'Racism Recovery ' - by Rev.Bola

'Practical Steps To Advance Racial Harmony'

2011-10-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

Title: 'RACIAL HARMONY' - from Prayer Art Set by Rev.Bola A.

'Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth'
.—1 John 3:18

For practical steps to advance racial harmony in the church and racial justice in the world,
here are some things I would recommend:-

1. Develop a biblical view.
We must personally develop a spiritual and biblical perspective on “race” and ethnicity in the saving plan of God. Our attitudes, thoughts, and actions must be shaped by the renewed mindset of the will of God, not “conformity to the world” (Romans 12:2). Consider:
»»God created humanity in his image (Genesis 1:27).
»»God made all humanity from one common ancestor (i.e., Adam; Acts 17:26).
»»God purchased from every tongue and tribe a people for his very own by the death of Christ (Revelation 5:9).
»»In Christ, we have been united into one people (Ephesians 2:14–22, 4:1–5).
»»Christ calls us to love one another as he has loved us (John 15:12).
»»Christ calls us to love our neighbors across racial/ethnic/religious barriers (Matthew 22:39).
»»Christ calls us to make disciples of all ethnic groupings (Matthew 28:18–20).

2. Read history.
Become knowledgeable about the role of “race” in human history, world history, and U.S. history. We will not “understand the times” (Matthew 16:3) we live in very well without understanding how we came to where we are in the world today. And we will not understand other people very well either. Read stories of the lynchings in Duluth in the 1920’s. Read about slavery in America. Read of the relationship between Americans and Native Americans. In reading, abhor what is evil and resolve to cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).

3. Be informed.
Race and racial issues are in the newspaper every day. Take notice; read in order to discern and understand the times we live in and the people we live with.

4. Come to a conviction.
Name “racism” and the sins of racial exclusion and favoritism (James 2:9) as a present problem. Be fully convicted in your own mind about racial harmony as you seek God and ask him in faith to make known to you what you should be convicted about (Romans 14:5; James 1:5).

5. Develop an honest self-awareness.
Plead with the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23). Similarly, confess your own sins in regard to this issue, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long ... I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:3, 5).

6. Love.
Show compassion and mercy through visible displays of love—weeping with those weep—to those who have been afflicted through racially motivated sins. “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

7. Build relationships with people ethnically different from yourself.
Intentionally pursue relationships with people who are ethnically different from you. You are free to do this because of the work of Christ, “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). Carl Rogan and Larry Agnew are a beautiful display of this kind of intentional relationship building as they have linked arms to pursue greater degrees of racial harmony.

8. Appreciate different cultures.
Eat foods from other cultures. Go on a short term trip. Study a culture online or at the library. Watch a documentary. The multitude of cultures in the world are now so easily accessible. Take advantage of technology and “vacation” to another culture.

9. Forgive.
Be quick to forgive those who have committed racial sins since you have been forgiven much in Christ (Colossians 3:13).

10. Do justice.
The prophet Micah calls us to do justice, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Look for ways to pursue justice. Write a letter to a congressman. Advocate for the oppressed. Adopt a refugee family. Adopt a child. Do justice.

11. Rejoice in hope.
Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Our hope is in God. He will finish what he has started. We can rejoice in hope that one day all peoples will unite with one voice in the praise of the Son (Philippians 2:9–10; Revelation 5:9).

12. Pray. In all of these practical steps, pray. Make prayer the hallmark of your efforts in pursuing racial harmony. Through the prayer of the saints, may God make you worthy of his calling and fulfill every resolve for good work of faith by his power (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

I pray that these 12 steps will help you as you advance racial harmony in your families, in your relationships, in your communities, in the church, and in the world.

(From work by Kenny Stokes - Practical Steps Toward Racial Harmony)
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RACIAL HARMONY MINISTRIES - Spiritual Fellowship with Rev.Bola Animashaun

2011-10-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

An Introduction To - The Healing Racism Project

(Initiated by Rev.Bola)

