A Rising Tide, Lifts All Boats

by E. A. Preston

Scriptural Text: Acts 2; Ephesians 5:1-5.

(Published Spring 2006) An increasingly popular, yet ugly and threatening term in the African-American culture is “gentrification.” An acceptable working definition of this word is, “the process of renewal and rebuilding that accompanies the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas and often displaces the original, usually poorer residents.” The E. Anthony Preston interpretation of all of that gobbledygook simply spells out, “too many ‘big money folks’ moving into the ‘hood with highfalutin ideas and schemes, will eventually raise the standard of living too high for the longtime residents who have far fewer options of where they can live and prosper.” While many of us as African-American feel secure in our surroundings, gentrification is one of the cultural injustices of our times, and more often than not, our fellow blacks are among the healthiest numbers that are so callously displaced.

 But, just because African-Americans are disproportionately the victims of gentrification, let us not assume that the “big money folks with highfalutin ideas and schemes,” are always non-black. I regret that I have lived long enough to see a sin that had not often “been named among us” in earlier years – black folks doing anything, and tolerating anything, for the “almighty dollar.” Whether the masses of African-Americans admit it or not, the white slave traders could never have penetrated and maneuvered their way through the thick, dangerous jungles to find slaves had it not been for a few greedy and misdirected Africans who served as guides and informants. Think about it – because some brothers and sisters were “sell outs,” slavery flourished. It hurts but it’s still true.

 As I was thinking on this social malady, I was reminded of the truth that often our black churches are also to blame for our own brand of gentrification. This can be done in two ways. First, we can often be guilty of being so engrossed “serving God” in our tidy, little enclaves within the ghetto community, we can be totally oblivious to the suffering and selfishness around us. Whether we are keenly aware or casually aware of socio-economic inequities, because we have already put in a few dollars in the benevolence offering, we look for contentment in saying we have “done our best.” In these times, we can be guilty of making impotent and insincere stabs at evangelism by telling the less fortunate, “I’ll pray for you” or, “The Lord will make a way somehow.” In reality, we must see ourselves as “the answered prayer” and the method the Lord has chosen to “make a way” for the helpless and the hopeless.

 But, at times, the stench of gentrification can even be detected within our individual church fellowships. What might be frequently referred to as “harmless cliques," can lead to the “big Is” in the congregation fostering a wicked air of superiority over the “little Us (yous).” When that happens, those with little to offer from a material and talent standpoint, feel pushed out and displaced by the “silk stocking crowd.” Or, the seasoned and onetime “pillars of the church,” are more prone to regretfully step aside and “leave things up to the young folks” who are more educated and energetic. Newsflash: the church does not belong to any one demographic. It is not reserved for the rich, the young, the mature, or the influential. Dare I say it – it is not reserved for black folks either. The church belongs to God and He repeatedly makes it crystal clear that He is about “bringing folks in” and not “pushing them out.”

 One of the trite expressions in the African-American church that clashes with good teaching, says some people are “so heavenly-minded, they are of little earthly good.” But I would like to take issue with that trite, silly, non-thinking statement. Was not Jesus heavenly-minded? In stark contrast to many contemporary church members, He left heaven in order to be of benefit to those of us on earth. In a nutshell, people who are truly heavenly-minded are always of earthly good. Let’s be real about this.  The congregation that allowed God “to stick His chest out,” the Acts 2 church, besides being in one place, was also in “one accord.” The “commonness” that existed among them was simply their determination that not a single member of the flock would feel unwelcome and unvalued. The result? - Thousands “being added” in one day.  The congregation that is lifted by God’s love will consistently help elevate those with whom they come in contact. Gentrification? - Let it not once be named among us. END.

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