'WE MUST KNOW WHERE GOD IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE REVOLUTION'

While a student at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Illinois excellent Professors taught about many things i.e. philosophy, history, and of course the Bible and God. I listened intently as Professors Strauss, Clymer, Sackett, McNeely, Mrs Shaw, et al., taught that God was and is present in history. There are two types of revelation the teachers said (1) General Revelation in which the "heavens declare the glory of God ; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" and that includes what we see and experience, (2) Special Revelation ..."the dramatic news that God has acted in history.. through the incarnate person and work of Christ [ Hebrews 1:2 ] "in the past God spoke to us through the prophets...many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son."  Ergo, in my mind the term revelation has to do with something being disclosed.. opened up, or rolled out. Now this brings me to the following dilemma ; what is going on with God as it relates to the current segment of the black struggle in America ?

For the last three plus years in America black people and their white allies have struggled against police sanctioned violence and terror. Several highly publicized incidents of black women and men being killed by white police officers caused street protests, movements such as #blacklivesmatter to form, resurgence of old forms of protest i.e. The New Black Panther Party etc. In all of the existential angst by black people against oppression in America : WE MUST KNOW WHERE GOD IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE REVOLUTION. At this juncture the police forces in this country are cracking down on movements by black people and their allies; proclamations of black lives matter are drowned out by white reactionaries hollering all lives matter. The people in Ferguson / St. Louis, Mo have waged battles with police for over one year... being tear gassed, shot at with rubber bullets, facing armored vehicles or tanks. In all of this fervor by the oppressed to gain egalitarian rights, black people have not seen or felt the manifestation of this God whom they have embraced fervently since arriving as slaves in America over 400 years ago. We go to houses of worship on Sunday, give a tenth of earnings to a deity the preachers shout about as "having risen from the dead after three days" and gives us rewards in the next life-when we are dead. Well, instead of getting some reward after death, can black folk get a little help down here on earth fighting the oppressor ?

If blacks continue to pledge allegiance to some deity called God, then it is only fitting to inquire about some assistance in our time of need in this revolutionary struggle, that in reality is a struggle to the death. After over 400 years of social control to subjugate black people the oppressor will not let us go. There are still barriers placed in front of and behind black folk that need dismantling. It is clear that in such a titanic battle for survival help is needed from every source possible, yes  including divine intervention. However, blacks have called out to this God they worship and still no answer : there is no pillar of cloud by day to lead us out of the hands of the oppressor, nor pillar of fire at night to guide besieged revolutionary forces to victory. There is only silence. In the vastness of this Cosmos- where is the divine revelation and help for black people? I journeyed to Ferguson, Mo for the one year anniversary of Michael Brown being shot and killed by police. The law enforcement officers treated all revolutionary forces black and white with the same disrespect. When once again people were being mistreated, when tear gas flowed, when truncheons were used to crack protestors over their heads : WE MUST KNOW WHERE GOD IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE REVOLUTION.

When Rome was a suckling, when Greece was young,
Then there were Gods fit to be sung,
Who paid the loyal devotee
For service rendered zealously,

In coin a man might feel and spend,
Not marked Deferred to Journey's End,
The servant then was worth his hire;
He went unscathed through flood and fire;
Gods were a thing then to admire.

"Bow down and worship us" they said.
You shall be clothed, be housed and fed,
While yet you live, not when you're dead.
---Countee Cullen
     The Black Christ