Aims

1. To conduct healing and recovery from Racism beneficial programs.

2. To help create environments for harmonious inter-racial and inter-cultural communication.

3. To undo and erase mankinds painful legacy of racism, a day at a time, a step at a time.

4. To engender a more racially aware, inclusive and accepting society.

5. To create a fairer and safer multi-cultural society.

6. To leave a more positive legacy of race relations for future generations to inherit.

7. To provide individuals and groups with Tools and Resources for healing racism.

Activities

1. Education and Training

2. Sermons and Public lectures

3. Counselling and Co- counselling (including by telephone and email)

4. Workshops and Seminars.

5. Coaching and Mentoring

6. Home groups and Selfhelp groups

7. Church Services

8. Spiritual Healing

9. Intercessory Prayer and dedications

10. Blogs and Websites

11. E-Courses

12. Community outreach

15. Poetry and theatrical recitals

15. Practical illustrations and Exercises

16. Certificates and Awards

17. Ordination of Ministers

Products

1. Books, Manuals, Reports, Articles and other publications

2. CDs, Videos, Slideshows, Films and other recordings

3. Ebooks and E-Courses

4. Prayer Art

5. Posters and other Visual Imagery

6. Music

7. Prayer and Affirmation Cards

8. Games and software

9. Aromatherapy Essences and oils

10. Flower essences

11. Sacred Candles, Incense and Crystals

12. Sacred Jewellery

13. Blessed Soaps, creams, lotions, and perfumes.

14. T-shirts

15. Hats, scarves and accessories

16. Pens, pencils and stationery sets

17. Stickers

18. Greeting cards

19. Handkerchiefs

20. Blankets

21. Spiritual Kits

22. Suntan Lotions

Target Clients

1. People of Colour

2. Ethnic minority groups

3. Christians of all levels

4. Ministers

5. Students

6. Healers

7. Teachers

8. Therapists and Counselors

9. Mental Health professionals

10. Health Care Practitioners

11. Foreigners and Visitors

12. Refugees

13. Parents and Carers.

14. Advocates.

15. Artists

16. Managers

17. Traders and Self-Employers.

18. All Seekers of Truth.

Meeting Places

1. Church Halls

2. Community Centers

3. Hotels

4. Homes.

Sources of Funding

Donations and Sponsorship From Private Sector:-

1. Ethnic Minority hairdressers and beauty therapists

2. Suntan Lotion companies

3. Music and Record companies

4. Ethnic Minority newspapers and magazines

5. Ethnic businesses.

6. Churches

7. Charities and Non-profit organisations

8. Individuals

9. Tithes from Spiritual Leaders and Organisations.

Human Resources

1.Head Pastor and Director :

2.Assistant Pastor and Manager:

3.PR and Events Organiser

4.Volunteers and Trainees.

*For further information about this ministry and project please contact: Rev.Dr.Bola Animashaun

We welcome your support and suggestions. You may also leave a comment for us here.

Title: 'Healing Racism Scenarios'

2011-07-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

A Common Scenario
In The Work Place.

Take Darren, for instance.
He is the only black member of his work team.
His performance is as good as, if not better than, anyone else’s in the team, but his boss has issues with him, because Darren has a darker, different skin colour to his own. Funny too that nothing is ever actually mentioned verbally by the boss about this. He just persists in criticising Darren's work to others, and sending Darren awkward glances, and disapproving negative signals. Many times, he tries his best not to acknowledge that Darren is even there. Other times he makes his disdain for Darren known through physical gestures like sharp, aggressive tone of voice, rigid posturing, inattentive listening, interrupted communication, fluctuating between unwillingness to make any eye contact, and inappropriate blank steers, grimacing, and other negative body language communications. But Darren is aware of what's going on, because he has been there before. He remembers experiencing this type of thing in school, then at college, then again at his first ever job, and now at this job with this current boss. Darren knows what's going on all right. So does his boss, and so do the other employees sitting around the office. They have all seen this kind of thing before somewhere. Darren's boss has also picked up his habit from something he heard as a kid and witnessed in school.
Different scenario. different faces, different time, different spaces, but same old familiar behaviour..

So, how would you address this situation from the point of view of being.....
1. Darren?
2. Or another white employee witnessing the situation?
3. Or another black or ethnic minority employee witnessing the situation?
4. Or a manager, supervisor or employer?

Would you.....
a) Pretend not to see the problem, ignore it, and so hope it will go away?
b) Justify the situation by saying 'these things happen, life isn't fair', and then do nothing?
c) Attempt to access the situation from all points of view, and determine the optimum, and fairest course of action?
d) Do something else, if so what?

Here is what I would do

1)... As Darren:
In Darren's shoes....
i) Firstly, I would take a measured period of time out, to access what I was feeling and experiencing, simply to nurture my soul, and for my own peace of mind and self esteem. (For believers, this is when I would take some time to pray and meditate on God's word over the situation, asking for divine guidance, clarity and support in dealing with it)
ii) Then, I would contact a trustworthy ally or mentor, this could be a GP, close friend, family member, spiritual coach, pastor of a church, counsellor, a self-help group, etc..etc...and verbally unburden and release my concerns to them, including the emotional stress I was experiencing. There are a number of excellent ways to release accumulated stress available to individual's including counselling.
(You can email me directly for more information on receiving spiritual healing and counselling.)
iii) Next I would take a measured period of time, to begin keeping a journal or diary, in which I would note private records of each and every such racially abusive encounter with my boss. Every time an incident occurred I would privately make a note in my records of the date, situation, place, time, what was said or done, who was involved and exactly how it impacted me and my ability to do my work- mentally and emotionally.
iv) I would continue to monitor the situation privately for a set amount of time possibly a month, depending on how long my work contract lasted, until a clear pattern emerged in my records.
v) With sufficient evidence under my belt in my records, I would then ask to have a private meeting with the boss concerned. At the meeting I would present the boss with my experience of his behaviour and state actual examples from my records. I would then give my boss an opportunity to rectify the situation by asking my boss what he intended to do about the behaviour, and wait for his response. If my boss was then reasonably honest and repentant, I would suggest ways he could work to do things differently by offering alternative responses, and if necessary refer him to places where he could get better awareness and understanding. I would then suggest a Grace period for the future, where my boss would get the opportunity to implement his changes and demonstrate he was actively taking steps to resolve the situation. If on the other hand my boss was unwilling to address the issue or expressed further antagonism towards me, I would make it clear that I intended to pursue remedial and corrective action, by going above him or taking my concerns to the appropriate sources of disciplinary action, and then I would follow through taking action accordingly, possibly even consulting a legal advocate, solicitor or organisation like the Equal Opportunities Commission.or Citizens Advice Bureau
vi) In the meanwhile, each time the negative behaviour is repeated in future by me boss, I would verbally or in writing, calmly and assertively point out in full view, and hearing range of other staff members around, that I thought such behaviour was 'racist, offensive and inappropriate for a place of work', and then continue to take and keep records of the incidences, so as to present them for disciplinary action. I might even make taped recordings. But the point I am making here is that I would treat the situation very seriously and make it clear that I refuse to be victimised or bullied.

