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We are all God’s Children
by Deborah Springer Suttlar
January 11, 2025
This is a new year; however, we continue to revert to those same destructive patterns of yesteryear. Too many are invoking negative influences to divide us. I am reminded of how imperfect we are with the ever-rising objections to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We all are God’s children. When I say “we” I mean humanity, all the people in this world. God created us. It is evident that some have decided not to honor, respect, or give credence to that spiritual fact. They have chosen to follow their own ways.
God created diversity, and commanded equity and inclusion. If you have an issue with these principles, then you are against God. Those principles are exactly what Jesus manifested when he lived on earth. However, some things you understand when you have a relationship in which God’s words become the life in your life. My father once told me, rich people are afraid of having no power and no money, they don’t fear God when it comes to keeping both. Which brings me to Albert Einstein who said, “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
The spreading of ignorance has become popular. We are witnessing the resistance to the principle of facts in which one would think is “Common Sense.” However, as we have learned, common sense is neither common nor sensible. There is truly an absence of intelligent understanding that God’s children require embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Let me give you a few examples of the senselessness of not being open to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The world is filled with diversity. We have a diversity of species in this world which God made, include the sexes. God has commanded us in Psalm 99:9 “He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” We know that certain races, including females, have not been given just or fair treatment and every effort has been made to prevent it. Another example is when material gain is reserved for certain people to enjoy, then diversity is permitted. The most popular example is inclusion for sports activities in which minorities are utilized to promote nationalism (Olympics) but not when it applies to their academic learning or employment opportunities for their personal success.
Discrimination and wealth are culprits for the lack of diversity, equity and inclusion now being promoted by major corporations, government, and institutions in our country today. Those that “have” want to keep it and others who “hate” promote exclusion. The poor and non-white are deemed unfit, unworthy, and undeserving. We live in a society designed with no intentions for the “left out” to “catch up.” It is obvious when African Americans have experienced sabotaging of our fight for equity and justice each time we move a step forward. We make up only 13.7% of the population and we are considered a threat to the majority. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are now deemed as “reverse discrimination.” It is either fear or jealousy and either one makes it an absurd analogy. Especially since we know the laws and policies of America have been discriminatory. Look at who makes the laws and who makes up the 1% of the wealth. The “devil” is in the details, and he is having fun.
There has been plenty written about racism, discrimination, denied history, traditions of hate and how it affects our ability as humans to treat each other fairly, respectfully and with love. However, the fight for diversity, equity and inclusion must continue.
James Baldwin stated, “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
Now, what does the word of God say?
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
God’s own words reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion. Besides, Jesus touched the lives of every human on earth regardless of status, position, sex, race, or creed. But somehow, we cannot because some have labeled themselves “superior.” But, as we know, the devil is a liar.
In other words, we are all God’s children. Why is that so hard to interpret? The reason lies behind the mind of those who choose to ignore the Word of God. We cannot change the hearts of those who choose to follow the wrong paths. However, we should be mindful of the words of Mother Teresa, “Evil settle roots when a man begins to think that he is better than others.”
We are all God’s Children and God is love. That other stuff we are now experiencing is absolutely, not of God. It’s that’s another thang.
President Jimmy Carter, “I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
The fools have revealed themselves.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a social and community advocate, and a long-time supporter of public schools.
opinions
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY – Back in Session...January 2025
By Joy C. Springer
January 11, 2025
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY – January 11, 2025
On Monday, January 13, 2025, the House of Representatives of
the Arkansas Legislature will convene for the 95th General Assembly-Regular Session- 2025. The session is scheduled to be called to
order at “High Noon” (12:00p.m.) for the House of Representatives. At this time, the schedule for Senate side of the General Assembly has not been released. However, the Senate usually convenes at least 30 minutes prior to the House.
During the past year, members of the House and Senate were in the fiscal session. The Arkansas General Assembly's fiscal session is when the legislature meets to pass legislation that sets the budget for the coming year. The fiscal session typically includes the following activities:
- Arkansas Legislative Council meets.
- Joint Budget Committee meets.
- Appropriations bills: Members of the Legislature pass appropriations bills
- Revenue Stabilization Act: The legislature passes the budget,
also known as the Revenue Stabilization Act. The RSA as it is
also called sets the budgets and spending for the various divisions
and departments of the state of Arkansas.
The 95th session for the Arkansas House of Representatives will include a variety of activities, such as:
1) New members are sworn in, and the Speaker of the House is elected/seated.
2) The Governor delivers an address to the joint meeting of the
Senate and the House.
3) The committee process takes place. Representatives and Senators are assigned to committees and bills are designated.
4) The current schedule calls for members of the Senate to debate, make decisions and vote on legislation affecting the state of Arkansas in the areas of public education, healthcare, and criminal justice for approximately 179 days while the House of Representatives will conduct similar activities for 136 days.
Members of the House and Senate started filing bills in November, 2024. All bills will be assigned to a committee by the Speaker of the House and thereafter, committees will start meeting to debate the bills prior to them being passed out of committee for a final vote on the floor of the House and Senate.
