Righteous Anger

"…and to show unqualified courtesy towards everybody…"

Titus 3.2 (Ampl.)

Last Saturday, I attended a book launch at St Phillip’s Cathedral in Birmingham, the West Midlands. Titled "Rejection, Resistance and Resurrection; Speaking out on Racism in the Church" by Mukti Barton – this collection of narratives from first generation black and Asian Anglicans explores the "intricacies of racism" through the interweaving of "personal stories…biblical study…theological reflection and the psychology of racism." The programme involved; a scripture reading (John ch. 4.5-25) an act of repentance and solidarity with the marginalised and the oppressed, a celebratory meal, healing and reconciliation and "an act of commitment" to combat racism. The book itself was blessed by the former Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev John Sentamu, the first black cleric (Ugandan born) to be appointed to the "second highest pos" in the Anglican Church, as the Archbishop of York. Several contributors to the book, spoke movingly of their involvement in the project and it was satisfying to see the obvious therapeutic benefit they had acquired from the process. The book hopes to encourage readers to experience the "pain" of racism through the opening of "resurrected wounds" that enable their knowing of "something of the joy of resurrection" and to "feel moved, emotionally touched" on the journey towards "love, faith and hope." I appreciate the spirit of the book and realise its value to those engaged in the multi cultural dialogue within the established Church. On leaving Birmingham, my thoughts quickly returned to the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico and their implications for all of us.

This month marks the seventeenth anniversary of the ‘breeze’ that devastated Jamaica during the 1988 hurricane season. I was living in the capital city when "Gilbert" struck. My immediate neighbours, including my landlord, had moved out to sturdier properties, as they were doubtful the aluminium roof would hold. Although I was on my own at the time, I had decided to stay and not to seek shelter in my parents home, a mile away. Stories of entire roofs, flying through the air to land some distance away, were almost unbelievable. Having everything one possessed; from furnishings, electrical goods, clothing, photographs everything, soaking wet and practically useless or destroyed was a mind numbing, unimaginable possibility. I will never forget the sound of my tin roof straining against its hurricane straps as the 140 mph winds of a category 4 hurricane, traversed the length of Jamaica. An estimated 100,000 homes were seriously damaged, with agriculture and tourism suffering a loss in excess of 1.2 billion dollars. During the passing of the storm "please God" was constantly in my mind, yet never did I think this was God caused or God allowed. Our homes and my family survived with minimal damage. The destruction to the island, however, was phenomenal. This was my first experience of a natural disaster on this scale. It was unbelievable; the debris in the streets, the cessation of public utilities (phone, water and electricity) the sheer magnitude of the catastrophe. The only piece of light relief was seeing my neighbours opposite, holding down their satellite dish, throughout the entire storm, whilst others flew through the air, like flying saucers. Thanks to a well organised and coordinated Office of Disaster Preparedness, a core agency in Caribbean culture, life did return to normal – eventually.

Nevertheless, there is no conceivable way that I can understand the present circumstances facing those who once lived in New Orleans, before Hurricane Katrina. Having survived a category 5 storm with minimal damage and then to be swept away by torrential flood water from broken levees, is beyond heart breaking. The media images and commentaries have graphically exposed and perhaps, exploited every single scrap of human misery and brokenness. It has been a very painful process to watch and has seemed (at times) to be almost callous and voyeuristic, in the intensity of the competition for newsworthy items. The avalanche of reports attesting to an implied ‘institutional’ racism in the treatment of African-Americans, has touched a raw nerve. And sometimes, what is perceived to be, is seen to be an aspect of the truth, whether objectively verified or not. Of all the reports in the national newspapers, analysing the reasons and consequences of this "widespread perception" I was deeply touched by the concluding sentence of one report. It simply said ‘We are on our own, but then black people have always known that’.

Nothing hits home, more than that simple statement.

So after all the hype on Live 8 and the commitment of the West to Africa, the comments of a respected columnist come as no surprise. ‘Two months have not elapsed since the G8 summit and already almost everything has turned to ashes. Even the crustiest skeptics have been shocked by the speed with which its promises have been broke’. Countries have reneged on their commitments due to "budgetary constraint", the debt deals are being overturned, extra aid was in reality debt relief and therefore did not involve additional funds, a hundred percent debt relief was a sham as it only involved the cancelling of debt repayments for three years. It is even being suggested that proposed amendments for discussion at the approaching UN Summit, will result in the "striking out…of the millennium development goals on health, education and poverty…that could deliver“a worse outcome than the situation before G8”…to countries such as Africa. So where are the protesters and where are the campaigns?

"And when He entered Jerusalem, all the city became agitated and [trembling with excitement] said, Who is This? And the crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple (whole temple enclosure) and drove out all who bought and sold in the sacred place, and He turned over the four-footed tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves. He said to them, The Scripture says, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the porches and courts of the temple, and He cured them" - Matthew 21:1014 (Ampl.)

Righteous anger has its place in the church. So until those who are marginalised and oppressed by injustices and inequalities, can experience the love of God in all its fullness…

Be angry and stay angry, with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit of God.

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