Sunday Musings - October 17, 2021
Hope
When listening to the On Being podcast this week - a conversation between Darrell Moore and Dream Hampton on the subject of the future of hope, part II – I thought of our historic relationship with fear. Fear arrives or does not arrive in various degrees of intensity and forms. Fear is the body’s way of announcing a danger - real or imagined. This signaling device is usually triggered by past experiences or a story we have been told by someone to whom we have given authority. As a young child our primary authority figures are parents figures and other teachers. If our childhood is spent in was zone, a violent home/neighborhood or includes some other traumatic experiences which results is us feeling vulnerable we may begin to associate certain objects, sounds, colors, smells or other stimuli with a sense of danger. In extreme cases one may be unable to leave the bubble of one’s house or even one’s room.
We can also become fearful of or because of social constructs which are embedded in the social structures of the community. Racism, sexism, religious myths and homophobia are examples of such social constructs. Social constructs are very powerful, but there are always those such as Darrell More, Dream Hamptom, Malcom X and a host of others who manage to move past such constructs.
Emily Dickinson famously said: “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Hope refuses to buy into the lies of the social constructs which set up social, political, religious, and emotional barriers to the right and the freedom to be whole, equal, powerful members of the universe. There have always been those who defied the invitation of fear. When black people were forbidden to gather except for church they devised a language within the language of hymns. When women were forbidden to speak their truth they took to the streets, spoke through a mask, or use material to create the art of quilts. When children are forbidden to speak their truth they create and speak through music or other art forms. Every oppressed group has their messengers of hope; the prophet who defies the lies which says one has no power; one deserves no power; one is less than; one is incapable of greatness.
Jesus is alleged to have said, “The Truth shall set or make you free.” (John 8:32). In every age there have been those prophets who echoed the power of truth; the power to set one free from the lies of oppression; from the lies of fear.
Richard Wright in his book Native Son has Bigger Thomas proclaim to the police person who is threatening him, “You can’t do nothin but kill me and that ain’t nothin.” Hope says: “You cannot stop me from being free to be me. We are all going to die. That ain’t nothin.”
Freedom from fear is not to be confused with freedom to act as if there can be any freedom without all being free. Refusing to get vaccinated, refusing to go into treatment for one’s addiction, or agreeing to participate in or benefit from systems which are dependent on oppressing others or[1] benefiting at the expense of others is not freedom.
Hope is the thing with feathers which allow all of us to soar above and over the lies; which tells us that we cannot incarcerate ourselves out of racism, sexism and mental illness. Hope is the thing with feathers which tells us we cannot live off the crumbs which the 1% drop or toss out to the multitude. Hope is the love which refuses to be quiet or to pretend as if we are less or more than the whole. Hope is the voice of such people as Darrell More, Dream Hamptom and a host of others such as Joy Harjo and Toni Morrison.
Hope is!
Hope is!
Hope is!
Written October 17, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
[1]
Hope
When listening to the On Being podcast this week - a conversation between Darrell Moore and Dream Hampton on the subject of the future of hope, part II – I thought of our historic relationship with fear. Fear arrives or does not arrive in various degrees of intensity and forms. Fear is the body’s way of announcing a danger - real or imagined. This signaling device is usually triggered by past experiences or a story we have been told by someone to whom we have given authority. As a young child our primary authority figures are parents figures and other teachers. If our childhood is spent in was zone, a violent home/neighborhood or includes some other traumatic experiences which results is us feeling vulnerable we may begin to associate certain objects, sounds, colors, smells or other stimuli with a sense of danger. In extreme cases one may be unable to leave the bubble of one’s house or even one’s room.
We can also become fearful of or because of social constructs which are embedded in the social structures of the community. Racism, sexism, religious myths and homophobia are examples of such social constructs. Social constructs are very powerful, but there are always those such as Darrell More, Dream Hamptom, Malcom X and a host of others who manage to move past such constructs.
Emily Dickinson famously said: “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Hope refuses to buy into the lies of the social constructs which set up social, political, religious, and emotional barriers to the right and the freedom to be whole, equal, powerful members of the universe. There have always been those who defied the invitation of fear. When black people were forbidden to gather except for church they devised a language within the language of hymns. When women were forbidden to speak their truth they took to the streets, spoke through a mask, or use material to create the art of quilts. When children are forbidden to speak their truth they create and speak through music or other art forms. Every oppressed group has their messengers of hope; the prophet who defies the lies which says one has no power; one deserves no power; one is less than; one is incapable of greatness.
Jesus is alleged to have said, “The Truth shall set or make you free.” (John 8:32). In every age there have been those prophets who echoed the power of truth; the power to set one free from the lies of oppression; from the lies of fear.
Richard Wright in his book Native Son has Bigger Thomas proclaim to the police person who is threatening him, “You can’t do nothin but kill me and that ain’t nothin.” Hope says: “You cannot stop me from being free to be me. We are all going to die. That ain’t nothin.”
Freedom from fear is not to be confused with freedom to act as if there can be any freedom without all being free. Refusing to get vaccinated, refusing to go into treatment for one’s addiction, or agreeing to participate in or benefit from systems which are dependent on oppressing others or[1] benefiting at the expense of others is not freedom.
Hope is the thing with feathers which allow all of us to soar above and over the lies; which tells us that we cannot incarcerate ourselves out of racism, sexism and mental illness. Hope is the thing with feathers which tells us we cannot live off the crumbs which the 1% drop or toss out to the multitude. Hope is the love which refuses to be quiet or to pretend as if we are less or more than the whole. Hope is the voice of such people as Darrell More, Dream Hamptom and a host of others such as Joy Harjo and Toni Morrison.
Hope is!
Hope is!
Hope is!
Written October 17, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
[1]
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