What type of new legislation can we expect? The short answer to the question should be “Legislation that will address equitable education
and health care for the residents in our state.” We are still in a state of Emergency! The student achievement results show that not even half of all students, black or white, read on grade level. This statistic speaks volumes! If our children are not able to read and comprehend, I am not sure what other productive activities they are able to perform. Other issues include the state’s maternal health crisis. Children and their mothers in the state of Arkansas are dying at a rate higher than the
national average.
The last article that I read stated that Arkansas was number one. Arkansas children are dying while coming into this world
and their mothers are dying while trying to bring them into this world.
In other words, pregnant women do not seek health care until 2 to 3 months prior to delivery. Why? Lack of knowledge or lack of insurance? Once again, I encourage mothers to seek medical assistance. If you are one of the thousands whose insurance expired, go to the doctor, and ask for assistance in getting your coverage reinstated. The information I received from DHS Chief of Staff was that the coverage is retroactive! Do not wait!
Please ask for assistance….
The Educational Emergency continues….
Rep. Joy C. Springer represents District 76 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Mrs. Springer previously served on the Little Rock School Board and is a long-time civil rights activist and supporter of equality in public education. She currently serves on the House Public Transportation and House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committees. Additionally, she serves on the Performance Review committee, and Joint Budget committee as a 1st alternate including Personnel and Special Language, and as a 2nd alternative on the Legislative Auditing committee.
opinions
Tape It.....
January 11, 2025
by Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
Sometimes the ordinary things we see do not move us to a positive placement that is helpful in our lives. I was observing some tape recently, (Duct Tape). You may ask, “What could be a positive placement in our lives coming from tape?” For some reason I put my thinking-cap on and realized there is an abundance of positive placement in our lives from tape! First of all, it comes in different sizes, when I speak of size I’m talking about the width. From this observation we can see one important value is, it is sized for the job we want to have done. That says to me, that each of us, when doing a repair job, having the proper size for the job is necessary. No job is worth doing unless you have the proper tools at the beginning of the repair.
The next positive placement of this tape is that it has waterproof factors. I won’t call it 100% waterproof, but the Duct Tape does have the ability to repair water in most situations. What a concept for us as human beings! We also have waterproof factors, but not 100%. To me, this is more than a physical notation, it’s a life-way notation. Knowing what I have is very good, knowing what I have to access from, lets me know I am not 100% on a lot of things, but I have that factor as part of who I am in my life!
In my article today, I also lift up the Duct Tape for its sticking power. I need that sticking power mentality on some things, stick to it! It could be our job, our family situation, our community concerns, our spiritual life, or development areas in our lives in places where we need work. We can put this into our mind-set and go into a Duct Tape mentality, about those things in our lives, knowing we can stick to it!
Lastly, we put the “stick-to-it” into our lives, it lets us know it’s hard to get off. Yes, Duct Tape can be pulled off, however, there is also a counter factor to the pulling power in our lives. So, when we have been stuck with something and we feel the pull from something else, we can get the “holding power” of our family helping on the other side, to help us pull, our friends helping us pull, or the pull could come from our church or organization, so we can hold on! So, think about that ordinary tool, tape, knowing it can have a powerful placement in our lives!
Love,
I Am,
Charlie Edward McAdoo
opinions
The Celebration of Kwanzaa
By Deborah Springer Suttlar
December 28, 2024
The Kwanzaa celebration was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the Watts riots. Karenga initially felt Black people should have an alternative to the perceive “white” Christian celebration of Christmas. His purpose was to give Black people an opportunity to celebrate themselves, their culture and history versus the celebration of Christmas. However, that view evolved to be inclusive and respectful of Christians who could also celebrate their culture and heritage with unity and love through the Kwanzaa principles. Therefore, Kwanzaa is now celebrated after the celebration of Christmas by those who desire to participate.
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration beginning on December 26 through January 1st. It is a celebration of African heritage, unity, and culture. The name is derived from the Swahili word of matunda ya Kwanza, which means “first fruits.” The word Kwanzaa was changed to include an extra “a” to include seven letters to coincide with the seven days of Kwanzaa. There are similar first fruits festivals in Southern Africa including the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama.
The seven days of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (unity) – to strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Kujichagulia (self-determination) – to define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves. Ujima (collective work and responsibility) – to build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) – To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Nia (Purpose)- To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Kuumba (Creativity)- to always do as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Imani (Faith) – To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. These are all values which we should uphold.
We celebrate these Kwanzaa principles for seven days, with symbols such as: a mat (Mkeka), a Kinara (candle holder for the seven candlesticks, Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Mahindi (corn) to represent the children celebrating (and corn may be part of the holiday mean), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) for commemorating and giving shukrani (thanks) to African Ancestors, Zawadi (gifts). The Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith) is a feast which is usually set on the 31stof December which is the sixth day of the Kwanzaa celebration. On each day beginning with the first day there are celebrations which include Kukaribisha (Welcoming), Kuumba (Remembering), Kuchunguza tena Na Kutoa Ahadi Tena (Reassessment and Recommitment) Kushangilia (Rejoicing), Tamsha la Tambiko (Libation Statement) and Tamshi la Tutaonana (The Farewell Statement). These celebrations include people of all ages to participate, learn and fellowship.
