(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s past time for a collective and sustained discussion about two issues that definitely affect our relationship with one another as well as the overall health and well-being of the African American community. I’m not talking about Rest and Recreation; I’m talking about Redemption and Reciprocity.
The incidents of people committing individual and collective injustices in and on our community are increasing. We generally think of a certain underclass when we think about crimes against our community. Those faces are changing; they now include elected officials, faith leaders, businesspeople and nonprofit management. The most recent fiasco at Human Development Corporation has left many families in an emotional and financial lurch.
We need a public process whereby those who have wronged the community 
admit their wrongdoing, ask for our forgiveness and lay out a plan for restitution. Continuing business as usual is only salt on the wounds that have been inflicted even if those people were meted out punishment by the criminal justice system. If we don’t think stealing and killing are okay, perpetrators need to know that, they need to feel it, they need to hear that – from us.
The black community doesn’t have Elder Councils, Truth and Reconciliation Tribunals or other forms of communal justice entities in place to address these kinds of issues. In the meantime, I think it would go a long ways if those who have harmed our community in a serious way would write a letter about it and ask the community to hold them accountable for their stated plan of restitution.
It would be up to the community (family members, church families, co-workers, etc.) to ask them about how their plan is going. This is a better way to get to restoration and redemption than allowing people into our midst with no atonement or to talk about them behind their backs.
The other R is closely related to redemption but I see it happening with all kinds of well-meaning folks. The concept of reciprocity is rooted in our African heritage and is not just about “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”
Reciprocity is about mutual giving and receiving; it’s about creating circles of trust and benevolence that both ripple out from you but you are also in someone else’s ripple. In a capitalist society, individualism is highly promoted along with taking as much you can from others. Some people are always taking – whether it’s financially, emotionally, politically – but never give back.
We have many broken circles in our community that we have the responsibility to reconnect. We must have the moral and spiritual commitment to do it.
The black community can’t be the place where it’s easy to exploit us without some form of retribution. It’s time we stand up and make people accountable for their actions whether they are a teen who steals a car and wrecks it or an elected official who steals our tax dollars or a faith leader who commits domestic violence. These are not healthy behaviors. When we don’t address these circumstances publicly and decisively, it’s a green light for anyone to use and abuse us. They have, they do and they will until we stop it.
Our community needs restitution, redemption and reciprocity if we want to get to the destination of peace and justice as a whole and healthy people.
Written By Jamala Rogers
