Commentary
Podcast Shorts: How Do People of Faith Address Violence?
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, the founder of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.), has biblically based, two-minute podcast shorts that cover injustice, gang violence, drug dealers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What Pastors Can Learn from Barbershops and Salons
Barbershops and salons are not just about style, but about creating sacred spaces that allow people to be themselves. Find out what pastors can learn from these spaces.
Millennials, Faith, and the Black Church
UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) and Urban Faith led an open dialogue with millennial influencers on Millennials, Faith, and the Future of the Black Church at the 104th Hampton Minister’s Conference.
#HarveyTaughtMe Part 1: Storms and Skeptics
I have been working in the city of Houston since 2012 and in my five years of living in the state of Texas I never experienced a “real” hurricane making landfall—until Harvey. What our city experienced was something much more than any of us could have imagined, as so...
How to Avoid the Box of Limitation
We have been privileged to live in a generation that has mastered the art of multitasking, being able to do multiple things at the same time and excelling. You really have to, otherwise, life will pass you by. Sometimes the news changes so fast that if you wait too...
Generosity: Going beyond the tithe
I’d garner a wage that if you’ve ever stepped into a church, you’re familiar with the “Offering” moment. It’s generally a time in the service where someone will get up and give a brief message about the importance of tithing. It is almost comical how quickly the...
What’s Really Going On in Syria?
As an American, it is very difficult for me to understand the conflict in Syria; the depth of which encompasses hundreds of years of political and religious battle lines. Modern technology brings international attention to the plight of the citizens there. Images...
The Me I See: My Race, My Faith, My Identity
“Are you brown all over?” The innocence of the question did nothing to prevent me from being flabbergasted. As I stared into the almost cartoon-sized blue eyes of this 4-year-old boy, compassion filled my heart. I simply smiled and replied, “Why yes, of course!” He...
An Update on Maintaining Those New Year’s Resolutions
With us being several weeks into 2017, you might have already gotten slightly discouraged or fallen off track when it comes to the goals you’ve set for the year, so we thought it may be a good idea to revisit those resolutions with an update. While setting goals,...
Flip The Script For An Invitation into Artistic Inclusion
So another Black History Month is here, and for artists, writers, musicians, and other creative types that hail from the Black community, it’s an opportunity that comes with a burden. February is a time when your workplace, school, or church might be more open to...
11 Must-Read Books for Black History Month
As Black History Month commences, here are a few must-have books from Black authors, spanning time periods, themes and genres. However, one thing they have in common is critical acclaim and a strong command of tackling the Black experience with grace, courage,...
Five Reasons To Celebrate Black History Month
Jemar Tisby, co-founder of the Reformed African American Network, makes a case for the relevance and importance of Black History Month.
New Year, New You: The Only Resolutions that Matter
A desire for self-improvement and positive change is the very reason why New Year’s has long been my favorite holiday. It’s been the time of year when I’ve been most willing and ready to embrace change. It’s a time when I pause to reflect on my growth and...
What is Kwanzaa Really About?
All week long, African Americans have been celebrating Kwanzaa across the U.S. Perhaps you may attend a Kwanzaa celebration at your church or even participate in Kwanzaa in the comforts of your own home, but do you really know why? What is Kwanzaa and why do so many...
National Observance of Juneteenth is Still a Struggle
With the release of films such as 12 Years a Slave and The Birth of a Nation and the re-make of the "Roots" mini-series in 2016, we have seen our fair share of the history of black slavery. However, the past few years may have marked the beginning of a burgeoning...
Why Are We So Fascinated with the Illuminati?
We are fascinated with the Illuminati. If you have been following any celebrity of note, then you have to be familiar with the concept of the Illuminati. The secret society that controls the world from the shadows is supposedly filled with Black celebrities. Jay-Z,...
We’re Still Doing Easter?
Is it time for Easter again? It doesn’t feel like Easter season. Easter (or Resurrection Sunday for the purists) is around the corner, and yet many Millennials feel little reason to celebrate. When I think of Easter, I think of special sermons, church presentations,...
Inside the Prison Industrial Complex
An analysis of the prison industrial complex from the racial bias inherent in incarceration rates to exploitative labor practices and how the church should respond.