Kwanzaa was honored with the first Kwanzaa stamp first issued by the United States Post Office in 1997 in which President Bill Clinton recognized the holiday. However, the popularity of the celebration of Kwanzaa has not steadily increased within our community. There are some who continue to believe it interferes with the celebration of Christmas. However, I tend to believe it is inclusive of His message to be positive. All the principles focus on unity, creativity, faith, and the giving of gifts. We are not taking anything away from the celebration of Jesus, in fact we are enforcing the message he gave us.
We can celebrate Kwanzaa within our own community. The following are the places where these celebrations take place:
Thursday, December 26th – Umoja (Unity) Pyramid Art. Books and Custom Framing, 1001 Wright Ave., Ste. C, L.R., AR 72206 @ 12:00 Noon
Friday, December 27th – Kujichagulia (Self-determination) Better Community Development, Inc., 3604 W 12th St., L.R., AR 72204 @ 12:00 Noon
Saturday, December 28th – Ujamaa (Collective work and responsibility) The Village Place, 2718 S. Arch St., L.R., AR 72206 @ 12:00 Noon
Sunday, December 29th – Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) The Lot, 601 W. 4th St., North Little Rock, AR 72114 @ 12:00 Noon
Monday, December 30th – Nia (Purpose) The Magic Soul, 4923 W 12th St, L.R., AR 72204 @ 12:00 Noon
Tuesday, December 31st – Kuumba (Creativity)801 Event Venue, 801 S. Chester St., L.R., AR 72202 @ 2:00p.m.
Wednesday January 1st- Imani (Faith) The Home, 1523 MLK Dr., LR, AR 72202 @ 2:00p.m.
Kwanzaa is celebrated every year. It is not too late to begin this tradition. Although it has already begun, you can still celebrate before January 1, 2025. Keep it going and growing.
Deuteronomy 32: 7 “Remember the days of old; consider the generations of long past, Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
opinions
STRIVE IN 2025 - FAITH and TRUST
by Dr. C.E. McAdoo
January 4, 2025
Greetings to all my friends! I did write a few articles in December and missed writing my weekly articles, but I wanted to make sure I was doing something that would make a difference.
As we head toward 2025, I asked myself over and over again, “what could I put on paper that would get some legs, feet, arms and eyes on it?” Something that would move us to a point where in 2025, we not only support one another in all that we do but would also have a caring aspect. So, from a theological perspective two words jumped out at me, the words Faith and Trust. Hmm, I said faith and trust in 2025? Then I thought about what my son had said to me, in terms of what is going to be our family mantra for 2025, it will be “In 2025 We Shall Strive!”
See if you can pick up on that from the basis of it. It did not say how much, how many, when, or where, but it did say, “In 2025, We Shall Strive!” My striving would be to be more faithful and also more trustful. Let me just quickly break that down in terms of where I am coming from. Theologians, professionals, missionaries, and other people talk about faith and trust in different ways.
Let me put it in a more-narrow perspective. Faith for me, from the C.E. McAdoo perspective, faith is an individualized mind-set that leads us in an individual way. My faith may be different from your faith, matter-of-fact, in terms of faith groups,"Assalamu Alaikum" Shalom, someone may be Muslim, Jewish, or they may not have any religious aspect. Whichever way it goes, it’s like that same bridge we walk over that has structure to it, we all have faith that the bridge will hold us, no matter your theological perspective. Then, your faith moves from an individual area to a home perspective. You could be single or have eight or ten kids, it does not make any difference, you want to have a certain amount of faith in the home you are living in, plus, to also have faith in the individual structure. That’s another part of this whole individualized faith piece.
Another thing about faith, it also relates to us on our individual jobs, or professions. You do want to have faith in your ability to do your job! If you are a carpenter, you want to know how to us hammers, if you are a doctor you want to know how to give prescriptions, if you are a teacher, you want to know how to teach. The other part of faith, in terms of individuality are the clubs and associations you may have. You don’t want to be part of something you don’t have faith in. I have been blessed to have joined more than one fraternity, also, I am a Masonic person, so that means I must have faith in those organizations. Faith has so much depth in it, it just grabs us individually!
Then, you move from faith to trust, and you might say, they are the same thing. No, faith is the extension leading into trust. Because remember all I have talked about, and what I am trying to tie up under this umbrella is all the faith things I have talked about. If we don’t trust them within ourselves, and the persons we are dealing with, they do not come together. I guess the best way to sum it all up is to share what I heard a preacher say: “Faith is the wetness after the water,” so have faith, and then the wetness after the water of faith comes down, there must be some wetness of trust.
So, as we look toward “Striving in 2025,” let us make sure that the water is poured, but also that the wetness makes a difference in somebody’s life, including ours, that we may touch someone else! Thank you so very much.
Love,
I Am Charlie Edward McAdoo
Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church.
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IN MEMORY OF PRESIDENT JAMES EARL “JIMMY” CARTER
by Wendell Griffen
Heather Cox Richardson’s assessment about the life and career of President Jimmy Carter is commendable, yet incomplete.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-29-2024
Richardson failed to mention that it was President Carter who led the transfer of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama.
