I was really impressed with the current principle of Cass Technical High School. For disclosure’s sake—I am a Technician, class of 1999!!! But Cass seems to be reaching for the stars today. They have a 97% graduation rate. And 85% of students go on to college with a scholarship. Wow!

Principle Lisa Phillips is extremely engaged with the school. She knows all the students by their first name. She rarely sits behind her desk. She actually sits in classrooms, sits in the various lunch hours, and talks with students between classes. Ms. Phillips is an inspiration to me. Watching her story makes me want to do more for my Alma Mater—to encourage their continued success.

Go green and white!!!!!!!

Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight, ‘99

Watch the amazing video here: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/A-Detroit-school-s-secret-to-success/-/1719418/5546700/-/1451n3gz/-/index.html

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her speech to the UN that, “Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.” Some religious right leaders were angered by her speech. Even Republican Presidential candidate, Texas Governor Rick Perry, put out a campaign commercial claiming President Obama has declared a “war on religion”. In reality, the Clinton speech is referring to the many countries around the world that make it illegal to be gay.

Various religious views of homosexuality notwithstanding, I think all thinking men and women can agree that being gay isn’t be illegal. Murdering, harassing, and browbeating the LGBT community cannot be tolerated. I for one was impressed with the United States’ stand. It’s something all of us should be proud of.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/clintons-geneva-accord-gay-rights-are-human-rights/2011/03/04/gIQAPUipcO_blog.html
http://news.advocate.com/post/13844217337/watch-the-speech-youve-been-waiting-for
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/06/hillary-clinton-demands-equal-rights-for-lgbt-people-the-world-over-video/

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All Hail to the Christ Within!

I saw a statistic that caught my eye. It claims 72% of black children are born to unwed mothers. This number is startling but not surprising given our American culture. Having a baby out of wedlock isn’t the communal shame it once was. Now I’m not suggesting that was a positive approach. Society cannot make people get married or prohibit premarital sex, nor should it. In fact, I am opposed, in principle, to couples getting married just because they are pregnant.

I disagree with black intellectuals that feels even discussing this statistic is anti-black or nonsensical. Black feminists Joan Morgan, Jamilah Lemieux, and Susana Morris all feel we shouldn’t discuss this. I can understand some of their concerns. Again, no one can make people get married or not have premarital sex. However, while I respect these feminists’ positions they ignore so other equally startling statistics.

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes
80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes.

What do these numbers mean? I’ll leave it to you to decide. But I will say that the traditional biblical position of getting married before having sex and thereby having children is favored and born out in these numbers. Having a stable two-parent household is the best situation for children—that we can all agree upon. How then do we get young people to see casual sex leads us down a dark road? What do you think?

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
http://madamenoire.com/26366/72-of-black-kids-born-to-unwed-mothers/
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/11/08/72-percent-of-african-american-children-born-to-unwed-mothers/
http://www.children-ourinvestment.org/
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/High-percentage-of-unwed-black-mothers-stirs-801770.php
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/10/black_feminisms.html

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All Hail to the Christ Within!

Over the last several months, the Occupy Wall Street or 99% movement has swept the country. The so-called 99% movement is rightly pointing out the income disparities that have developed in our country. And of late, civil rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton have exposed the fact that 40 states have passed voting right restrictions like strict voter ID laws, hampering third party voter registration drives, and early voting.

Despite my agreement with the substance and sentiment of the 99% movement, the greater call should be for citizens to vote. I say, let’s have 99% of eligible voters vote in 2012! The highest voter turnout since 1960 was in 1960 with 57.48%. Protesting is important BUT fighting for voting rights, voter registration, supporting early voting, and advocating election turnout will make the difference. Some say, “Your vote doesn’t count.” We as a nation haven’t actually tested this theory. If all eligible voters voted, the current system would collapse and the government would work for us. We would have a national multiparty system again.

Look at the 1960 voter turnout percentage as an example. President Kennedy won 49.72% of the popular vote. With further analysis we see that he only won 28.57% of eligible voters. What if the other 42.52% of eligible voters had voted for candidate X. Candidate X would’ve been President X instead of President Kennedy.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources
http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1960
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/turnout.php
http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to protect the public from such things as pay day loans, unclear credit card agreements, and predatory lending practices. The congressional Republicans blocked President Obama’s original appointment Elizabeth Warren, who is now running to be a Massachusetts U.S. Senator. Republicans seek to also block Obama’s current Bureau Chief appointee Richard Cordra. Some on the left are not excited about Cordra and claim that Obama threw Warren under the bus. A charge that I think is foolish because it was the Republicans that blocked Warren and there was nothing Obama could do.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is operating with no director but can’t fully act without one. This bureau, in my estimation, is critical in rebuilding and solidifying our new economy. Take the foreclosure crisis as a case study. The Occupy Our Homes movement notwithstanding, most of the folks under water in their mortgages will probably eventually lose their homes. The housing bubble has burst and no initiative, congressional bill, or presidential order can fix it. The question for me is—what happens after all these mortgages are processed? If we don’t protection citizens from predatory lenders and educate people on finances, the housing market will bloat up again.