2) ...As another White employee witnessing the situation.
In another white employee's shoes.......
i) Firstly, I would view this as a unique opportunity to learn something valuable about connecting with others in a work setting, and a chance to improve how I do this.
ii) I would see this, as an opportunity to personally check my own assumptions, thoughts, beliefs, prejudices, and actions concerning any ethnic minority work mates and colleagues. Then in any area I found myself wanting, I would take active steps to address and correct my behaviour. If necessary I would get myself more educated on the issue. Read books, take some more training, talk to ethnic minority people about their experiences, find out more truth about them. I would do my own private research to educate myself better.
iii) I would also talk to other white colleagues, including my boss, sharing with them my education, experience and findings. I would take personal responsibility in doing whatever I could to encourage and ensure fair, just and appropriate work practices. But above all, I would work to lead and encourage others, by my own fair and reasonable behaviour and thereby act like a positive example and role model for other white people.

3) ...As another black or Ethnic minority employee witnessing the situation.
In another black or ethnic minority employee's shoes......

i) I would offer my support to Darren, and any other ethnic minority employees who were facing similar situations, and would ask if there was anything I could do to make things easier. Such support could be anything from lending Darren a listening ear and encouraging assertiveness, to offering myself as a witness for corrective or disciplinary action if and when needed.
ii) I would actively support and engage in respectful inter-racial and inter-cultural dialogue between myself and other white employees who were up for mutual co-operation; posing questions, having discussions, and generating solutions to increase perception and understanding. This is easily done by bonding with colleagues and establishing mutual and collaborative friendships that permit the issues to be discussed openly.
ii) I would also actively support and encourage the organisations implementation of further awareness training for employees.

4....As a manager, supervisor or employer witnessing the situation.
In a employer's shoes....

i) I would take active steps to see that all the above mentioned measures were implemented in my organisation, including the monitoring of appropriate staff awareness training, dialogue, and corrective or disciplinary activity.
ii) Most particularly, I would get myself educated about the relevant issues so that I was myself perceptive of the needs of all my employees, and I was leading by example.

So here's the question again. What would you do in the above scenario?
Please feel welcome to post your generous and helpful thoughts and views here, so we can all learn and grow.
Thank you. Wishing you and yours, a complete and total healing, from any and all racism.

Peace and Light
Rev. Bola Ani - (Divine)
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For more information on where to get help concerning the issues mentioned, drop me an email to:-
Rev. Bola : theatre4mankind@yahoo.co.uk
I will respond as soon as I can, especially if you mark your email as Urgent.

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'The 6 Simple Tenets of Healing Racism'

2011-07-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

1. Racism, as a disease woven into the moral and spiritual
    fiber of society, obscures the possibility of
    establishing the reality of that oneness.

2. Racism violates the dignity of humankind, retards the
    unfolding of the potentialities of its victims, corrupts its
    perpetrators, and blights human progress

3. The patterns of thinking and behaving that constitute
    racism have been learned and can be unlearned

4. Racism is marked by an imbalance in economic, political,
    and social power in favor of some , ethnic, and cultural
    groups at the expense of others

5. An increase in awareness of the development and
    perpetuation of racism will lead to its elimination and the
    development of a just and peaceful world

6. The struggle against racism must, first and foremost, be
    waged in the heart.

*My Special Thanks To: Centre For The Healing Of Racism

Peace and Love - Rev.Bola A.

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'Desiring God and Healing Racism'

2011-07-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you are one for listening to recorded sermons full of insight and inspiration on the subject of Racial Healing I recommend you click on the following link and bookmark it:-

http://www.desiringgod.org/searches/racial%20harmony

Peace and Light Rev.Bola A.
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'What Is Melanin?

2011-07-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Introductory Notes by Rev.Bola A.

Melanin is a natural substance that gives colour (pigment) to hair, skin, and the iris of the eye. It is produced by cells in the skin called melanocytes. Melanin also helps protect the skin from the sun. Dark-skinned people have more melanin than light- skinned people.
Human skin colour is primarily due to the presence of melanin in the skin. Skin color ranges from almost black to white with a pinkish tinge due to blood vessels underneath. Variation in natural skin color is mainly due to genetics, although the evolutionary causes are not completely certain. According to scientific studies, natural human skin color diversity is highest in Sub-Saharan African populations, with skin reflectance values ranging from 19 to 46 (med. 31) compared with European and East Asian populations which have skin reflectance values of 62 to 69 and 50 to 59 respectively. An alternative name for melanin is Skin pigment.