She did not mention that Carter fired Andrew Young from his position as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after Young privately met with representatives of the Palestinian Liberation Movement. Yet Jimmy Carter was the only U.S. president or former president who termed the Israeli government an apartheid regime!
President Carter was not only the most decent and respectable president of my lifetime. He was also the most sincerely reverent, realistic, compassionate, and just.
The nation disrespected and rejected him, but Jimmy Carter never dishonored the nation. He was the best patriot, diplomat, humanitarian, and egalitarian politician on the global stage of my lifetime. And Carter was the least admired by the pundits, politicians, and media commentators.
Historians may someday realize that the United States began its descent towards the fascist populism of Donald Trump the day in November 1980 when voters refused to re-elect Jimmy Carter and instead chose Ronald Reagan. It was Reagan, not Jimmy Carter, whose candidacy was embraced by white supremacists, so-called Christian nationalists and zionists, neofundamental capitalists, and late 20th Century supporters of patriarchy, sexism, technocentrism, and xenophobia.
Mehdi Hasan has shared eight “critical” comments by Jimmy Carter that are not likely to be reported by mainstream media outlets in memorializing Carter. However, we should bear them in mind.
And my South African friend and colleague Allan Boesak wisely observed during our conversation earlier today, 2024 marked the deaths of two very different U.S. political leaders: Henry Kissinger and Jimmy Carter. Sadly, the nation chose to follow the white supremacist, militarist, capitalist, and imperialist values of Kissinger. We should bear this in mind as the nation and world sinks deeper into the clutches of fascism.
President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were native Southerners from Georgia. Carter was rejected by the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest Protestant denomination). King was rejected by the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.(the largest Black Protestant denomination). They each were rejected by their respective religious groups because they refused to embrace the false gods of racism, capitalism, and militarism.
The world has become a more hateful and dangerous place because American voters and other American leaders rejected Jimmy Carter and disrespected Martin Luther King Jr. We will suffer the vicious and violent consequences of those misjudgments for generations to come.
And we should lament the human, environmental, and global damage caused by those misjudgments as we remember the remarkable lives of King and Carter, one a preacher, the other a politician, and each a prophet.
www.fierceprophetichope.blogspot.com
www.wendellgriffen.blogspot.com
Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
pastorgriffen@newmillenniumchurch.us
CEO, Griffen Strategic Consulting, PLLC
www.griffenstrategicconsulting.com
griffenstrategicconsulting@gmail.com
Co-Chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Hope fiercely. Love boldly.
Love one another. Jesus of Galilee, Palestine
We will find a way or make one. Hannibal of Carthage
Writing is how I fight. James H. Cone.
The time for pious words is over. Allan Aubrey Boesak
Justice is a verb!
https://fierceprohetichope.blogspot.com/2024/01/this-is-why-donald-trump-is-barred-from.html
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Eyesight for Insight
by Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
December 21, 2024
Holiday greetings to all! There’s a mark that always hits us in some way, and this is a visual mark. The topic of today’s article is "Eyesight for Insight." It’s about what we see and how it absorbs into our lives. Just think about what we see in life. The first thing I want to talk about is the “mirror eyesight.”
Each morning, we face ourselves; that moment of “mirror eyesight” is when we assess the outside—our appearance, our presentation to the world. However, the real question isn’t just about the surface. It’s about the inside. How do we look on the inside? How do we ground ourselves for the day ahead? For those of us who are Christians, we say a prayer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then move out into the world. When we move into the world, that eyesight part becomes all that we see, whether we are going to a meeting, our job, or school.
And here’s the challenge: to see not just the person standing before us, but the fullness of who they are. This is where insight begins. It’s the prayerful vision that allows us to see others with the fullness of compassion, understanding, and grace. When I say the fullness, I’ve been blessed in my 44 years to go to hospitals and nursing homes and various places, when I see people in disabled states, BOOM! that’s when the insight comes. I say, Thank you Lord! I’ve not been in a sick bed, I haven’t been at this place, or at that place. So, this eyesight gives us an insight of thankfulness.
This whole brief article is about what we see that makes us happy with who we are and who we can be and that, who we can be walking daily with our Lord and Savior in such a way that our lives become a blessing to others. The way we are able to pass it onto others is the second level. Thankfulness first, and the next part that we push and carry it onto others. As we carry it to others, that ensures that what we see gives us insight that’s going to make a difference for the world. Have a blessed holiday!
Love,
I Am.
Charlie Edward McAdoo
Love,
I Am, ...Charlie Edward McAdoo
Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church.
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Jesus Matters
by Deborah Springer Suttlar
December 14, 2024
The season of Advent begins four Sundays leading up the celebrated date recognizing the birth of Jesus our Savior. Advent means “to come.” This year Advent began on December 1, 2024, and will end on December 24, 2024. During this time, we celebrate the coming birth of Jesus by the giving of gifts to our family members, friends, and those in need. Many people will also celebrate with decorated Christmas trees, house decorations and festive parties. While others focus on prayer, fasting, and church services to honor the “coming of Christ” who grew up to become our Man-Savior. Why do we celebrate? Because Jesus Matters.
