Diary of Agony and Hope
Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
Whats really behind Funky Rhythms and Deep Cries of the Ferguson Movement?
E. Hammond Oglesby
Diary of Agony and Hope
Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
Copyright 2015 E. Hammond Oglesby. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, W. th Ave., Suite , Eugene, OR 97401 .
Resource Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
W. th Ave., Suite
Eugene, OR 97401
www.wipfandstock.com
paperback ISBN 13: 978-1-4982-3168-8
hardcover ISBN 13: 978-1-4982-3170-1
ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-4982-3169-5
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Dedicated to:
Rev. Enoch Hammond, my grandpa
and
Ashton Jacob Oglesby, my grandson
Grandson, Ashton Oglesby, held by presidential candidate, Barack Obama, 2007 , Detroit, MI.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
I gave my energy to these observations and reflections, in this small volume, Diary of Agony and Hope, not because I am anyone in particular as a resident of St. Louis but because I care deeply about the American value of social justice. For example, the moral dictum which has guided my inward passion in the rhythmic, and at times painful journey of this diary is anchored in the words of Holy Scripture: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah :).
Firstly , it was about the gradual knowledge about the amazing history of the city of Ferguson that caught me by surprise as a writer. From a historical perspective, I find many of its customary symbols and cultural icons simply fascinating especially the functional role of the train whistle in the regulative order of daily life in Ferguson. Secondly , this book of mine is a gift as much as it is an agonizing labor of ethical discourse, because I have walked the same streets where urban unrest took place. I have shopped in supermarkets and other stores along the main avenues of Ferguson where violence and burnings took place. History being partial to irony and surprise, I have also enjoyed fine food and entertainment among ordinary folk, who often say: We Love Ferguson!
I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary debt I owe to Margret O. Sidney, who spent tireless hours in preparation of this manuscript. I want to mention a special person, Gloria P. Oglesby, my wife, who gave me continual support, helpful suggestions, and love.
Preface
T his little diary is all about a big agonizing hunger in the heartland of American Life: the hunger for healing, the hunger for reconciliation, the hunger for justice, and the hunger for transformation and progress in the face of brokenness and mistrust between police officers and young black teens in particular to say the least. The Bible gives witness in the following matter: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and God shall hear my voice (Ps :). Well, the voices of the Ferguson movement have thundered in high and low places in our Democratic Republic and from around the world.
Even our Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama has taken notice, and appears to express deep moral concern in regard to patterns of unrest in the city of Ferguson and elsewhere in our nation. As I recall, pieces of this diary actually began to emerge a long time ago, when Barack Obama was running as a presidential candidate. Born in Hawaii to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya, Mr. Obama to the amazement of countless millions of ordinary people became our forty-fourth president of the United States of America, in 2008 . He himself became the first black man to occupy the highest political office in the land as Commander-in Chief. What an astonishing achievement that still gives hope to ordinary folk, who will not accept adversity or present location, as a way to determine ones destination. Of course, racial disturbances in Ferguson caught everybody seemingly by surprise. Raw emotions by some protestors, in my opinion, do not overshadow the racial and ethnic progress already made politically, socially, and economically. For example, in an unexpected photo cited earlier, but uniquely surprising, one of my little grandsons was affectionately held at a political rally in Detroit, Michigan, and held by then, Presidential Candidate Obama.
Who can really estimate concretely and symbolically the historic significance of Americas move to elect its first black Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama? What tears of joy, hope, and promise did many American citizens shed, in 2008 ! For many tearful eyes of promise, signaled the dawn of a new day had suddenly begun. For many of us, the bitter pill of disbelief laced in the historical drama of racial bigotry which was overshadowed with the joyful belief, Yes We Can, Yes, We Have!
What a life-changing and precious moment for me in time as a person of color, as an obscure community organizer from Chicago, had been immersed, apparently, and captivated by the impossible possibility of moving, as it were, from the Outhouse to the White House. In the rhythmic flux of time and space, many writers and journalists will examine and celebrate the milestone of Barack Obama as the first black man to serve as President of the United States of America. Beyond, the mere raw emotions and words, something deep in my heart and soul changed. Something different about me had changed. Something about my fellow Americans had changed, about my white brothers and sisters who marched when duty called to the beat of the Red, White and Blue flag in the security of our nation or in the cause of Freedom, Justice and human rights around the world.
Yet, these noble vibes so common to many Americans of goodwill do not eliminate the pain and hurt around the hearts of many protestors for Michael Brown, his family, and the voices that cry out for change. While progress has and is being made; we are not there yet. To be sure, voices from the other side must be reckoned with.
Contextually, I am an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ; I am a retired professor of social ethics and theology, who served at Eden Theological Seminary for nearly years. At that time, I was the first full-time African American on the faculty in the year history of the school. I am a proud Missourian, who received an honorable Resolution citation from the Missouri House of Representatives. In language peculiar to elected public officials, the formal resolution reflected eight literary expressions of Whereas beginning with the following: Whereas, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives hold in high esteem those Show-Me State residents who have proven down through the years to be exemplar citizens in local communities... through the excellence of their spiritual and educational leadership.... Now, therefore be it resolved that we... convey to him best wishes. Missouri House Resolution, 2587 , adopted May , 2008
