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What Is the Function of a Black Jeremiad?
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This is a rare time where real life meets class. The recent banning of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan by Youtube.com and the debacle of Jeremiah Wright often leads to uncomfortable moments of growth in the classroom. Perhaps those people in the worlds of technology and journalism should take an African American Studies or African American Literature class BEFORE they label what they do not understand.
Snoop Dogg recently ripped Facebook a new one for banning the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI) and labeling him as a person who promotes hate speech. When things like this happen, of course my students want to know. They want to know why the scary Farrakhan says these things. Who was Malcolm X? Really? And why was Jeremiah Wright screaming that America should be damned by God? Honestly, these are kids who don’t understand. But the fact that they want to get a fuller understanding of these 10 second media clips and slogans gives me hope for tomorrow. And you know what? I simply take my time and explain, sometimes over two class meetings.