While we do recognize that Jesus matters, we can also become distracted and lose the true meaning of what we are celebrating. I was once “caught up” in the celebrations of other things that made Christmas seem fun or entertaining for me. Things such as the emphasis on Santa Claus, Reindeer, and decorations which depict nothing related to Jesus. I forgot the spiritual meaning of the time leading up to the birth of our Savior and his true value to our lives. Now that I have a better understanding of what it means to have a Savior, I realize my celebrations were inappropriate and insufficient. The things I did had nothing to do with celebrating the life of Christ and his coming. My celebrations were about “me” and making it fun for my sake. It was not about the birth of Jesus and why he came.
The fact is “Jesus Matters’ and how we celebrate him reflects how we value why he came and what he did for us. It is now time to really celebrate Jesus for who He is. We must take the time to reflect on what we are really celebrating and how we celebrate. I am not saying that we should not be festive or not have a party. However, if we do not honor him in the true spirit and meaning for the celebration of Jesus, then it is not about Jesus at all.
I hope that we all return to the true purpose of the celebration of Christmas for what it truly is because Jesus is worthy to praised and celebrated for who He is and what He means to us and to the world.
Isaiah 9:6 “For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
“Jesus Matters” Let us celebrate Him!
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
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PEOPLE GOOD, ANGELS PERFECT
by Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
December 14, 2024
Thank you to Dr. Nellums for giving me the opportunity to present a holiday season article! As my wife and I were driving home recently, we were conversing about Advent decorations and how much we enjoyed what we saw.
No deference to our beautiful church Advent offerings. However, knowing that Advent may not be a common definition to all denominations, let me just give a computer/Google definition of Advent:
“Advent means the arrival or signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian denominations around the world, Advent refers to a four-week celebration of the arrival of Jesus on earth.” In addition, another Christian moment for some and a refresh for others may be the ‘Hanging of the Green.’The Advent offering we were looking at is the product of the Hanging of the Green at our church, and may not be a common tradition in many denominations. “The Hanging of the Green is a Western Christian ceremony in which many congregations and people adorn their churches as well as other buildings with Advent Christian decorations. This is done on or immediately before the start of the Advent season.”
Having said all of this, you may ask where am I going with, “GOOD and ANGELS PERFECT. As I looked at the decorations, there was one decoration that needed some correction. I saw the need of corrections, I did not mention it to my wife, then it was like a holy moment, we both saw the need for corrections. This is where God moves into our humanness.
The church decorations and life as human beings are where we all do our good. As human beings we do the necessary; as human beings we do our best. This is where God comes in and lifts our spirit and our doing good. When we do our good remember, it’s not perfect, only angels do it perfect! As we look forward to religious ceremonies, it teaches us to unite. I am doing my “best good,” but I am not perfect. Recently, I heard the statement, “I’m doing the best I can, based on the situation at hand.” The power of the conversation was for me and my wife, reminding us that so often life situations arise where we just do the best we can do, but we have not done what angels can do!
This is where I believe God comes in and fulfills us with our God given gift of being real. When we are real, we do good and our best. So, as we observe the Holy offerings, as we go about seeking to do things, and we observe life on a daily basis, let us affirm people for doing good. As we think about the good we are doing, and we kick it over to the holiday season, don’t forget the food! Always affirm the cooks and let them know they have done good and eat enough so they know you really mean it!
As we stand before you, we know God wants us to do that good, and we thank God for the angels who are perfect, and that we are not. To God be the glory!
I Am
Charlie Edward McAdoo
Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church
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Forever Thankful and Grateful
by Deborah Suttlar
December 1, 2024
There is so much for us to be both thankful and grateful for. We are weathering the storms of life and “still we rise.” Although there will be more days of uncertainty ahead, our faith sustains us. Therefore, it is because of this belief that we pause to express our thanks for the blessings and grateful we persevered in the trials we encountered. Yet, even knowing our journey is not complete, we have no fear of what lies ahead because we know who holds the future.
We remain thankful that those who led the way for us have been people of faith who have been our “Spiritual Warriors.” They led with the true GPS, which is “God’ Powerful Spirit.” Those Warriors such as Harriett Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Congressman John Lewis, and others who waged a war against racial hate and discrimination. These warriors had “no doubt” the mistreatment of people based upon the color of their skin was both a sin, immoral and unjust. However, we have experienced many victories.
As we continue to share our meals and fellowship with one another, let us not forget to take the time to reflect on how we must all move forward. We must now take the time to plan for the days ahead and begin serious dialogue about our future. The African Proverb reminds us, “After you pray, move your feet.” This means we should access our resources, strengths, and weaknesses. Let us begin preparations because we are in a battle for the lives of future generations. We cannot settle for being in a perpetual state of existing or begging for food. We are under attack, and we must have a plan to counterattack. There is no other option, or we will perish.
Therefore, after being thankful and grateful, we should look to a future for what we envision for ourselves and not what others plan for us. The question should be, “If I am thankful and grateful, how can I transmit this attitude to the next generation? We must work out our plan and plan our work to pass along what we have learned. This is how being Thankful and Grateful influences our Legacy. Our Legacy to be Forever Thankful and Grateful.
