I started using the term in 1999 after relocating from Colorado Springs. We lived there for about 5 years. I saw many things and learned about the right wing conservative agenda. I came back from out west very angry and discouraged. But when I got back to the east coast, I started using the term more in 2000 to describe the Midwestern/east coast acceptance of race relations that had evolved into James Crow.

Every body kept talking about being politically correct but would not address the injustice and hardship still effecting our race. And I dare not even mention the OJ trial. The whole tone of conversation among white liberals changed into total disgust.

I wrote a letter to Dr. Cornel West to express the trouble I was having in seeing the north as this historical place of freedom and rights. I began to study history and found the current trend of racism came from the fact no war was fought up north for racism. It was assumed that race relations were fine. No one question the house slaves that worked in homes up north historically or the draft war in New York that killed many blacks.

I began to see across the country a mindset of folks being real tired of Blacks complaining about civil rights and injustice; We had come a long way and we could buy houses now and send our kids to white schools. Even if they had to hide their culture, act white, and start a healthy road of self hatred of your race. It seemed that the more we gain in the country the more encouraged we are to be something else, just don't be that type of black.

And yet, The Mis-education of the Negro by Carter G Woodson was still on the best selling paper back list for Blacks. I knew then I was not alone in thought. I had began to encounter James Crow across the country. Who is James Crow? James Crow is the only way I can describe the cousin to Jim Crow.

Jim Crow started right after slavery (1876) and ensured injustice of Africa Americans until the dismantle of it in the late 1960's(?). However is resurfaced in the political and social response to African Americans across the country. Hurricane Katrina would be one of James Crow master great works. The response to our people dying would be his style. He responds, but when it is convenient to his effort and will pay very little to fix the problem.

James Crow walks in pride. It is important to look good to others but have not real substance in truth. He will just hope and know that it will go away, we will be shouted down, and it will be business as usual. I though it was very ironic that the 2 pipe lines that run oil from Louisiana are called "Plantation and Colonial." I wrote several Christian stations following the Hurricane about why they did not show any efforts to help or report the first week.

They emailed me back a letter yelling at me about their efforts. After 2 weeks of raising money they went back to business as usual. A few stations had their fall Telethon for themselves for about 2 weeks straight. They referred to the people there in New Orleans as refuges. But they had several programs on about abortion and the supreme court.

While our people were dying they are focused on their safe communities and taking back america....from who? They say it's a Christian nation and yet they don't own it yet? Somebody is confused. Do you want it to be a Christian nation? Or just your nation? James Crow. James Crow would be best labeled as sugar coated racism. Its the cousin to riding on the backs of the bus. It's the law that looses affirmative action to just keep you driving the bus and not allowing you to really run the company.

It is the attitude of making you use the colored fountain that has turned into not giving you business Loans to run a fountain company. It's the same thoughts not allowing you to attend white schools but will now put you in white schools and expect you to lose whatever culture you had. Don't look back and don't dare look black. As a matter of fact, it is the same attitude that allow the white Christian church that right to come into our community and preach about policy about abortion but never march with you during injustice and cop beating. Where are they then?

What has changed? There are many reasons to why things have changed but still remain a problem. A large part of it is spiritual. It's the need to go to church instead of being the church. It's the preaching that encourages us to buy a house instead of helping our neighbor. It's that "get my" mentality that keeps us from giving back to each other but pay the prophets.

The other problem is the gates have been wide open and no one has collectively shut it. The gate to your church and community been polluted with right winged rhetoric that does not hold interest to that need of urban communities. We see our vote sold to have our families safe in white our community while our brothers and sisters are impoverished.

We see preachers making back door deals to sell books and get private planes instead of holding out for truth in Christ. They will meet Christian celebrities but do not have time to pray anymore with broken people. James Crow comes in many shades now. He has been in the back barn.

James Crow is a statement of please stop complaining and we are all one. Yet we are not treated equal in this country. When we can watch video tape after tape of police brutality and say well, the cop may be right...something is wrong. Where is Pat Robinson and TBN when injustice takes place? And yet we are encouraged to march for abortion.

James Crow is not based upon race as much as is based upon caste, even though race is a factor. There are many sins in the bible. But there is one of many truths that Jesus speak of and we must hold true... Lay down your life for another. Our voice must mean speak, prophecy, take a stand when you see another hurting. Our communities have been effected by the James Crow policies nationally and we must start standing again and remove our self from politics that benefit elite communities and continue to hurt the people. What would Jesus do?

James Crow is soon to invite his other cousin to the table and she may be more fiercest then him...Jane Crow. She will not only be more sophisticated in her policy of racism and institutionalized disenfranchisement but she will come after our babies like never before. It is time to address injustice, pray for guidance from God and build his kingdom without a James Crow mentality and self gain ideology. It is time to be the church and not just go to one. It is time to be like Jesus and not like JCrow. It is time to confront James Crow policy with the word of God and stand for truth. Peace.

rjjjmcgee@verizon.net

© November 2005 By Afromerica