Why Is Melanin Important To The Human Body?

Melanin is important because it’s the most primitive and universal pigment in living organisms. Melanin is produced in the pineal gland. Abundantly found in primitive organisms such as fungi, as well as advanced primates. Furthermore, within each living organism, melanin appears to be located in the major functional sites. For example, in vertebrates, melanin is not only present in the skin, eyes, ears, central nervous system, it can also be found in the pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, thymus gland, adrenal gland, and the barathary gland. Melanin is abundantly present in the viscera, including the heart, liver, arteries, the muscles, and the gastrointestinal tract; thus, within each and every living organ which aids the human body melanin appears. Regardless of what color your skin appears to be all genes in all creatures on this planet are black because they are coated with melanin.
The amount of melanin in the skin is one of the most variable of human traits, and many polygenes are involved. Groups of people or the population of the world were once classified according to the skin shade: Black (Nubians), White (Caucasians), Yellow (Orientals) and Red (Native Americans) etc... We must realize that just because this is the way they have classified people does not mean this is the way it should be. The hues of color of your skin depend on several factors. First is the amount of melanin in the outer layers of the skin. Melanin acts as a filter to prevent damage to the delicate deeper layers of the skin, by penetration of ultraviolet light.
There is more than one type of melanin. You have brain melanin, also known as neuromelanin, and you have skin melanin. Neuromelanin does not run parallel with skin melanin. Whether white, red, yellow, black, or brown, neuromelanin plays an important role in functioning of the brain, and nervous system. Melanosomes (small structures within the melanocyte cells where melanin is synthesized) find their way into the hair cells, giving them color. (Two types of melanin, one dark brown and one red, are responsible for all hair shades).
Pigments that contribute to skin color are called carotene, a yellowish hemoglobin, in blood vessels (pink-red), and melanin (black, brown, red). Darker skins are dominated by melanin, which is produced from the amino acid tyrosine, by pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin. Melanocytes are characterized by long, fixed extensions of the outer cell membrane. In humans, other mammals, and birds, melanin is dispersed permantely throughout each melanocyte, including the extensions, and is also, transported to nearby skin cells. In other words, if you increase the amount of melanin in the skin you become darker and vice versa.
So, what is so important about melanin? Melanin controls all mental and physical body activities. Melanin is an extremely stable molecule, and highly resistant to the digestion by most acids and bases, and is one of the hardest molecule to ever be analyzed. If you do not purify your melanin molecule, you will not heal your body of diseases.
In parts of Africa, India, and Australia the deposits of melanin in the skin is heaviest because the people have been exposed to the most intense sunlight for generations. Northern Europeans have the least amount of deposits in their skin are lighter, not to mention their weather is cloudy and cool. The thickness of the outer layer of the skin is also a factor. People with darker skin complexions have thicker layers of skin. And this is a factor alone enhances the skins filtering effect. The thinner the skin the least melanin. When the skin is very thin, the blood vessels show through and give a pinkish color. When an individual adapts to the shifting of the intensity of the sunlight, the skin becomes darker because they are exposed to more sunlight. That’s how you get suntans because it’s the result of both thickening and increasing the melanin in the skin. Keratin is the substance the nails of the fingers and toes are made of. It also appears in the outer layer of the skin. When keratin deposits are heavy, the skin has a yellowish, brown shade, as in the Mongolian populations. They have adapted along a different pathway to avoid the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. The reddish hue of the Native Americans results from a combination of keratin and melanin deposits.
Now, you might be asking yourself what does melanin have to do with ultra-violet light? Well, the DNA molecules are all covered with melanin. One of the things that melanin does is it actually absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Melanin is constantly reaching out towards the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Ultraviolet radiation has been found to be dangerous to protein. When protein is passed through ultraviolet radiation it actually causes the molecule to blend. Just like you have some of our sisters and brothers who go to hairdressers, killing their ethers just to get their hair done. No offence to those who do this type of activity so don’t go off the deep end with me. I’m not here to tell you what you should do or not do, because you have your own mind but if you choose to go to hair dressers and get up under these strange lights and you have to wear special kind of glasses with it because of the ultraviolet radiation.
When your ethers are exposed to the chemical or protein structure in those perms and tents it causes it to lock into a certain position, then your hair will not change. That’s the same thing that happens to your chromosomes or genes. When ultraviolet rays are exposed to the chromosomes or the genes, in order for your genes to be able to do what they are suppose to do naturally, they have to be able to change. But when they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation they can’t. Thus when the time or need comes for it to change they will not be able to change. This will result in deformities in your body.
Melanin can also be toxic. Eating the improper foods or overeating can block your connection with the sun’s energy. When the sun’s energy cannot reach the melanin, diseases manifest. Melanin is deranged only when it becomes toxic. Any individual who might have toxic melanin will act in a very similar manner, that which is primitive, animalistic, and barbaric. It is a civilizing chemical when it is not toxic. It has physical properties, and personality traits, which distinguishes it from others. That’s why our bodies are dedicated to making melanin.
Vitamin B keeps melanin clean, not to mention good eating habits. If you want to continue to consume pork, smoke weed, and drink alcohol that’s your own business but your body is dedicated to making melanin, thus if you make it toxic, you’re only hurting yourself. Melanin is like a superconductor, or like a battery in a car. It always stay charged when it is exposed to things such as light, sound, color, and sun light. It will absorb it to the point where the melanin will actually absorb the additional energy and recharge it- self to a brand new level.
Your body has committed itself to creating melanin so you can survive. The melanin in your body is always partial charged. When you look around things like sound, light, sunlight, or colors, the melanin will absorb the additional energy, and recharge itself, taking your body to another level. If you’re around sounds that aren’t good for you your body reacts to it. Your melanin can convert light energy to sound energy, that’s why an entertainer like Michael Jackson, who was a big hit back in the days. What he was doing was using his melanin to convert light energy to sound energy. Sadly later in his amazing career, before his passing, he was lacking melanin he was no longer as able to really get a big hit like in the past. People with melanin are walking radios and the very dark skinned people are very sensitive to the different types of radio frequency or thought patterns that are in the environment. So everything you do, everything you listen to, everything you eat affects you. It affects your melanin.

