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1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 03:22 PM Apr 2016

*** Posted to the African-American Group ***

Duer KamaAina posted this to the GD ... And, I loved it ...

When Black People Were Not “Ladies” or “Men” [View all]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rhetoricraceandreligion/2016/04/when-black-people-were-not-ladies-or-men.html


At the church I serve (Gifts of Life Ministries), every fourth Sunday during our Power Hour Bible Study session before morning worship, we have what has been affectionately called “Ask the Pastor.” During this session, members and visitors can ask me any question that has been on their minds. When we first started doing this, I thought many of the questions would focus squarely on theology and/or the Bible. I even thought that some of the questions would focus specifically on our church’s mission and vision; maybe even a complaint or two. However, to my surprise, the overwhelming focus of the questions has centered on contemporary news topics. Members have asked me everything from the meaning of Black Lives Matter, to what should we do about the deaths happening in our community. We have talked about issues centering around GLBTQ communities (especially the marriage debate), local politics, and the happenings in Ferguson, Baltimore, New York, and Cleveland. Yes, we have talked theology and the Bible but usually when we do; it’s around these contemporary issues.

This past Sunday was no different. The very first question of our members had was, “Pastor, what do you think about all of these so called Religious Freedom bills that states are enacting?” The reason for her asking is that our neighboring state, Mississippi, has recently passed a bill that would allow business owners to deny service to same-sex couples. As we discussed the question, another member asked about the Bathroom Bills that states are enacting as well. This started a good robust discussion as I shared with them what I knew about the bills; especially the one in North Carolina. When the members understood that the bill stated that people must use the bathroom of their birth gender, one member yelled, “How would somebody know what you have. Are they going to be checking the stalls in bathrooms?” Another member flatly said, “We probably have been going to the bathroom with transgendered folks all our lives anyway and just did not know it.” Moreover, our discussion on the bathroom bills also opened up a discussion on transgender people and while everyone did not understand, they were all in agreement that these bathroom bills amounted to some type of discrimination.

As I reflected on the question and the argument that supporters use in defense of these bills; “Would you want your little girl to go to the bathroom with a man who could put on a wig and say he’s transgendered”—I thought about this picture that’s hanging in our study at home. I think it can help us shed a little bit of light on what’s happening right now with Bathroom Bills.

Maybe one of the reasons why several members of the church see bathroom bills and religious freedom arguments as discriminatory was because some of them lived during the time when the bathrooms in the picture above was deemed okay. As the picture indicates, black people were not “ladies” or “men” just “colored.” “Ladies” and “men” were reserved only for white people. Also, there were no calls for concern about black women and men using the same bathroom—transgender or otherwise. Additionally, there was no concern about men going into bathrooms with “little girls.” Just if you were “colored” you all had to share the same bathroom.



12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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*** Posted to the African-American Group *** (Original Post) 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 OP
We are under attacked JustAnotherGen Apr 2016 #1
Got'cha 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #3
Thanks, saving for later. Patheos essays are great n/t Kind of Blue Apr 2016 #2
Education, here. Did not know about the single bathroom. Jackie Wilson Said Apr 2016 #4
Rev. Barber has been on this since Amendment One. wildeyed Apr 2016 #7
He is a wonderful man Jackie Wilson Said Apr 2016 #8
K&R mcar Apr 2016 #5
I know ... But you were/are not alone. Though, I had seen them ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2016 #9
It's like those black & white photos are ancient history mcar Apr 2016 #10
Yes, that is the truth wildeyed Apr 2016 #6
Thanks for bringing this here. Kind of Blue Apr 2016 #11
I wonder Uponthegears Apr 2016 #12

JustAnotherGen

(31,681 posts)
1. We are under attacked
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 03:23 PM
Apr 2016

Please post Posted in AFAM Group at the top of your post (Not in subject line) - that way I have a reason out of the gate to boot people out. Thanks!

Jackie Wilson Said

(4,176 posts)
4. Education, here. Did not know about the single bathroom.
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 04:38 PM
Apr 2016

It is fantastic what is being done in NC by African American leaders and church leaders supporting our LGBTQIA friends.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
7. Rev. Barber has been on this since Amendment One.
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 06:17 PM
Apr 2016

The first time I really paid attention to him was on this topic. He was so brilliant and so committed to defeating that legislation. It was a beautiful thing.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
9. I know ... But you were/are not alone. Though, I had seen them ...
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 06:49 PM
Apr 2016

I was young enough that it didn't register.

mcar

(42,208 posts)
10. It's like those black & white photos are ancient history
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 07:34 PM
Apr 2016

But they are certainly from my lifetime. How many times do we have to do this before we figure it out?

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
6. Yes, that is the truth
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 06:14 PM
Apr 2016

and the way it needs to be framed for debate. It doesn't matter what a person believes about transgendered people or homosexuality, these laws are an attempt to legislate and codify discrimination. They are an attack on all of our rights.

Rev. Barber from Moral Mondays has been out in front of this for a decade.

From the Amendment One battle in 2012.

And the HB2 fight that is happening now.

Kind of Blue

(8,709 posts)
11. Thanks for bringing this here.
Thu Apr 28, 2016, 09:12 AM
Apr 2016

I'm speechless, mostly because as the Reverend says the past is always prologue. It's disheartening but I'd rather be informed.

 

Uponthegears

(1,499 posts)
12. I wonder
Thu Apr 28, 2016, 10:15 AM
Apr 2016

Can someone be both outraged and proud?

I am old so I remember those signs growing up in Houston. I won't get into the rage.

What I hadn't really thought about was the communal response to that insult.

Yes, brothers and sisters we are and always will be.

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