One Sunday evening, while my family and I were anxiously awaiting the six o'clock news to see if those who were responsible for committing the triple murders at McFrugal Auto Rental in Atlanta, Georgia had been apprehended, my daughter asked me a rather stunning and perplexing question. Apparently, she had begun to notice that more than ever, I had become quite distraught over the depressing news of hearing about so many blacks being responsible for committing many of the heinous crimes taking place in and around metro-Atlanta.

A Perplexing Question

The question that she asked me is perhaps one which I believe weighs heavily upon the minds of many blacks today, when they think of the black-on-black crime, and other violent crimes committed by blacks. She asked me whether or not I was ashamed of the declining morals of blacks in America and the negative image being reflected upon the black race.

The truth of the matter is that we cannot deny the declining morals of blacks and the negative image that is being displayed of us today. Here are some facts:

My daughter's question carried me back to the sixties and the early seventies, when blacks had vigorously protested the dehumanizing Jim Crow laws of the South, and had come together under the principle of non-violent resistance as a show of force to change the plight of blacks in America. Until this time, blacks had been a people who were thought of by others as being lazy, shiftless, having no positive image of themselves, ignorant and unorganized in their efforts to devote themselves to any worthy cause. But, by divine providence of God, we were sent a leader in the person of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who not only challenged the Jim Crow laws of a racist society, but who also challenged blacks to change the perception and the negative image that had been ascribed to the black race.

The Philosophy of Love and Non-Violence

Through the Biblical philosophy of love and nonviolence, blacks began to make significant strides in establishing themselves as a vibrant and productive people in the mainstream of our society. Thus, blacks became more determined than ever to put forth a concerted effort as a people to be good and upright in their conduct toward others, even when they were mistreated. We became a people who were "black and proud." We were a humble, yet a powerful people who had taken charge of our lives. We were not a reactionary people, meaning that, when evil was committed against us, we would not react with harsh and punitive damage toward others. We were determined to exercise strength and self-control, even when we were ill-treated or in a combative situation. We could take pride in the fact that as a black people, though small in number, we could still take an undaunting and courageous stand against the evil stronghold of racism and prejudice in our society.

Yes, we were a people who could rejoice and celebrate in the new found truth that we were "black and proud." Those were the "Glory days" for blacks in America. We were knocking down racial barriers that had denied us our place of prominence and dignity for centuries. We were a people who were writing our own history. We were a people relishing in our glory.

he Vanishing of our Glory Days

Perhaps, I have out-lived my time, or maybe I am just no longer in touch with the thinking of this present generation. Whatever the case, I find myself in nostalgia, and wishing for those "Glory days," when much of the news reported in those days pertaining to blacks were centered around outstanding accomplishments that blacks had achieved. It seemed that blacks had a different agenda in those days than what this generation of young blacks seem to have today.

Blacks in the News then were Inspiring

During those "Glory days," we blacks could not wait to gather around our television sets to hear about another door that had been opened to us; some other accomplishment that had been ascertained by blacks, where we had tunneled our own way through, or some other opportunity given to us, whereby we had taken advantage of an unprecedented situation, superbly met the challenge, and displayed excellent performance. It was exciting news in those days to hear about the first black judge appointed to the Supreme Court, the first black representative elected to Congress, the first black to serve as mayor of a large, urban city, the first black appointed chief of police of a southern city, and the first black chosen as the Heisman Trophy winner, etc.

Some Blacks in the News Today Vex the Spirit

Yes, unlike the news of those days, the news which we hear today concerning our people is indeed vexing to the spirit, to say the least. Ironically, the events that headline the six o'clock news today are still centered around blacks, but this time, no longer a thing of glory, but of utter shame. Today, we hear about blacks committing senseless crimes involving robberies, murders, drug addictions, car jackings, gangs, rape and all kinds of ungodly behaviour.

Incidentally, I am quite aware that these deplorable acts are committed by people of all races, but I get no satisfaction from this kind of argument, because I know that blacks still rank at the top of the list. Besides, my concern here is not about other people, but for my people. Therefore, I am highly disturbed by any news that places blacks in a negative light. It does not take any one long to realize amidst all the violence and corruption that is taking place today in the black community, that the "glory days," for blacks, have been turned to shame.

From Glory to Shame

As I read through Biblical history, I am reminded of how a people's life and destiny can be changed from glory to shame. The prophet Hosea, prophesied this about his people, the Israelites, that God would bring judgment upon His own covenant people, because they turned away from respecting and obeying the laws of God. The judgment of God would fall upon that generation of the Israelites' children.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory to shame."

-Hosea 4:6-7

From Glory to Shame: A Fulfilled Prophecy in the Plight of Israel

As we further examine the Scriptures, we learn that God did as He said He would do. He brought a judgment of shame upon the children of that generation of Israelites. We can further learn more about God's judgment pronounced upon the posterity of the Israelites in Hosea 4:10: "For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord." We will not do an in-depth study of how God's judgment was implemented and how it affected the posterity of that generation of Israelites. However, even today, we can still see how the nation of Israel has suffered various types of persecution, discrimination, abuse and all kinds of misfortunes by the hands of other nations. It is also a nation that is torn asunder with conflict and threats of war-a nation of people still without peace and tranquility. From glory to shame certainly seems to have been the destiny of Israel-God's covenant people.

From Glory to Shame in the Case of Black America

Today is the fourth day since the triple murders that took place at the McFrugal Auto Rental in Atlanta, Georgia. I suppose today or tomorrow they will lay Charlie Carter to rest. I did not get to know Mr. Carter, although we lived in the same community. However, what I have read about him in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and have seen on television has impressed me. He was a loving father and a dear husband. Also, he was said to be an outstanding citizen in the community. I am sure there were other wonderful compliments that were said about him, but none of them would suffice for the way he and so many others are being killed today by young black males who seem to think that it is in vogue to gun someone down. What a pity! What a shame!

As I think about how we, as a people, have gone from glory to shame, I cannot help but to think about those of us who are responsible for having produced this kind of climate today, where too many of our young black males have been brought up without a father in the home. Statistics show that 53.5% of African-American homes are headed by a single mother (U.S. Census Bureau). Too many of us fathers have left the rearing of our children to the mother and to the welfare system.

We have not been in the home to provide essential character building traits in the lives of our children. We have not provided responsible leadership, healthy role models, respect for authority, a strong work ethic and a Godly conduct for them to follow. This generation is a misguided generation, that has placed too much emphasis upon material things, and not on traditional and spiritual values. Yes, we have failed miserably in our responsibility to our children. Yet, the most neglected area in which we have failed this generation, is to instill within them a wholesome respect for obeying the laws and commandments of God. We have rejected and forgotten the laws of God and God is saying to this generation the same thing He said to the Israelites: "...I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame." (Hosea 4:6b-7).

The drama that we now see being played out in the lives of our children in terms of desperate wickedness, is what I believe to be a direct result of God's judgment upon a people who have flagrantly rejected a knowledge of God's Word. Our only hope of regaining our dignity as a people and reclaiming the glory that we once enjoyed, is for us to condemn the lawless acts of our young people and accept responsibility for the fate of black America and stop blaming our actions on the white society. God's Word is true: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (I Corinthians 11:31).