(Special Thanks to : MAD Writer Productions)

*Peace and Light Rev.Bola A.

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'Intelligence Tests and Race'

2010-02-01T18:22:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was watching a television program in which a highly acclaimed and educated, black male reporter, was investigating the debate, on whether or not levels of human intelligence can be determined by our racial groupings. To put the debate question bluntly ' Is a person's intelligence dictated by their race? Secondly, are certain racial groups innately more intelligent than others?

This black reporter, had interviewed a number of renowned academics in the fields of Psychology, Anthropology, and Science, purported leading thinkers in our modern society. He also interviewed a number of prominent teachers, and academics who claimed to have, vast experience in working with different ethnic minority groups.
My initial response to this television program was one of irritation, annoyance, and deep feelings of disdain. I was shocked by the fact that this kind of issue was still being tabled for debate in such officially high academic circles.
I feel indignation, at the prospect of money, time, and valuable resources, being 'wasted' in my view, on such matters, when there are so many more pressing and relevant issues that require our time and energy.

It was interesting to me, from watching the TV program, that many of the academics needing and wanting to prove this particular point were themselves white people; and of course the two main issues they were so eager to 'prove', were that firstly, black people, and people of African heritage were generally the least intelligent of all the races. Secondly, black people were the least likely to succeed, in our current academic system, and therefore the least likely of all the races, to achieve overall success in society at large.

There are clearly problems with this kind of research, which I wish to address.

First of all, how do we define intelligence, and how do we define success and achievement?
Naturally these things depend on what values we hold in society.
Our current world view aspires to predominantly white middle class values, which are upheld and often enforced, as the 'standard' by which intelligence, success and academic achievement are processed, measured and quantified; therefore all such studies are inherently biased in that direction.
Added to this, is the fact that most of the research we actually come to read about, and hear about, and to which we are exposed concerning this debate, is conducted by Caucasians, in predominantly Caucasian middle class establishments, and then published and publicised by predominantly Caucasian organisations. This isn't to say that there has not been other kinds of research conducted by alternative groups of people; but that we are much less likely to hear about those, because they are less likely to receive public attention or critical acclaim.
The other point I wanted to take up, is related to the findings of some such academics, who concluded that in general, black people (including Australian Aborigines), and people of African heritage, were the least likely of all the races, to achieve and be successful in society at large. Now, why does that not surprise me?!
While I am in agreement with this conclusion as an effect, I strongly disagree with the findings and their purported cause, for this effect - to be the lower intelligence quotient of the black race in general by comparison to others.
I agree that yes, black people as a racial group are less likely to achieve and succeed in a predominantly white middle class academic and social system, set up as the 'standard' for every race. But I hugely disagree that the cause of this, is anything at all to do with a lower level of intelligence in black people, and much more to do with institutionalized and academic racism.
In short, what we are looking at here, is an academically racist question, being conducted in a racially biased institutional setting, by racially biased academics, producing racially biased results and conclusions.
If we were not already, in a racist system to start with, we would not even be contemplating the question.

Finally, an obvious problem with this kind of research is, how we define race?
Do we define race by skin tone, by geographical location or place of birth, by body organs, by genes and cellular structure, by levels of melanin in skin pigmentation, by religious belief, or by language? Further to this, can we honestly claim that the only thing that factor's into accessing an individual's intelligence, (or indeed ability), boils down to race?
What about the other factors like culture, environment, economics, personality traits and upbringing, what about spiritual values, beliefs and practices? Are none of these factors relevant? Do they not have any bearing at all on intelligence? Is intelligence then something isolated, in a vacuum, and completely disconnected and separate, to everything else other than race? I think not.

The finer, one looks into these questions, the more apparent, the ridiculous nature of this kind of debate. Apart from the fact that, none of these purported conclusions, by such academics, can be proven to be true; the deeper and far more important and may I say intelligent question, for me as a person of colour, and as a human-being, to be asking, is why at all one feels the need to be pursuing this kind of debate in the first place?

