luther King said it best in a speech in Montgomery Alabama in 1957, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'”. Second, don't forget the opportunities given to you, when you were seeking and uncredentialed. Last, when you critically reflect, like David and even Jesus, who both began humbly, but helped seekers to achieve, you will create opportunities for yourself to rise even higher in fulfilling one's personal vision and engaging God's mission in your life. Simply put, remember where you came from, and chose to be a blessing to someone else seeking achievement along the way. Then your living will not be in vain.
Dr. Troy L. Denson
MTS, M.Div., M.Ed. Admin, D.Min., (Ph.D.)
Executive Director of National Collaborative Institute of Leadership
References:
[2] C. Eric Lincoln, and Lawrence H. Mamiya, The Black Church in U.S. History (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1990), 251-252.
[3] Carter G. Woodson, The History of the Negro Church (DC: Associated Publishers, 1921), 23-24, 26, 37, 40, 62, 143, 150-153, 167-171, 199.
[4] Robert L. Smith, From Strength to Strength: Shaping Black Practical Theology for the 21st Century (New York: Peter Lang, 2007), 201.
[5] Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed (New York: Bloomsbury, 2018), 97, 99-101.
