By Carey A. Grady
COMMENTARY
The book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible (the Christian Canon), the first book of the Historical Writings and named after the leader who succeeded Moses (the Hebrew African Emancipator). The book should be studied for lessons in leadership and generational transitions. At this pivotal period in American and particularly African American History, the book of Joshua resonates as a book of liberation and practical application.
The recent death of Jesse Jackson in the middle of Black history Month in the larger backdrop of American Culture where polarization is at an alltime high as we march towards election season all makes for an interesting conversation.
Jackson’s death with the death of John Lewis several years ago in some ways marks the end of an era in American Civil Rights history. Yet their legacies have shaped where we are in culture and if studied can help us overcome where we are now. I remember Bishop Philip R. Cousin and the late Bishop Z.L. Grady talking right after President Obama was elected. They both said “we did it.” Men of that era who made their Civil Rights History contributions felt that Obama’s election was a result of their collective work from the 1950’s up to the end of the official Civil Rights Era of that generation. Every generation is connected to the generation before them and after them. The key is to whom each generation passes the mantle.
For the next few weeks, we will see tribute after tribute for the late Rev. Jese Jackson. At some point the negative media will show its head just as the cultural critics have done as they have tried to dismantle the legacy of Dr. Martin L. King. But that is to be expected, as the fight for Western Civilization and who is in charge as well as the browning of America ensues. The dismantling of Civil Rights Leaders Legacy is the equivalent to the “Lost Cause” after the Civil War.
The Lost Cause was and is a white Southern, post-Civil War narrative and interpretation that attempts to baptize, sanctify and rewrite secession and Confederate History portraying the Confederacy as a noble struggle for States Rights or local autonomy rather than being about Slavery.
The problem is you cannot divorce states right from slavery or slavery from states’ rights. The concept of the lost cause raises its ugly head and historically has produced several cultural and political movements in American History. During the Civil Rights Movements and after integration became legal, the forming of white private schools (K-12th Grade) and the flying of Confederate flags on State legislatures in the South, and the proliferation of Confederate War Memorials on state and Federal Property were all a response to the end of segregation. The Lost cause was a way to legitimize white southerners whose egos were deeply bruised who had to find a way to deal with the error of their ways and the shame of defeat.
While we will mourn the loss of Jesse Jackson rest be assured, the revisionist history will arise, dub him a race hustler, insist that he was running to be the President of Black America, question his morality and (so-called) lack of orthodox Christian beliefs.
The larger issues that Jackson death symbolizes is the transition of leadership, As those born in 1930’s and 1940’s who fought segregation, participated in sit-ins,
marched with King and experienced the horrors of the Jim Crow South die, there voice shaped by the crucible of struggle is a void in the public square as we address modern issues of race, gender, class, equality, Christianity, black empowerment, political inclusion, etc.
When Obama announced his candidacy for President in 2007, he was criticized by black and whites for what was believed to be a lack of experience. The concept of the Moses Generation vs. the Joshua generation was used to frame the narrative. Obama represented a new black leadership that was not part of the Civil Rights Movement. Since Obama’s election America has seen an emergence of black leaders: male and female, young and not so young as well black political pundits and strategist. The question remains who the new leadership is, and what direction will they lead people?
This changing of the mantle or the void in the voices, is what happened late in the Book of Deuteronomy and early in the Book of Joshua. Joshua and Caleb are faithful lieutenants and spies and both experienced slavery in Egypt. When Joshua becomes the leader of Hebrews, he is leading people who did not know slavery and only had experienced living in the wilderness for 40 Years.
Jacksons death points us to the book of Joshua as the Hebrews who are now the Israelites march into the Promised Land. The book of Joshua is another lesson in leadership. Moses begins to pass the mantle to Joshua in the book of Deuteronomy but because of Moses death, nothing stops or hinders the leadership transition. Joshua is one of the few like Caleb who were with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam when the Hebrews left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.
The book of Joshua helps us put into perspective the Moses and the Joshua generations. Joshua had the lived experience of being enslaved, delivered and wandering in the wilderness for 40 Years. He would lead people who had not
experienced slavery in Egypt. Joshua had the experience and wisdom to lead but even Joshua was a little unsure of himself and the people were as well. Moses did the right thing and passed the mantle before he died, and Joshua does the right thing by submitting to God and following the Lord’s instructions. But before Moses death, Joshua was uniquely prepared because he had the lived experience of hardship: oppression and followship and was a student and follower of Moses, whom he served and risked his life for.
When the history books are written, Reverend Jesse Jackson’s life will be studied for generations to come. As a student of the late Dr Martin Luther King, Jackson founded his ministry in Chicago, Illinois. People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH) and the Rainbow Coalition became the Rainbow Push Coalition and was dubbed “the Workshop of Dr. King.” Jackson had the courage to run for president twice and the second time received over 7 million votes. He helped change the narrative and set the stage for the election of the first African American President in the United States of America.
In some ways, Jesse Jackson was a Joshua. The question is not the Moses versus the Joshua generation. The question becomes the Joshua and what generation. What will we call that generation? What will the next generation stand for and what direction will they lead God’s people.
Dr. King did not know that his mountaintop speech was his last, but he did know there were others who were capable of leadership. In our churches, community organizations, fraternal orders, and fraternities and sororities who is next to lead? As a leader are you preparing others to succeed and follow you? The history is not yet written but the history is being made.
Rev. Carey A Grady is the pastor of Reid Chapel AME Church and founding member of Midlands Organized for Equity and Justice (MORE) Justice. He blogs regularly at www.careyagrady.com