|
Brother Rudy
By Austin L. Sydnor Jr.
In times like these
we need to put pettyism aside
In times like these
we need to focus on the true
meaning
that we are all brother and sisters
In times like these
we need to take away the "ism"
In times like these
we need to focus on the "oughtness"
In times like these
we must remember the old
In times like these
we must face the challenge of the
new
In times like these
we must not be afraid to take the
risk
In times like these
when there is no guarantee
In times like these |
posted 19 April 2006
* * * * *
 |
A Bio Statement by Austin L. Sydnor Jr.
I was born the second child, first of twin, and first
male, named after my father. I have one sister, and two
brothers. I grew up on the west-side, near downtown,
Baltimore. My father was an ordained minister and my
mother was active in the church. Later, she became a
deaconess and director the gospel chorus at the church.
My father and mother were older
parents. But that did not bother me, because I realized
that I did not have any choice and this was a blessing.
This was the strength I needed to face whatever life or
even death brought my way. I took piano lessons, but
later on that was not my fortitude. It did help me
later. I directed two choirs over at my mother’s
church—the young people and later on her chorus. |
I graduated from Baltimore City
College in 1969. I had a social conscious belief in
other as I met several people from high school. I
participated in the S.O.U.L. School, Black Student
Union, and Black United Front. I later went to
Liberation House Press. I joined VISTA. This is where I
learned typesetting. During 1970, there was a student
rebellion, and when I was downtown, a person, Walter H.
Lively, asked me to get involved in printing. I could
never actually print per se, but I had an interest in
pre-press, now called word processing, but back in the
day it was called typesetting. I was fascinated by
typesetting, because it helped me to be creative and it
helped me later on to understand the art of computer
through the word processing field.
I have been to several community
colleges and also have courses in theology from a
Baltimore seminary. I received “Employee of the Month”
in 1993 at one of my employments and a certificate for
computer skills at one of the local community college in
the state.
Currently, I am assisting
NathanielTurner.Com, ChickenBones: a Journal,
with Brother Rudolph Lewis, who is the editor. I helped
in word processing and scanning photographs for the
journal. I have a son and two grandchildren whom I have
supported.
I tried to be open-minded,
persistent, and persevere. I always believe in helping
the disenfranchised through many activities within the
neighborhood, church affiliation, volunteer service and
actively being involved with ChickenBones for the
past few years. The first thing you learn is who you
are, and I realize that through the good and bad
situations, that I persevere through this knowledge of
“who I am” and “where I need to go” to handle the
condition and/or situation and not only of myself but
also through the conditions of the poor and oppressed.
Some of the scriptures that interest
me the most are: Psalm 84:10: For a day in the courts
is better than a thousand. I had rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the
tents of wickedness; Proverbs 18:24: A man that hath
friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a
friend that sticketh closer than a brother; Mark
3:21: And when his friends heard of it, they went
out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside
himself; II Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new; and
Hebrew 13:8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever.
I pick these scriptures because I
believe that theology, like in life, should be from the
bottom up. The poor and oppressed people are slave in an
endless cycle and they are on the bottom and do not have
any way out except to reach up. Blackness is not
exclusive as white Christian theology, but it includes
everyone who has been rejected as Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus was rejected twice in his home town of Nazareth.
As feeling like Jesus, because he was rejected on my
behalf, this helps me to be accepted through his
suffering, dying, and rising that He did—not for selfish
glory—but the liberation of the poor and oppressed.
This helps me to endure the suffering
of others—so that we all can be free. Black theology
gives self-confidence, self-control, self-discipline,
self-esteem, and self-interest. This theology helps us
to overcome as our forefathers and mothers tried to do
for us. This is not “foolish” pride or a racist
ideology/theology, but a love that was way back on
Calvary, that sets us free. Black theology takes risks.
White theology takes risks for “worldly pleasures.” The
haves (white theology) against the have-nots (black
theology). I assist in ChickenBones, so that we
learn from our past, live in the present, and prepare
for the future. This journal is important so we will
learn the truth. The Bible says “the truth will set us
free.” “Living for me, living for me, all my
transgression and now I am free, all because of Jesus is
living for me.”
* * *
* *
* * *
* *
|
The Price of Civilization
Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity
By Jeffrey D. Sachs
The Price of Civilization is a book that is essential reading for every American. In a forceful, impassioned, and personal voice, he offers not only a searing and incisive diagnosis of our country’s economic ills but also an urgent call for Americans to restore the virtues of fairness, honesty, and foresight as the foundations of national prosperity. Sachs finds that both political parties—and many leading economists—have missed the big picture, offering shortsighted solutions such as stimulus spending or tax cuts to address complex economic problems that require deeper solutions. Sachs argues that we have profoundly underestimated globalization’s long-term effects on our country, which create deep and largely unmet challenges with regard to jobs, incomes, poverty, and the environment. America’s single biggest economic failure, Sachs argues, is its inability to come to grips with the new global economic realities. Sachs describes a political system that has lost its ethical moorings, in which ever-rising campaign contributions and lobbying outlays overpower the voice of the citizenry. . . . Sachs offers a plan to turn the crisis around. He argues persuasively that the problem is not America’s abiding values, which remain generous and pragmatic, but the ease with which political spin and consumerism run circles around those values. He bids the reader to reclaim the virtues of good citizenship and mindfulness toward the economy and one another. |
 |
* *
* * *
 |
Sex at the Margins
Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry
By Laura María Agustín
This book explodes several myths: that selling sex is completely different from any other kind of work, that migrants who sell sex are passive victims and that the multitude of people out to save them are without self-interest. Laura Agustín makes a passionate case against these stereotypes, arguing that the label 'trafficked' does not accurately describe migrants' lives and that the 'rescue industry' serves to disempower them. Based on extensive research amongst both migrants who sell sex and social helpers, Sex at the Margins provides a radically different analysis. Frequently, says Agustin, migrants make rational choices to travel and work in the sex industry, and although they are treated like a marginalised group they form part of the dynamic global economy. Both powerful and controversial, this book is essential reading for all those who want to understand the increasingly important relationship between sex markets, migration and the desire for social justice. "Sex at the Margins rips apart distinctions between migrants, service work and sexual labour and reveals the utter complexity of the contemporary sex industry. This book is set to be a trailblazer in the study of sexuality."—Lisa Adkins, University of London |
* * * *
*
The White Masters of the
World
From
The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois’
Arraignment and Indictment of White Civilization
(Fletcher)
* *
* * *
Ancient African Nations
* * * * *
If you like this page consider making a donation
* * * * *
Negro Digest /
Black World
Browse all issues
1950
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
____ 2005
Enjoy!
* * * * *
The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan
/
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
/
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for
Slavery
* *
* * *
The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The
Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804
/
January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of
Haiti
* * * * *
* *
* * *
updated 16 August 2008
|
