The Mission we are on, eliminating poverty no matter where it exists

Child laborers, with hands mangled in industrial accidents.
Child laborers, with hands mangled in industrial accidents.

Maafa Screams News is inspired by the work of Tunis Campbell (pictured below) and other freedom fighters who have repeatedly turned our focus to the needs of the least of these.  We appreciate the work the work of the Gullah Geechee Worship Center and also of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church each of whom have centered this important work for elimination of poverty in our community. 

St. John's has paid a price for this commitment, which clearly distinguished them from the local communities of congregations which service Brunswick and Glynn County.  Their work has attracted the interest of the local authorities who have seen fit to evict the congregation and its programs from their own facility.  The photograph below depicts St. John's parishioners gathered under a tent, immediately outside their own sanctuary, access to which has been prohibited by the Mayor of City Commissioners for Brunswick. 

Maafa Screams News joins St. John's and the Gullah Worship Center in their appreciation for the Resurrection House Ministries stepping in to shield us from the citiy's oppressors.  Our thank you to Dr. Leonard Smalls. 

Mother Jones is surely rolling over in her grave. 

A Wanderin'

a portrait of Tunis Campbell
a portrait of Tunis Campbell

Taken from our home lands

so we could be your free hands

Your experiment in changing our character from being a human man left us working your sand day and night

That ain't right

Now your pretense is that slavery is out of sight

Well your lies about slavery being over can be seen, cause you drive a Land Rover

While we jog for our health

You run us down-kill us to keep your wealth

Tunis Campbell taught us well

Develop and control to keep from living from this kind of hell

Keep the Buckra from sitting a spell-

for he will declare your place his as well

Ask the native people about their pain

'cause they made that mistake and lost all they'd gained

Straight to Damascus Road

"Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand. Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand." - Jennie Bain Wilson
John Amos in front of portrait of Black Jesus
John Amos in front of portrait of Black Jesus

My most favorite episode of Good Times is Season 1 Episode 2: Black Jesus, where the Kid Dynamite- J.J Evans paints a portrait of Black Jesus which resembles Ned the Wino. Throughout the episode, matriarch Florida Evans contends with the blessings of Black Jesus and the oppression of blonde hair/blue eyed Jesus, relaying that the portrait rendered by young J.J was blasphemous.

Although filled with comedy, this episode speaks volumes to our conditions today, seeing the former as a nuisance and the latter as the remedy for our disintegrated communities. With this observation in mind, we are likened unto Saul in the 9th chapter of Acts- an offender of the brethren.

Acts 9:1) And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3) As he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecuteth thou me?

Although Florida Evans meant well, the fact that she could not embrace a Black Jesus detoured her from seeing the Savior within. She, like most of us, had trouble seeing pass the scales of oppression that lingered in her eyes. No matter how many great things were manifested throughout this particular episode, Mrs. Evans found it quite difficult to acknowledge the greatness within herself, husband & children which stifled any chances of unity within the home that would ultimately lead to unity in their proximity.