Whom or what does it serve?

By Rev.Bola A. (copyright: 2 Feb.2010 - ARR)

*Abundant Life Ministries
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'The Difference Between Prejudice and Racism'

2009-12-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

Today, I feel very blessed to have a large group of white friends, who share many of the same views as I do, on this subject. And without their support, I hasten to say that my efforts to educate myself and others, about racism, and the need to eradicate it all together, would be pretty impossible.

This is also true of the many friends that I have been blessed with, who are black of African descent, who are of Asian descent, and friends of all other racial groups. I feel immense gratitude to God, that I have such a wonderful mixture of friends, who are equally determined to be free from racism, and to see it completely removed from our society. There may be some differences of opinion, on the best way to go about this end, but my friends and I all generally concur that the racism existing in our world today, is an unnecessary evil, that needs to be eradicated as quickly and efficiently as possible. We believe in the power of Love as a tool to achieve this end.

Recently, I had a long discussion with one such white friend of mine, whom I hold in very high esteem. This is largely because, he is a rare wise soul who has been through the mill in life, and suffered many obstacles, yet has managed to overcome them and come out shining with his integrity as a being, intact. He today, has a tremendous level of understanding and compassion regarding human misery. I respect his views on life immensely because he lives what he believes.

The friend in question told me, that it may surprise me to know that, as a white person, he had suffered racism as a child, in school. Apparently he had been picked on and bullied, by some Asian kids at his school, for being white, and in the minority. Most of his school mates were non-whites. These boys had decided to vent their anger and frustration, about the racism they and their family had experienced in society, upon my white friend, even though he personally, had done them no such wrong. I thought this point was worth consideration - The fact that racism, is not simply a 'white only' issue, but concerns the entire human race. Really, none of us whatever race we are, can claim to be completely immune from the effects of racism. I aim through this blog to demonstrate that we have all been adversely affected, whether directly or indirectly, by racism. I was therefore, able to console my friend regarding his experience, as indeed sometimes, in battles, innocent people get caught up in the cross fire, and unwittingly receive a bullet wound. This is why it is so important not to blindly pigeon hole people, based on their outward appearances or skin colour. You could be doing yourself and the rest of us a disservice and be attacking an angel, or at least an ally. We need to be conscious of our actions on others, at all times. And to be aware that any kind of prejudice, whether of colour, race, religion, creed, gender etc, is immoral. Having said that, there is however a difference between having a prejudice, and racism. What is the difference you may ask? Well, here is how the Webster dictionary defines prejudice:-

Prejudice: Definition
'preconceived judgment or opinion (2) an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b : an instance of such judgment or opinion : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristic.'

Notice, that we all have some prejudices towards, or against certain kinds of people. There are prejudices for instance in favor of, or against rich people, or poor people, lawyers, police officers, fat people, thin people, extroverts, introverts, conservatives or liberals, smokers, nonsmokers, motor-cyclists, taxi drivers, hippies, long haired men, or people with dread locks; or women in mini skirts, etc...etc.. the list goes on. Many of those prejudices however, are not institutionalized, in the way that racism is. I mean to say that many of the individual prejudices that we hold, though unhelpful at best and harmful at worst, have not been deliberately woven, into the very fabric of our society, so that the institutions, such as our legal system, health system, education system, housing system, financial and economic system, are built upon the prejudice, and actually helping to prop it up, in the way that racism, has been systematically woven into the fabric of our society. Do you see the difference?

Racism is more intricate and more premeditated, because it is part of the essential way that the system runs. Institutionalized racism has a subliminal or subconscious under-current. A systematic, and repetitive way of projecting itself into our lives, by the very nature of the system we live by and live in. Please read that again. This is powerful stuff. we know how powerful the sub-conscious mind is.

We have witnessed this kind of manifestation very clearly in the old apartheid systems of S. Africa, and Zimbabwe. We have also witnessed and experienced the effects of the old system of British colonialism, some of the consequences of that are still evident in the problems that many African countries still face today. We have witnessed the results of the racial segregation that was socially engineered in the Deep South of America, where it was legalized. Many of us are aware of these facts of history, since these were the very things that people like Dr. Martin Luther King, President J. Kennedy, and President Nelson Mandela stood up against, and laid their lives down, to change.

But even though such apartheid systems thankfully, have now been made illegal, there is still a prevailing level of racism that is still evident, and lingering around mostly subconsciously, in our current systems of today. Racism is still very much alive guys, only in more subtle forms and variations.

Let's take a closer look at the definition of Institutional Racism:-

Institutional Racism: Definition
'(Also structural racism and systemic racism) is any form of racism occurring specifically within institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations, and universities (public and private).
Institutional racism is one of three forms of racism: (i) Personally-mediated, (ii) internalized, and (iii) institutional.
The term institutional racism was coined by Stokely Carmichael, the black nationalist, pan-africanist and "honorary prime minister" of the Black Panther Party, who, in the late 1960s, defined institutional racism as “the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin”.1

Furthermore, Institutional racism: is the differential access to the goods, services, and opportunities of society. When the differential access becomes integral to institutions, it becomes common practice, making it difficult to rectify. Eventually, this racism dominates public bodies, private corporations, and public and private universities, and is reinforced by the actions of conformists and newcomers. Another difficulty in reducing institutionalized racism is that there is no sole, true identifiable perpetrator. When racism is built into the institution, it appears as the collective action of the population.

