The Beloved Community Center was chosen as one of this year’s six recipients for the group’s “dedication” to making North Carolina a “fairer and more just state,” according to an announcement Tuesday from the organization, which highlights those who have made significant contributions to the fight against poverty in the state.

The Greensboro organization is modeled after Martin Luther King’s vision of a “beloved community.” It was selected for its award under the grass-roots empowerment category and was lauded for “its efforts to secure policy changes that improve the lives of minorities and low-income people.”

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At a press conference the day after the shooting many questions were asked of his brother King Peaceful of the ALKQN, Brother TC Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and Rev. Nelson Johnson representing the Greensboro Pulpit Forum in the absence of Rev. Gregory Headen who could not attend but sent a message. The reporters present were looking for details about the event and about whether there would be cooperation in seeking justice. It seemed as though they had completely missed the real question of the afternoon: How is it that this man who is little known and even less understood in this community can be shot and immediately continue his calls for peace while forgiving his attackers?

In a community where people distance themselves from "gang activity" by conceiving of gangs as violent groups that endanger the neighborhoods while the rest of us seek protection from them, it is hard to grasp that a person thought to be a gang leader is seeking peace while the concern of many others is for retribution in the name of justice.

Think of how different this is from the dominant culture which punishes an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Think of the punitive and even preemptive attacks on known and suspected enemies that receive the unblinking approval from the masses of people. Think of the punishment to people who have been tortured and held for years with no charges leveled against them on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations that they may be enemy combatants.

The details of the shooting will likely emerge from the investigations that are sure to take place in the upcoming weeks. It is likely that at some point some individuals will be named as the likely assailants. Some people will no doubt feel safer when that happens even though we should know by now that the arrest of individual perpetrators has not made our community safe and free from crime. What we will be seeing if someone is caught is some folks who have absorbed all too well the prevalent violent norms of this society while the rest of us remain in denial. If we truly seek to end violence, we need to repudiate the congress, the president, the military, the states, police and the history books and try to learn from Jorge Cornell.

Real justice which is recognizing the full humanity, respecting the dignity and assuring access to the means of a full and meaningful life for all of our brothers and sisters regardless their color, language, religion, gender, gender preference, place of origin and station in life will bring real peace. Calls for retribution, whether they are issued in the downtown halls of power or in the narrow streets of low income neighborhood, will not bring peace.  This is something Jorge Cornell and those who stand with him seem to understand.

I am pleading with those who committed this act against him to come to the table with us and to help us embrace a better way.  You are not our enemies, but our brothers and sisters.  I am urging and inviting every pastor and religious leader to step up to the plate for peace and unity around peace.  I urge the prayer warriors in every faith community to turn up the prayer heat and touch the very throne of God for our brother, Jorge, and the cause that he is so passionate about.

In the normal course of the construct set up by our violent society, the poor and minorities turn on each other as we fight over the crumbs and turf.  The powers that be will not care much if we kill each other.  We must rise up with new appreciation for the life of every human being, with hope for our children, with a desire for a more promising future.  There are those in every race who understand this truth, and are willing to stand for it.  Let's wake up to the realities that stare us in the face.  Let's stop the violence on each other and help each other as brothers and sisters. 

I will continue to challenge the church to be the church in this struggle.  I believe this is the time to turn our nation in a different direction, and it does not surprise me that the most vulnerable in the whole arrangement will offer the leadership that is needed at this critical time.

[Read more of the official article in the attached .pdf document or visit Huami Magazine at www.huamimagazine.com]

1.  We, all parties present, are committed to peace with each other and among each other.

2.  We, all parties present, recognize that as leaders and individuals representing or associated with the groups and organizations named above do not necessarily speak for all who are members, or consider themselves members, of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, the Almighty Black Peace Stone Nation, the Crips, the Five Percenters, the Piru Bloods, the Muslims, or Christians.   We, therefore, reach out to and call upon all persons associated with the above mentioned groups and organizations or any other groups, organizations, or gangs in the community, especially youth, to lay down violence and join us in working together for peace among us and within our community.

3. We commit to work together on positive community projects and activities.  Specifically, we agree:
a.) To clean up the graffiti in our community.
b.) To educate our community, especially the youth, on the history and original intent of the groups mentioned above and others understood as “gangs.”
c.)  To work together to bring about more unity and understanding between Black and Brown people.

4. We agree to ask clergy associated with the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro to help communicate to the broader community and public our sincere intent, as well as some of the challenges that we face.

There is a urgent need for African Americans and Latinos to unite!  We will explore the ways in which we can do this at a regional level.  Please join us at Genesis Baptist Church 2812 E. Bessmer Street in Greensboro, NC.

All people of all nationalities and/or races are welcome.  We believe that if the work of building Black/Brown unity is done in an inclusive spirit, it will help all ethnic groups, races and nationalities to unite.

Check here for more details! 

Contact Marilyn Baird at (336) 230-0001 or Wesley Morris at (336) 230-0001 for more information.

Youth from Operation Understanding, nearly thirty five African American and Jewish young people visited the BCC after participating in worship at Faith Community Church on Sunday. They returned to the BCC on Monday to hear and learn about the history of movement in Greensboro, and particularly the work of Truth and Reconciliation.

The Almighty Latino Kings and Queens Nation (also known as the Latin Kings Gang), the Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, area pastors and several African American and Latino community leaders held a media briefing on Monday, June 30, 2008, at 10:30 AM, at Faith Community Church to call for peace and unity in the work against racist injustice. Read more about the growing relationship between the BCC and the Latin Kings in the article "Sharing the table" or join in the conversation on our online discussion board.