The American Son By: Emmanuel Philor Sr.
Scripture: Psalm 13:1-2
How
long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How
long will you hide your face from me?
How
long must I bear pain in my soul
How
long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
The American Son By: Emmanuel Philor Sr.
Over the past
couple of weeks, Black America was shaken as we watched a fictional movie about
our current context in America. This Netflix Original movie, from which the
sermon Bears its title, reminds us of the repercussions of being Black in
America. Jamal, a Black Child with a Black Ph.D holding mother and a White FBI
Officer for a father, fell victim to a crime that predated his existence. This
precious Black Child was occupying a luxury vehicle and was pulled over. Though
the reason for the traffic stop was never revealed, the story ends in a manner
that has become all too familiar to us, as Black People. Jamal was gunned down
and would never be able to grow into the aspirations that neither he nor his
family was dreaming about. He would never be able to laugh or enjoy the
creature-comforts again. As is common for the Black Child in America, his life
was cut short by someone who vowed to keep him safe. This fictional story
caused some discomfort in our lives because this storyline was far too
realistic. This reality is something that any Black person can fall prey to at
some point in their life. Though this movie was fictional, the plot resembled
the stories of many people we have come to know. Names like Sandra Bland,
Trayvon Martin, Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, Eric Gardner and so many more.
Jamal’s name will be etched in our hearts, although he was a fictional
character.
This movie displayed the fear that riddles the parents of
Black Children in America. The idea that someone could harm our children with a
warranted reason causes us to fear for their lives. When I first encountered
the movie, I thought to myself that the writers misspelled “Sin” and it was
replaced with son; but after sitting with the message, I would argue that the
only true American Son is racism. Through the sins of this American nation, we
are reminded of the possibility of losing another Black person before this day
is out. America is reinforcing its genocidal tendencies every time a Black or
Brown body dies at the hands of a Police Officer. While I know that Crime in
our inner cities is terrible, I am more fearful to be pulled over by police
than by a gang banger. Some would expect that a life of prayer would evade this
kind of evil, but it is still likely to happen to us, while under God/s
watchful eye . This causes great distress and sadness to come over the
population of Churched Black people. The reality of our fate as Blacks in this
country often causes us great discomfort. I, for one, am saddened by how racism
has wrapped and riddled this nation. I often find myself crying out to the
Lord, in a similar manner to David’s cry.
This psalm is not one to be sung or recited by those who
are tiptoeing through the tulips that life’s garden has offered you, but
instead to the ones whose life’s narrative has been difficult. This is written
to remind us that as Langston Hughes once declared, that life ain’t been no
crystal stair. Blacks boast in our strength amid oppression because that is
easier than finding a safe place to rest. Many of us find ourselves asking God
the questions that David is asking in this psalm. How Long God? How long will
we have to endure the oppression that causes us to be unsafe? How long will we
be bound by racism in this ‘land of the free’? It is difficult to endure
America’s son, as it seems to show that God exalts our enemies over us. The
amount of people whom we have lost at the hands of those who vowed to protect
us raises Boogie Down Productions’ question, who protects us from you?
As a Black male in America, I find myself fearing for my
life. I am more fearful that I may be murdered by a Police officer than to
brush death by a more natural cause. A study in the Washington Post[ 1], conducted by Frank
Edwards of Rutgers University, shows that murder by police is among the top 6
leading causes of death in young men between 25-29. The authors suggest that a
black man is 2.5 times more like to be murdered by police than his white
counterpart. “Our models predict that about 1 in 1,000 black men and boys will
be killed by police over the life course,” the authors write. As you can
imagine, this can cause us to have much trepidation. For some of us, the
anxiety of encountering the police discourages us from leaving our safe space,
unless necessary. Even this is difficult to express when we consider the deaths
of Atatiana Jefferson and Botham Jean, who were murdered by police officers,
while in their homes. This concludes that there is no safe space for blacks in
America, to which we can only turn to God.
The God-factor of this text shows that God is silent
amidst our suffering. While this psalm was not related to a specific biblical
event that took place in David’s life, it is possible that David’s cry was a
result of the prolonged traumas that took place in his life. While the question
that David raises doesn’t give us insight about his issues, it does enlighten
us on the position of God in our suffering. David is beyond the point of the
comforting clichés that people offer us when we are in pain. He doesn’t want to
hear that Good won't put more on him than he can bear, nor that a shift is
taking place. He knows it isn’t his “season for victory” and isn’t looking for
a crooked preacher to offer him false hope. He wants to know how much of this
he has to endure. David sounds like Blacks in America, who have endured much
suffering and want to know when the end will come. Through enslavement,
segregation, and racism; we have witnessed that America is not too fond of
Blacks.
As a Black Theologian and Worshipper, I relish at the
walking the through the pearly gates, loitering on the streets of Gold,
enjoying the Marriage Supper at the Lord's table and all the amenities that
Heaven has to offer; but I struggle with why I can have a bit of it right here
on earth. How long will my blackness be considered a weapon and deem me
unworthy of Due process? How much longer will I have to be accompanied by
Whites to be treated like a person? Will my character ever be recognized as
more valuable than my skin? How much longer will Black be treated like 2nd
Class Citizens? How much longer will I have to swallow my pride, to ensure I
safely make it home? How much longer must Blacks be the only ones to show
restraint? How many more police officers will shoot Blacks and be rewarded with
an administrative leave; while families are left to grieve. I, like David, am
tired. I am without resolve, hoping for God’s redemption to take place and
deliver us from the demonic grips of this American son. I long for the day when
all our children will be safe. But until then, I lament with the blood on the
pavement. I lament with Blacks all over this land. I lament over the reality of
the American Son!
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