Can you remember back to when you were seven years old? What were your favorite toys or activities? What do you imagine the thoughts of a seven year old might be about school? Take a look at what Tiana Parker will probably reminisce about as she blossoms into a young lady, and beyond.

I believe the board of directors at the Deborah Brown Community School in Tulsa, Oklahoma may not fully understand how vital it is that each student feel valued. Tiana is a straight A student, with two parents, that from all appearances love and support their daughter. Yet the learning environment, which ideally is designed to provide equal opportunities to education for all students, missed an important lesson when they approved the student handbook.

Perhaps the all African-American, male board of directors and African-American, female founder/director of the charter school disregarded inclusion and meeting the needs of minority students that would apply for acceptance to their learning community. Positively influencing the lives of individuals frequently marginalized because of their appearance requires tolerance of their natural differences. What would the dreamer, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. think about this occurrence in the same month of the fiftieth anniversary of his outstanding speech?

As a child the messages we get about acceptance or rejection come very early. They arrive loud and strong. They are delivered nonverbally too. Print advertising, television programs, movies, music and videos all broadcast a view of value, beauty and significance. The dominant message in America is a projection of long, silky, shiny hair as the beauty standard. Much emphasis is placed on a woman’s hair as a symbol of beauty. Tiana has gotten a loud and clear message that she is not presentable and her so called “dreadlocks” hair style is “faddish and unacceptable” according to the school’s dress code.

Africans have a long history of elaborate hair styles for their naturally curly hair. When they were forced to come to America as slaves much of their former identity was removed, including hair care rituals. There was a time when slaves were severely punished for having in their possession combs specifically crafted for their kinky hair texture. Terms like “good hair” were used to describe hair texture that more closely resembled that of European women.

Today African-Americans have many choices to straighten their hair or wear it in natural styles. Either way, straight or kinky, the content of character is the true measure of value. The wearing of natural locks goes back to Biblical times and is not a fad. Yet societal remnants of discrimination centered on race are pervasive today.  

What would have occurred if little Albert had been judged by the appearance of his hair only? Would we now have the theory of relativity and so many scientific advances without Einstein’s perseverance beyond the negative focus on his tousled mane?  

While this issue may seem minor the roots run deep, back to a time when people were considered less than human and unworthy of decent treatment. Where it was alright to withhold the right to “the blessings of liberty” as stated in the Preamble to the United States Constitution. In this great country where an African-American is elected to the highest office in the nation, a promising student who shares his ethnicity is barred certain liberties simply because of her gene pool.

That thought brings me to tears!

The injustice we perpetrate on ourselves and each other because we are ill-equipped to love our neighbor as ourselves deeply saddens me!

However, I know that God is able to blot out all of the unloveliness and its effects. That includes the experiences of Tiana, your experiences and mine. I have an abiding faith and first-hand experience of that process. (See Romans 10:17) I am certain He will make the wrongs in this situation right, nevertheless we have a responsibility.

The Great Commandment

When Jesus the Christ was on earth He was asked by a lawyer, what is the greatest commandment in the law? His response is recorded in Matthew 22:37-40 as follows: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(NKJ Version)

When we engage our minds, our thought process in love, we love God! Love is an action word, and a commitment. When we make the choice to operate in love we love God, ourselves and others. A win-win-win!

We are to think about our behavior, examine ourselves, renew our minds, change our behaviors and create the character which reflects loving our neighbor as ourselves. (See Romans 12:2) If you have been intolerant of others (or yourself) because of outward appearance you can follow the great commandment. It is not too late. As long as we are breathing there is still time to make changes and move closer to the mark!

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Journal Review

A few months ago in the Christmas in July blog post I asked that you take some time at the end of each day, reflect and journal the prayers that were answered. Those spoken and unspoken. Well, how did you do? Drop me a note and let me know. The teacher in me wants to check to see if you have done your homework. Ideally homework is a form of appropriate practice for what is done in class. Are you practicing? Practice makes perfect!

I found that it took me more than 15 minutes on most days, to recall and give thanks for God’s mercy and grace in my life! Glory to God! 

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”