The statements in bold, make it clear for us to see the difference between our normal every day prejudices, the ones we act on out of ignorance; and racism.
I am pointing out this difference, not to undermine the very real suffering that people like my dear friend, have experienced at the hands of ignorant bullies acting out their prejudices on others; but so as to fully acknowledge, the level and depth at which racism does exist, and how it undermines us all. I am also pointing out the difference, so that we do face up to, the amount of work that actually needs to be done, to eradicate racism completely, from within our individual selves, and also our society's collective consciousness. For us to heal from racism completely, we need to be fully aware of the extent to which it impacts our lives, and in particular, the lives of those who are at the receiving end, of the brunt of it on a daily basis.

I have direct and personal experience, of the effects of; on the one hand - bullying activities by individuals on account of their personal prejudices; and on the other hand - racism that is institutional and systemised. Though neither of them have been pleasant experiences, my experiences of the latter, were by far the more debilitating.

I would love to hear other people's views and experiences about this. Please add your own insights in the 'comments section' of this blog. You can even do so anonymously if you wish.

For additional resources and assistance, you may want to view my other blogs and websites by clicking here:-
Holy Spirit Services - online by Rev.Bola

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Article by Rev.Bola A. (copyright:7Dec'09 -ARR)

'Racism...what's that?'

2009-10-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Especially for those who might still be in some denial about this subject, I will start at the beginning.

Racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each racial group possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, but especially to distinguish that race as being either superior or inferior to another racial group or racial groups.

Merriam Webster's dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capabilities (when in fact it is the Spirit that is the main determinant) and that certain racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular racial group. It is also the prejudice based on such a belief. Macquarie dictionary defines racism as: "the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective values, usually involving the false idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others. The concept that discrimination can be based on "race" presupposes the existence of "race" itself. However, even the United States government's, Human Genome project, has announced that the most complete mapping of human DNA to date, indicates that there is no distinct genetic basis to racial types

Racism is the erroneously perpetuated belief, that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person's social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics, rather than their innate spirit. Racial separatism is the belief, most of the time based on racism, that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another.

Racism is destructive. It dis-empowers people by devaluing their identity. It destroys community cohesion and creates fake divisions in society. It is the opposite of the democratic principle of the equal rights of all people to be treated fairly. An understanding of the nature of racism is essential in order to recognize and counter it successfully. Racism is a global phenomenon which is influenced by a range of historical, social, political and economic factors. It takes different forms in different contexts and as a result has been defined in many different ways. For example In Australia, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1998) states that Racism is an ideology that gives expression to myths about other than caucasian racial and ethnic groups, that devalues and renders inferior those groups, and is perpetuated by deeply rooted historical, social, cultural and power inequalities in society. Racism is the result of a complex interplay of individual attitudes, social values and institutional practices, motivated by the intent to deceive and exploit.

Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of "... the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man's genetic lineage -- the notion that a man's intellectual and character traits are produced and transmitted by his internal body chemistry. "...which means, in practice, that a man is to be judged, not by his own character and actions, but by the characters and actions of a collective of ancestors. "Racism claims that the content of a man's mind (not his cognitive apparatus) is inherited; that a man's convictions, values and character are determined before he is born, by physical and material rather than Spiritual forces beyond his control. " This is the caveman's version of the doctrine of biologically inherited knowledge -- which has been thoroughly refuted by philosophy and science even, not to talk of other educational disciplines. Racism is a doctrine of, by and for brutes. "It is a barnyard or stock-farm version of collectivism, appropriate to a mentality that differentiates between various breeds of animals, but not between animals and men".

Racism is repeatedly treating someone differently and especially unfairly, simply because they belong to a different race or culture. People can also experience prejudice because of their religion or nationality. It is illegal to treat people differently or unfairly because of their race and no one has the right to make you feel bad or abuse you. Racism is the cancer of our society. Racism is old and racism is a disease.

It is the intentional or unintentional use of power to isolate, separate and exploit others. Racism is more than just a personal attitude; it is the institutionalized form of the attitude". Racism is subtle but still exists beneath the surface, it is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Did you know for instance, that racism is rife in Britain's schools and has surfaced several times? It takes two distinct forms: racist teachers and racist kids. Last year, government-funded research by the university of Warwick caused a stir by seeming to prove, conclusively, that children of African heritage are the victims of ‘institutionalized racism' and, more specifically, ‘teacher racism' It amazes me that this news could come as a surprise to anyone who has been residing in the UK for more than 6 months. You would have had to be living under a stone somewhere not to be aware of this, but 'denial' like 'cognitive dissonance', is a powerful mental defense mechanism.

