UPDATE! Re: Evangelical California Church and use of Slaves HAS MADE THE NEWS!

[Whoa_Nelly]

I originally posted about the use of slaves as parody by white members in black face by a certain church in my local CA area.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6575148&mesg_id=6575148

Since then, the NAACP has become involved, the ACLU, several civil rights attorneys, and just yesterday afternoon, Rev. Al Sharpton, after learning about all of this, received, at his request, the racist photos on his blackberry.

The Fresno Bee, and news stations ABC30 and CBS47 (Fresno stations) have been going with the story. These journalists have been trying to locate one of the MANY DVDs of the runaway slave play enacted at the church's senior grad party, which were also distributed freely among the congregation members of the Riverdale Assembly of God in Riverdale, CA. THE ONLY black student, who attends their Christian school and recently graduated Eighth Grade there, WAS IN ATTENDANCE at this party along with her mother.

There are several blogs now following this story, but the best one is http://www.urbanknowledge.blogspot.com.

From that blog:
(and check out the comments page! https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12387639&postID=3105086496203679321 )

This is nothing new under the Riverdale sun

After reading several posts, I began to think... Is this ‘just my imagination running away with me’? Is this merely a case of ignorance that could be easily corrected with some awareness training and dialogue? Am I over exaggerating a silly joke that happened one time? I thought maybe until I received a call that clear these doubts.

I received a call from a local that expressed that there are several accounts that this skits or variations of it have been performed numerous times over the years. One graduate remembers particularly that a similar skit was acted out six years at the graduation after reminiscing from a school year book. But it case I’m still off base, the school should allow the media or some third party to review the multiple DVDs that were produced by the school staff or Jim Davis, the photo album originator and pastor’s son-in-law that are being recalled after the CBS-47 story.

In addition, from my understanding there is/was one (1) African-American student attending Riverdale Christian Academy. I hope she wasn’t present. I hope she hasn’t seen this ‘joke’ or other like it that depicting African-American only as slave to entertain her white peers. I hope that staff, administration/church leadership and other students didn’t continue this form of comedy after Graduation. Unfortunately, it light of the pictures, their captions and information that has surfaced since, I don’t have much hope.

Unlike the Imus situation, I hope we (the Fresno community) will not rant, fire someone and then forget about it. It's really not about protesting or just an apology (though a formally written apology is very much in line), the greater issues of race & religion and matter of race in the Valley must be dealt with for us to move forward.

True reconciliation can not start without forgiveness and true forgiveness require repentance. Repentance is more than saying 'sorry' but it must be accompanied by a change in one's action.


Here are some ways to accomplish that:

Declaration by sister Assemblies of God churches that such practice are not acceptable
The Church pastor, as the leader of the school and church formally apology denouncing such practices and resolving that such skits or any forms of racial depiction be removed from all church or school-sponsored activities
The school establish or enhance their non-tolerance policy
A series of open dialogues between the community (church leaders across racial/ethnic lines, educators, and community advocates-- civic and otherwise) and the church about race and why such scenarios are deemed inappropriate, and how to incorporate true diversity into the school's culture. This not a microwave result but it be the most fruitful.
posted by West Words at 2:57 PM | 7 comments


Anyway..am out of town and on my friend's computer, but will check back on this post.

Miss you DU! :hi:

[billyskank]

1. Hey Whoa_Nelly!

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. billyskank!

You know I :loveya:


:hi: :pals: Smooches to you, babycakes!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Great job, Nelly!

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Hi SA!

Wish I could take total credit for things moving along, but my input so far has been just sharing what I know to be true and what is happening right here on DU. ;)

I do know who many of the people who are making this story gain traction, and they are helping others to open up about this very secretive church (read that as cult).

Good to see you! :loveya:

[xmas74]

7. I've made comments before about Assemblies of God,

Pentecostal churches and others in the same vain having changed over the years. Growing up I can't think of a single AoG having tried to pull a stunt like that since most of the ones I know of were quite accepting of all ethnicities. Nowadays it seems like what was once referred to as the "faith of the poor" has become a place for a few-I'll stop right there.

I've just noticed a change in the people who attend now, compared to those who used to attend. Those who used to attend really did care about their fellow man and did want things to be better. Those who attend now seem to be out for themselves and the appearance of faithfulness.

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. So much wrong. So much stupid.

How can anyone think this is a good idea, in 2007? What kind of prom involves dressed up white youth served by their stupid parents pretending to be enslaved African Americans? How is this funny? Not even Carlos Mencia is that lame. What's next year's theme? Prom night at Auschwitz? Dinner in Darfur? :eyes:

[grace0418]

9. Reading the comments just made me sad. There is no hope for this world if THAT

many idiots exist who think the slave parody was harmless fun.

Wilco. Tango. Foxtrot.

[VenusRising]

6. Thanks for posting an update.

It's just despicable, and I hope that the community takes a stand.

You're one of the good ones!

Hope you're having a great time.

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Thanks, VR!

...and there are a lot of good ones since there have been severalpeople willing to expose this group.


:hi:
Am having a lot of fun and making the rounds of friends and dinners :woohoo: