Social Justice
Podcast Shorts: How Do People of Faith Address Violence?
The constant drumbeat of negative news stories about violence, from the rioters who stormed the Capitol to the latest neighborhood or school shooting, is all so unnerving. Dr. Melvin E. Banks offers biblically based, two-minute podcast shorts that cover injustice, gang violence, drug dealers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Racial justice giving is booming: 4 trends
From thousands of people chipping in as little as $5 to George Floyd’s GoFundMe to donations well in excess of $1 million to HBCUs, anti-racist philanthropy is rising.
Evictions Damage Public Health. The CDC Aims to Curb Them ― For Now.
A survey of 17 cities found more than 50,000 pandemic-related eviction filings. Housing advocates worry that increased housing instability will lead to more COVID-19 and other illnesses.
The masks Black preachers wear on the public stage
A professor of homiletics explores the different personas Black preachers wear in the public sphere and how this has often been misunderstood.
Bipartisan network of Christian groups launches police reform initiative
The Prayer & Action Justice Initiative — bringing together Black, Hispanic and Asian organizations along with groups focused on prisoners, prayer and public justice — will advocate for greater equality, accountability and transparency in the criminal justice system.
Can churches’ focus on race move from reconciliation to justice?
For decades, “racial reconciliation” has been the language many white evangelical Christians used when they talked about cultivating improved race relations. The term “racial justice” was avoided.
The Preaching Politician
‘Good Trouble’ documentary follows John Lewis from fields of Alabama to halls of Congress.
Frederick Douglass, July 4th, and remembering Babylon in America
Frederick Douglass used the words of Psalm 137 in his famous speech, ‘What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?’ For centuries, this poem has resonated with writers and composers on how humans deal with trauma.
‘It’s a moral issue:’ Mississippi Baptist Convention calls for new state flag
Leaders asked for “Mississippi Baptists to make this a matter of prayer and to seek the Lord’s guidance in standing for love instead of oppression, unity instead of division, and the gospel of Christ instead of the power of this world.”
The Final Cut
Baltimore barber Antoine Dow helps bring dignity to young black men whose lives were cut short by gun violence.
Here’s why MLK Day is more than just another day off
As our nation continues to fight issues of social injustice and racial tension, many question whether or not the ideals memorialized on MLK Day hold true throughout the year.
Saving Rodney Reed
Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has joined the fast-growing calls from Texas lawmakers and A-list celebrities to take a closer look at the death sentence of Rodney Reed.
IRS: Sorry, but It’s Just Easier and Cheaper to Audit the Poor
Congress asked the IRS to report on why it audits the poor more than the affluent. Its response is that it doesn’t have enough money and people to audit the wealthy properly. So it’s not going to.
African churches demand end to xenophobic attacks in S. Africa
As the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa dies out, churches in the country and others on the continent are demanding an end to the persistent problem, affecting economic migrants in one of Africa’s biggest economies.
Reparations fund for Virginia seminary
An Episcopal seminary in Virginia has announced plans to create a $1.7 million endowment fund whose proceeds will support reparations for the school’s ties to slavery.
Interfaith leaders step up to protect the world’s ‘sacred’ rainforests
During Climate Week, starting September 22 at the UN in New York City, interfaith leaders will unveil the Faiths for Forests Declaration, with a call to political action by global congregations.
Black women sound the alarm about domestic violence
“In some cases, with very, very religious women from certain church traditions, if marital issues are expressed to the pastor or other members of the church, there has been this history of saying, ‘Baby, just take it. Love your husband. Pray for your husband and God will do something in the end.’” — Rev. C.J. Rhodes, pastor of Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, MS.
Few Resources for Growing Number of African Migrants at the Border
The number of Eritreans and Cameroonians detained in Mexico has been steadily increasing over the past five years, but they haven’t tapped into many of the resources available to Central American and Mexican migrants.