Your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight

Sources:
Republicans Continue to Block Financial Bureau Chief Appointment
Senate GOP Blocks Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chief Appointment to Force Change to Bureau
Shelby Vows To Keep Blocking Consumer Protection Nominee, But Says A Recess Appointment Would Be ‘Devastating’
Richard Cordray is no Elizabeth Warren

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All Hail to the Christ Within!

A few weeks ago I was talking with a fellow churchgoer. He was reminiscing about Rev. Georgia Latimer’s latter years. In so doing he recalled my growing. He said, “Well you were soiled and didn’t have to do anything.” This statement struck me but I didn’t respond to it. This charge, so to speak, will be the focal point of this article.

My graduate studies in philosophy taught me about the analytic method. A person should always define their terms before making an argument or elaborating a point. So what does the term “anything” refer to? From other conversations with this individual, he means that I didn’t do a lot of manual labor when my grandmother was living.

This conversation brought to mind the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:1-12. Paul said he didn’t want us to be ignorant in regards to spiritual gifts. Paul tells us in verses 4-6, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” In short, everyone’s gifting is necessary to get the program over.

The main problem with this charge is that it lacks substance, character, and truth. I spent a number of weekends with my grandmother. From the outside it appeared that I wasn’t doing much. I played with my toys, read my comic books, watched Saturday morning cartoons, and the like. My grandmother let me ride my bike and I would play with her dog. This was known and seen. But there were things that weren’t seen. I can’t tell you how many times she said, “George, can you turn off the television for a while. We need to pray.” If I happened to go to her house after Sunday service she would have me recount the church’s money. So though she never had me mopping or painting, she had me doing other tasks to assist her.

The charge against me, so to speak, challenges Paul’s concept of diversity in the body of Christ. Everybody can’t be the pastor. Everybody can’t cook in the kitchen. Doesn’t somebody have to run the service? Everybody can’t sit pretty in Sunday School. Doesn’t somebody have to shovel the snow and pickup outside the temple? Everybody can’t be the church mother. Doesn’t somebody have to be the usher? Yes there are so many functions in the kingdom and these are just temple service functions. What about other functions like spending time with the youth, helping the pastor in their home, serving the community, and the like? If we value one function over another, doesn’t the whole kingdom suffer?

There are many callings but one God. Paul declares to us (in verse 12), “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” No one calling is more important than another. Regardless of our individual calling, there is an opportunity costs to answering that call. Every call therefore must be respected. Whether the calling is handyman, preacher, teacher, or driver all are important.

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight
Written December 6, 2011 @ age 30

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All hail to the Christ Within!

This morning, while in prayer, the spirit impressed to share a message with “the world”. That message is to move with intensity into the New Year.

New Year’s resolutions are the butt of jokes today, however goal-setting is still immensely important. As you draft your one-year, three-year, etc goals seize the opportunity to move on them now. Let me give you several examples.

Goal: Exercise three days a week
Intense year end push: Let’s say you want to join a gym or health club next year. You can push this year by doing some exercises at home three days a week during these last few weeks of the year. Even if you only do, say, five minutes of stretching three days a week, you are still starting in motion the habit.

Goal: Read more books and watch less television
Intense year end push: If this is a goal you have, this can easily be pushed this month. Find a book you already have and haven’t read for whatever reason. Push yourself to read it before December 31, and if you’re a fast reader get out two books. If you don’t have any at home go to a local library.

Goal: Take steps toward financial independence
Intense year end push: If this is a long-term goal of yours start it this month by putting up funds weekly beyond what you already do. Don’t have a savings account? Go open one and put something in it every week before year’s end.

The intense year end push is really a practical push. Do something, anything, toward your New Year’s goals before this year goes out. Even if it feels like a symbolic gesture—just do it. As you might imagine the three examples are some of the goals I’m looking to move on. I have other goals, of course, and am doing things to push myself over the hump. I’m inviting you to do the same.

Momentum is king. The more momentum you have, the harder it’ll be to stop you. Get moving toward your goals! Stop waiting for the perfect moment. There is no perfect moment for we live, as Father Hurley taught, in the “eternal now”. Why put off for tomorrow what can be done today.

If you want to be great you won’t get there by saying tomorrow is my day or next year is my year. No THIS YEAR is your year. So what if there aren’t many days left in the year. Own them and take control of them. Let January 1st be a continuation day not the first day to start all your goals.

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight
Written December 7, 2011 @ age 30

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