Amid allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs and questions of whether hip-hop’s #MeToo moment has come, is the Black Church also due for a reckoning?
“Notes on faith” is theGrio’s inspirational, interdenominational series featuring Black thought leaders across faiths.
In 2018,
As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King explained, we must understand the church’s role as the thermostat of society and not just its thermometer. Although King was speaking within the context of civil rights for African Americans, the same metaphor applies when it comes to challenging the church and society at large to turn up the heat regarding justice in this realm.
The model of conduct to walk alongside the most vulnerable was established by Christ. Even with the known data about misconduct, it is even more critical to understand the numbers are underreported. We have seen the long-term effects of a culture that dismisses the cries of victims; the impact falls not only on the individual but on the entire community — whether we realize it or not.
What are the barriers to disrupting a system of misbehavior? Often, there is a lack of adequate support systems for victims, including counseling, legal aid, and safe spaces to share their experiences. Here are three practices we should collectively avoid:
To address these issues, we must foster a culture of accountability where abusive behavior is not tolerated and there are clear consequences. This involves setting and enforcing strict policies against abuse and harassment. Establishing clear, confidential, and non-retributive reporting procedures within these industries can encourage more survivors to come forward.
We must empower and protect survivors; providing platforms and support for survivors to speak out is crucial. This includes legal protections, financial support, and ensuring their stories are heard and taken seriously.
We need to support existing educational programs for character development and ethical leadership. Implementing educational programs about consent, respectful behavior, and the impact of abuse can help change the cultural norms that enable such behavior.
Our divine call is to protect the vulnerable. Whether a “video vixen,” love interest, major artist, music executive, or aspiring star, one should be able to pursue their dreams safely. And in the face of sexual misconduct, we should not permit a person’s background to dissuade us from vigilantly protecting survivors. By addressing these barriers and implementing strategies to overcome them, the entertainment industry, the church, the marketplace, and our communities can move towards a more ethical and respectful environment for all individuals — it is possible to do this! However, such an achievement requires not only institutional changes but also a cultural shift in how we view power, sex, respect, and the dignity of every person.
Creator, give us courage;
To share our stories,
To listen,
To pursue justice,
And make space for creativity without fear or anxiety about harm.
We may model ethical excellence by considering how we handle money, power, and sex.
Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones is a faith leader helping people to find their groove in a fast-paced world, as a consultant for various arts and faith organizations and professor of music in contemporary societies at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. She is an award-winning author of Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance (Oxford University Press). For more information, please visit DrAlisha.com.
Rev. Calvin Taylor Skinner is dedicated to empowering frontline communities in Knoxville, Tenn. and the United Kingdom. He uses Faith and Policy to address energy justice, criminal justice reform, voter education/mobilization, electoral politics, and global affairs. Along with his wife, Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones, they lead InSight Initiative, a consulting firm focusing on capacity building and live events production.
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