So where do you stand on the subject of racism? Are your actions for it, against it, or are you just sitting on the fence?

by Rev.Bola A
(copyright: 21Oct09 -ARR)

'Great Quotes To Inspire'

2009-10-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

*My Black Is Beautiful*

'From the colour of my skin,
to the texture of my hair,
to the length of my strands,
to the breadth of my smile

To the stride of my gait,
to the span of my arms,
to the depth of my bosom,
to the curve of my hips,
to the glow of my skin...

My Black is Beautiful.

It cannot be denied.
It will not be contained.
And only I will define it.
For when I look in my mirror,
my very soul cries out,

My Black is Beautiful.

And so today,
speak it out loud,
unabashedly,
I declare it anew.

My Black is Beautiful.

Whether celebrated,
imitated, exploited or denigrated.
Whether natural from inside
or skilfully applied.

My Black is Beautiful.

To my daughters,
my sisters, my nieces,
my cousins, my colleagues
and my friends,
I speak for us all when I say again,

My Black Is Beautiful'

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'You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk'

For more inspirational poetry and words go here: Poetry Planet by Rev.Bola

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'Recovery From Racism For Humans'

2009-10-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

by Rev.Bola

This blog has been a long time coming. I have been preparing for it, by doing a great deal of research and personal study on the subject, so as to come up with actual examples and practical solutions that would benefit a broad spectrum of people. I wanted to make this blog purposeful and inspirational enough to encourage others as well as myself, to take positive and constructive action to eliminate racism from the world, and to do it without inciting people to reckless and undue violence and abuse.

Racism is indeed a very sensitive matter for many of us. The solution to it cannot be undermined further with patronizing idealism, denial, hypocrisy, generalizations, ambiguity, or any of the other subtle ways of avoiding the issue. When we talk of people of color, we are discussing the vast majority of the human population. This matter clearly affects all humans; whether you are a perpetrator, a victim, or an idle stander-by, racism concerns us all. Fortunately I am not the first person to raise this issue for discussion, nor will I be the last. I have many role models I can emulate, including stellar well known ones, as President Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Rev.Martin Luther King and Ghandi to name a few.

I am a black woman of African heritage, and as far as I know, I do not have any other racial mixes in my genetic make-up, other than African. In addition, I have spent the greater part of my life living in the United kingdom, and most of my cultural influences are western, particularly British and American. I have a predominantly British/American education. Never-the-less, I still have a lot of African cultural influences directing my personality and my innate sense of identity. Am I esteemed by my heritage? Very much so. I love who and what I am. Usually, when people meet me in person, they are often in no doubt, that both my African and my western British influences are evident, and that both blend well together in me, and in a manner that I can be happy with and quite proud of. I have dual nationalities, and two passports, both of which I would never give up, for anything in the world. I believe I have earned my right to be both British and African; not because I am nationalistic, but rather because I am phenomenally grateful, for every one of the cultural influences that have shaped my life and made me who I am today. Phenomenally grateful, I repeat.

Racism influenced my life, even before I was born. It has continued to weave its ugly passage through my life, in one form or another, from my day of birth, and right through to this current day. All of my life, I have had to live with it, recognize it, get around it, deflect it, avoid it, learn from it, discuss it, ignore it, run away from it, stand up to it, ponder over it, or deal with this unwanted nemesis in my life called racism. One way or another, willingly or unwillingly, consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly, racism has been a major culprit in my life demanding my attention.

I am in no denial about this subject at all. Racism has affected my self esteem, my physical health, my mental health, my emotional health. It has affected my relationships with others, my family of origin, my ability to be married and raise a family of my own, my friends, my social life, my career, my work, my hobbies and pastimes, my finances, my buying decisions. It has affected where I live, where I go, whom I can support, whom I can receive support from, how I socialize, how I view the world around me, and every aspect of my freedom and liberty as an individual and a group or community member. It has affected my choice of Faith and manner of worship, and my religious practice. There is not a single area of my life that racism has not affected (except of course my spirituality, which is something I will be addressing later on). Henceforth, I have decided that, Racism as an issue, does require blogging about, and some further discussion on my part, now and long after I am gone from this earth.

I would like to pose a couple of important questions.
Firstly, what exactly is racism? and secondly, whom or what does racism serve? ( as to say, what use is it to anyone, and whom or what stands to gain anything from it?)

I believe that asking ourselves these two very important questions, can assist us greatly, in deciding whether racism is something we want to continue having, as part of our game of life, and if not, what we can do to reduce it and completely remove it.

As you consider the above two questions, would you say that they are religious or spiritual questions, political questions, or scientific questions? Would you say these questions were Artistic questions, Social questions, Economic questions, Biological questions, Paranormal questions, Medical questions, or Ethical questions? Are they intelligent questions, or stupid questions? Are they humanistic questions, or universal questions, or would you say that they are a bit of all of the above or absolutely nothing to do with any of the above? How would you label these two questions, and how would you go about answering them?

Personally, I would love to hear and share your views and comments about this. please send them in, and keep them coming.
In this blog I will also be attempting to present the answers I have found, to these questions, whatever knowledge and awareness I have gained, and also some practical solutions. Stay tuned!

Blessings and Love
Rev.Bola A
(copyright: 17.10.09 -ARR)