Opinion

OP-ED: Reclaiming True Religious Decorum

Published

11 years ago

June 3, 2015

By Richard Wembe Johnson, Folsom Prison

It’s time that people stop with the veiled innuendos and a subtle jab toward each other’s professed religions. Not only is it irresponsible and disrespectful, it is dangerous.

There are certainly enough religious beliefs, faiths and denominations to reach every single person on earth.

A close examination of unrest and turmoil in the world, putting aside the almighty dollar, will reveal that religion is the root cause of most of the carnage and evil toward other faiths in the name of devotion, love and religious fervor

The two most exalted and glorified are Islam and Christianity. For example, during the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th centuries, the Christian Crusades were launched against the Muslims to take the Holy Lands.

Within the Christian faith there are numerous separations and denominations with unresolved differences, often creating chaos and disorder.

This same characterization of internal differences can equally be attributed to the State of Islam throughout the world. And, also here in America, we observe numerous variations such as the Black Nation of Islam, Sunnis, Shiites and other believers, all following different edicts of Islam.

With so many opposing factions there is a basis for eventual violence and mayhem, and this is exactly what is going on all over the world and in the United States.

Even though people are entitled to their differences, they are not entitled to disrespect other religions or beliefs under the guise of free speech.

You don’t have to agree, like, or practice someone else’s religion in order to show them the same consideration that you would like to be afforded for your belief or non-belief.

I was raised a Christian, yet I respect all others religious beliefs. I believe that they also have the fundamental right to practice their beliefs.

I firmly disagree with anyone trying to cram their faith down another’s throat by means of intimidation, coercion, force or violence.

The very core essence of any religion is supposed to be about a real connection to God, Allah, or whatever you choose to refer to as God.

Through this understanding, your life is supposed to be guided by divine righteousness in compliance with showing love, respect and tolerance toward one another.

Instead, we are witnessing conflicts over the Bible and guns, the Torah and precision guided missiles, the Koran and I.E.D, (improvised explosive devices). This is blasphemy under any examination.

According to some reliable sources of religious data, there are at least 72 different sects practicing Islam and untold versions of Christianity. At the same time, research shows the fastest growing segment relative to religion is the masses are abandoning religion out of pure disgust.

George Jackson, the renowned prison activist and revolutionary author said, “Settle your quarrels, come together, and understand the reality of your circumstances that poor half-butchered lives can be saved. Reclaim your humanity:”

These words are even more meaningful today than they were many decades ago.

The fate of religion rests not on what is said but rather what is done to ensure that all religion is given its due diligence, unfettered by crookedness.

Oakland Post

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Advice

COMMENTARY: If You Don’t Want Your ‘Black Card’ Revoked, Watch What You Bring to Holiday Dinners

From Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s Day, whether it’s the dining room table or the bid whist (Spades? Uno, anyone?) table, your card may be in danger.

Published

3 days ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

The ‘aunties’ playing cards. iStock photo by Andreswd.

By Wanda Ravernell
Post Staff

From the fourth week of November to the first week in January, if you are of African descent, but particularly African American, certain violations of cultural etiquette will get your ‘Black card’ revoked.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s Day, whether it’s the dining room table or the bid whist (Spades? Uno, anyone?) table, your card may be in danger.

It could take until Super Bowl Sunday for reinstatement.

I don’t know much about the card table, but for years I was on probation by the ‘Aunties,’ the givers and takers of Black cards.

How I Got into Trouble

It was 1970-something and I was influenced by the health food movement that emerged from the hippie era. A vegetarian (which was then considered sacrilegious by most Black people I knew) prepared me a simple meal: grated cheese over steamed broccoli, lentils, and brown rice.

I introduced the broccoli dish at the Friday night supper with my aunt and grandfather. She pronounced the bright green broccoli undone, but she ate it. (I did not, of course, try brown rice on them.)

I knew that I would be allowed back in the kitchen when she attempted the dish, but the broccoli had been cooked to death. (Y’all remember when ALL vegetables, not just greens, were cooked to mush?)

My Black card, which had been revoked was then reattained because they ate what I prepared and imitated it.

Over the decades, various transgressions have become normalized. I remember when having a smoked turkey neck instead of a ham hock in collard greens was greeted with mumblings and murmurings at both the dining room and card tables. Then came vegan versions with just olive oil (What? No Crisco? No bacon, at least?) and garlic. And now my husband stir fries his collards in a wok.

But No Matter How Things Have Changed…

At holiday meals, there are assigned tasks. Uncle Jack chopped raw onions when needed. Uncle Buddy made the fruit salad for Easter. My mother brought the greens in winter, macaroni salad in summer. Aunt Deanie did the macaroni and cheese, and the great aunts, my deceased grandmother’s sisters, oversaw the preparation of the roast beef, turkey, and ham. My father, if he were present, did the carving.

These designations/assignments were binding agreements that could stand up in a court of law. Do not violate the law of assignments by bringing some other version of a tried-and-true dish, even if you call it a new ‘cheese and noodle item’ to ‘try out.’ The auntie lawgivers know what you are trying to do. It’s called a menu coup d’état, and they are not having it.

The time for experiments is in your own home: your spouse and kids are the Guinea pigs.

My mother’s variation of a classic that I detested from that Sunday to the present was adding crushed pineapple to mashed sweet potatoes. A relative stops by, tries it, and then it can be introduced as an add-on to the standard holiday menu.

My Aunt Vivian’s concoctions from Good Housekeeping or Ladies’ Home Journal magazine also made it to the Black people’s tables all over the country in the form of a green bean casserole.

What Not to Do and How Did It Cross Your Mind?

People are, of all things holy, preparing mac ‘n’ cheese with so much sugar it tastes like custard with noodles in it.

Also showing up in the wrong places: raisins. Raisins have been reported in the stuffing (makes no sense unless it’s in a ‘sweet meats’ dish), in a pan of corn bread, and – heresy in the Black kitchen – the MAC ‘n’ CHEESE.

These are not mere allegations: There is photographic evidence of these Black card violations, but I don’t want to defame witnesses who remained present at the scene of the crimes.

The cook – bless his/her heart – was probably well-meaning, if ignorant. Maybe they got the idea from a social media influencer, much like Aunt Viv got recipes from magazines.

Thankfully, a long-winded blessing of the food at the table can give the wary attendee time to locate the oddity’s place on the table and plan accordingly.

But who knows? Innovation always prevails, for, as the old folks say, ‘waste makes want.’ What if the leftovers were cut up, dipped in breadcrumbs and deep fried? The next day, that dish might make it to the TV tray by the card table.

An older cousin – on her way to being an Auntie – in her bonnet, leggings, T-shirt, and bunny slippers and too tired to object, might try it and like it….

And if she ‘rubs your head’ after eating it, the new dish might be a winner and (Whew!) everybody, thanks God, keeps their Black cards.

Until the next time.