Thanksgiving is every day for those of us who know from whom our blessings come from.
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your path.
African Proverb, Thank the past for all the lessons it taught you; anticipate the future for all the blessings it has in store for you.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
opinions
THINKING ABOUT THE 2024 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FROM FARMING AND DISEASE PERSPECTIVES
by Wendell Griffen
November 16, 2024
The 2024 U.S. presidential election result is being analyzed by pundits, commentators, journalists, and historians as has been done following every other presidential election. Donald Trump's MAGA fascism has clearly been embraced by a majority of Americans who voted. The Republican Party regained control of the U.S. Senate and retained its majority control of the House of Representatives. Trump's super-majority hold on the U.S. Supreme Court - thanks to the machinations of out-going Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - means that MAGA fascism is the dominant political ideology of all three branches of U.S. government for the foreseeable future.
It is already clear how MAGA fascism is likely to operate judging from the personnel Trump is nominating to fill key leadership positions. Heather Cox Richardson has written about that in her November 13 edition of Letters From An American.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/november-13-2024
I agree that John Thune’s election as Senate Majority Leader is a good thing. He is going to be a less subservient politician than Rick Scott, and that less subservient kind of leadership is needed now that Trump has another four-year term for his vicious idiocy to operate on the world.
However, I don’t share HCR’s optimism about how the Senate might be a moderating influence on MAGA politics. Granted, the Senate is, by design, somewhat more immune from populist movements than the House of Representatives and the President because Senators have six-year terms. However, Mitch McConnell enabled MAGA initiatives during Trump’s first term, with John Thune’s assistance. Thune might be slightly less subservient to Trump, but he is not likely to openly defy Trump in many instances, let alone in most.
The truth that must be faced is that MAGA fascism is a disease that has infected all three branches of the American political system. As with any disease, it will run its course unless a vaccine is used. Ordinarily, one would hope that voters would serve as the vaccine. Given how voter suppression efforts enacted after 2020 worked, and considering how white supremacy and patriarchy remain popular among a sizable segment of the electorate, I doubt that voters will counteract MAGA fascism.
If Trump’s election showed anything, it was that white supremacy and patriarchy are dominant forces in America. I do not see that changing anytime soon.
Farmers and physicians understand that diseased crops and people do not become healthy unless the sickness that causes the unhealthy crops and people is arrested and cured by effective countermeasures. MAGA fascism is like a disease for the American political system. It has taken root in the minds of enough American voters so that it will not go away until it has either run its course or been rejected. MAGA fascism is based on a kind of shoddy thinking that rejects critical analysis, takes offense at dissenting viewpoints, and fears pluralism, inclusion, and intellectual honesty. That ideological sickness will not produce better thinking, better policies, and better practices no matter how much people like that sickness.
The sickness will worsen until it either destroys the U.S. democracy or is counteracted by strong-minded people who are not afraid to speak truth to power, stand up for what they believe, and shine the light on a better way.
Make no mistake. MAGA fascism will not go away on its own. And MAGA fascism will make life harder for most of the people who voted for Trump. White supremacy, racism, patriarchy, sexism, xenophobia, and free market fundamentalist capitalism have been part of the U.S. political environment across the history of the republic, but have never been unopposed. In the same way that brave and strong-minded people challenged those forces in the past, brave and strong-minded people must challenge them during Trump's next term of office.
In the meantime, let's be honest and admit that things are going to get worse. Diseased crops and people do not get better by taking on more infection, but by receiving vaccines. MAGA fascists do not want a society characterized by pluralism, inclusion, critical thinking, and civil liberty for all people. They will not surrender the power won in the 2024 presidential election. That power will have to be voted from them by people who believe in pluralism, inclusion, critical thinking, and civil liberty for all people.
Let's be the vaccine.
Wendell Griffen is the author of Parables, Politics, and Prophetic Faith published by (Nurturing Faith, (2023) and
The Fierce Urgency of Prophetic Hope (Judson Press, (2017). He is also an ordained minister and former elected judge.
www.fierceprophetichope.blogspot.com
www.wendellgriffen.blogspot.com
Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
pastorgriffen@newmillenniumchurch.us
CEO, Griffen Strategic Consulting, PLLC
www.griffenstrategicconsulting.com
griffenstrategicconsulting@gmail.com
Co-Chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
opinions
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY - November 16, 2024
By Joy C. Springer
November 16, 2024
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY – Update for November 15, 2024
This week’s update on the state’s Educational Emergency is a brief account of what took place during this week’s Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) Budget Hearings and today’s ALC. I believe that I have previously communicated the charge of the Joint Budget committee, if not, they are summarized below:
The Joint Budget Committee considers appropriation bills and budget
proposals submitted by the General Assembly. (A.C.A. 10-3-509)
The Legislative Council (ALC) was established by Act 264 of 1949 to collect
data and information upon which legislative decisions will be made during
regular session of the General Assembly… The Legislative Council is the
supervisory committee for the Bureau of Legislative Research, and the [ALC]
coordinates the activities of the various interim committees and through the
various committees provide legislative oversight of the Executive branch of
government. The [ALC] consists of 36 regular members – 20 House
members and 16 Senators. In addition, there are 24 ex-officio voting
m
Simply put, the ALC controls all budgets of the state of Arkansas.
The members of the Joint Budget committee considered and approved the various budgets for at least a half dozen departments/divisions of the State of Arkansas during the week including the following departments that are being highlighted
below that I personally found to be interesting:
Department of Education including the Division of Higher Education- headed by Jacob Oliva and the Department of Public Safety headed by Mike Hagar
The Department of Education’s total budget including all operating expenses and employee salaries, benefits, etc., received approval of their appropriations by the Joint Budget Committee for fiscal years 25-26 and 26-27 approved for amounts totaling
over $3.5 billion dollars respectively.
The Department of Public Safety’s total budget including all operating expenses and
employees, etc. received approval of their appropriations by the Joint Budget Committee for fiscal years 25-26 and 26-27 for amounts totaling approximately 21 million dollars.
During today’s ALC meeting, the Revenue report given by Dr. Silva indicated:
“collections of gross revenue year to date of approximately $2.6 million have
decreased $85.8 million, 3.2% below the $2.7 million collected last fiscal year-to-date. Net General Revenue available for distribution of $2.3 million decreased by $64.5 million, or 2.8% from the $2.3 million available for distribution in October 2023.
Another interesting report that was received today related to the ARPA funds received from our federal government (United States Department of Education) during the pandemic. Yes, the state is still holding on to those funds, in fact the Arkansas Department of Education utilized some of those funds in helping to fund obligations under the LEARNS Act to the tune of several million dollars. Update to come! Since the last meeting, distributions have been made totaling over $642,000,000. The State of Arkansas still has over ARPA funds totaling over $3 billion dollars.
Finally, be on the lookout for next month’s update! We are at the end of the year and there has been no public report regarding how Arkansas students faired on the new ATLAS assessment test. I wonder why? We already know the answer! Efforts to close the student achievement gap remain. I will share the percentage the actual percentage of all Arkansas students who are reading on grade level. The results are not good! I am told that less than 30% of all students scored proficient???
The Educational Emergency continues….
Rep. Joy C. Springer represents District 76 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Mrs. Springer previously served on the Little Rock School Board and is a long-time civil rights activist and supporter of equality in public education. She currently serves on the House Public Transportation and House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committees. Additionally, she serves on the Performance Review committee, and Joint Budget committee as a 1st alternate including Personnel and Special Language, and as a 2nd alternative on the Legislative Auditing committee.
opinions
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY – Update, 2024 November 9, 2024
by Joy C. Springer
November 9, 2024
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY – Update for November 9, 2024
I am disappointed, I am devastated, I am sick, I am sad, I am angry….! All these statements reflect how I was feeling when I finally got up on Wednesday morning and realized that thank GOD, I am still alive, I have shelter over my head, as far as I know I am still in the state of Arkansas and the United States of America is still on this Earth and most of all, we continue to be blessed because we are only here through the GRACE of GOD and our Savior, Jesus Christ who died on the cross in order that we may have life and have it more abundantly!
GOD has a plan, and we must wait on it…. With that being said, I sum up my update on the state of Arkansas’ Educational Emergency by stating that it continues after Tuesday’s election results, however, I must share with you 1) that there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel and 2) an article from the former President and Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the Honorable Sherrilyn Ifill. Please click the link below and she will share with you “Why Are We Here?”
https://open.substack.com/pub/sherrilyn/p/why-are-we-here?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
In summary, she tells us: “Yes, this is America. It is and always has been. We must be committed, like she is, “to imagining and creating a new America. A true multi-racial democracy centered around equality and justice. [she] believes it lies just over the hill. [She] [does] not need to see it in [her] lifetime to know that it can happen. That will happen. But [she] – we – do need to do the work to lay its foundation. And there’s no turning back.”
Who is Sherylyn Ifill? Thanks for asking. Director Ifill served as President and Director Counsel of LDF from 2013 to 2022. She currently serves as President and Director Counsel Emeritus. Director Ifill graduated from Vassar College in 1984 with a B.A. in English and earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1987. In 2020, she was named Attorney of the Year by The American Lawyer. In 2021, Ifill was appointed to President Biden’s Commission on the Supreme Court. She serves on many boards in the Learning Policy Institute. Most importantly to the state of Arkansas, she worked with my mentor, the Honorable John W. Walker, during his trek to rid the state of Arkansas, and particularly, the various school districts across the state of its segregated practices against the Black (African American) school age students who attended the public schools in Arkansas. I had the privilege of meeting Director Ifill for the first time at a Board meeting of the LDF where Mr. Walker also served.
We are here because there is still work to be done and we must remember all who have lived and died – Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisolm, Fannie Lee Hamer, and now Director Sherlyn Ifill who reminds us: “THERE IS NO TURNING BACK” and there are five things we must prioritize:
1) The U.S. will now be run by a white supremacist authoritarian President and political party;
2) There is real danger for marginalized people in this country, for immigrants, the press, universities, foundations and for those living in states and cities disfavored by this regime;
3) The Rule of Law failed. The Supreme Court favored Trump, and we know why;
4) Our spirits will be assaulted in the coming months; however, we must hold onto things that uplift our spirits, i.e., family, food, music, art, etc.; and
5) The resulting consequences of the election will have a devastating effect on the world, i.e., environmental degradation, wars, economic devastation, etc.
I repeat! GOD has a plan for us! When it comes, let’s be ready!
Rep. Joy C. Springer represents District 76 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Mrs. Springer previously served on the Little Rock School Board and is a long-time civil rights activist and supporter of equality in public education. She currently serves on the House Public Transportation and House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committees. Additionally, she serves on the Performance Review committee, and Joint Budget committee as a 1st alternate including Personnel and Special Language, and as a 2nd alternative on the Legislative Auditing committee.
About Us
Why we must create our own narratives
Perception is reality. How we are viewed and what is said about us matters. It is abundantly clear that here in Arkansas, we as African-Americans don't control many, if any, statewide media groups. On any given day, COUNT the number of positive stories reported by print and television stations KATV, KARK/KLRT-FOX-TV, and KTHV, about African Americans in Arkansas.
In Arkansas, with the exception of KTHV, the media groups and their ownerships are conservative and often often distort people of color and specifically, BLACK families. As black consumers of the news, "that's the part we miss." How on the "regular" we are portrayed by white media groups and their local news stations and print media.
A study from the University of Illinois concluded that at best media outlets (a) promoted racially biased portrayals and myths that pathologize black families and idealize white families with respect to poverty and crime (b) play a dangerous role in spreading debunked stereotypes about black families and (c) at worst, amplify those inaccurate depictions for political and financial gain. We've all seen that type of behavior before.
When media outlets examined in the study reported stories about poor families, they chose to feature black families in their coverage 59 percent of the time, even though only 27 percent of families living below the poverty line are black.
Similarly, in coverage of welfare, 60 percent of families portrayed were black, even though only 42 percent of families receiving welfare are black.
Finally, the article addresses the real-life consequences of the continued distortion of black life by the media. "When the news media constantly associates black people with crime, it increases racial stereotypes among viewers, leading the public including liberal and conservative Arkansan's to disproportionately favor punitive criminal justice policies." As a collateral damage piece, when the poor are depicted as overwhelmingly black, it leads the public to support heavier restrictions on welfare because of a perception that undeserving black people benefit from it. Backers of corporate and right-wing policies gain when the news media blames black families for social conditions, while their own role in destabilizing society remains invisible.
This online publication exists to counter the narrative that constantly depicts African Americans as "less than." It exists to balance the negative view of African American life that is constantly depicted in the local news and information outlets in this state. We are so much more than the lip-service paid to us by those that control the news cycle. It's not about the reporting of the news, it's about the process of manufacturing the news. There is a saying that goes something like this. "If you control the messenger, then you control the message." Let's take some of that control back. As African Americans in Arkansas, let us create our own narratives. Most importantly, let us report and talk about the real issues.................. with our own voices,.... and our own opinions.
meet our contributors
opinion
opinion
opinion
Deborah Suttlar
Deborah is a longtime Community and Civil Rights Activist. Her column appears in the Opinion Section.
Click the link below to read read Deborah Suttlar's column.
https://talkblackarkansas.com/opinion
opinion
opinion
opinion
The Honorable Wendell Griffen
Judge Griffen will comment on the law and its impact on Black Arkansans. He will also discuss and legal and social issues on a state and national level impacting Black Arkansans and Black Americans.
Click the link below to read Judge Griffens column.
Finance
opinion
Religion
Gaining generational wealth is the key to Black economic family wealth and security. We will share strategies from the Association of African American Financial Advisors to help you and your family get there. We will inform you about managing your finances so that you can start your path to financial freedom.
Religion
At the State Capitol
Religion
Rev. C.E. McAdoo
Rev. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church. He will provide a weekly column on Religion and Black Arkansas.
Click the link below to read Rev. McAdoo's column.
https://talkblackarkansas.com/opinion .
At the State Capitol
At the State Capitol
At the State Capitol
State Representative Joy C. Springer
State Representative Joy Springer is a veteran school an civil rights advocate for African-American children and their families. She will provide a weekly column on state legislative and educational concerns affecting African -Americans .
Click the link below to read Representative Springer's column.
Medicine and health
At the State Capitol
At the State Capitol
This weekly column features a listing of top African-American doctors in Arkansas, and their areas of expertise. We will try to connect you with physicians who understand your physical, cultural and mental health needs. One study suggests that African American male patients who meet with black physicians often ask to receive more preventive services than patients who met with nonblack physicians. This study also suggested that black doctors are more likely to provide a comfortable settings to black patients, perhaps because of shared experiences or backgrounds. The study concluded that increasing the amount of black physicians could lead to a 19 percent reduction in the black-white male cardiovascular mortality gap and an 8 percent decline in the black-white male life expectancy gap.
Education
Who to call
Who to call
This weekly column will focus on educational happenings in the state including news from local school districts and the Arkansas Department of Education.
Who to call
Who to call
Who to call
People always have "who to contact questions." Whether it is a local city government office or a state government office, we will try to steer you in the right direction.