The little known story of Rev. Brown of Brown v. Board of Education
Also, an Indian Muslim artist seeks to reinvent Hindu-Muslim spaces
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
Think you know the story of the Rev. Oliver Brown, the lead plaintiff in the landmark 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education? According to his daughter, Cheryl Brown Henderson, you probably don’t.
Bobby Ross Jr. reports on Oklahoma Christian’s ninth annual History Speaks event, in which Henderson shares multiple behind-the-scenes details about the case and her family’s connection to it.
In India, Muslim artist Syed Ali Sarvat Jafri lives only a few miles from the hypothesized birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. He remembers the riots that killed more than 2,000 people in India after Hindu nationalists tore down a 16th century mosque there in 1992. His current project befits his memory — a life-size portrait of Rama that he and others will carry to Ayodhya’s riverfront where many pilgrims gather.
“I want to transcend the hate,” says Jafri.
Delhi contributor Priyadarshini Sen talks to Jafri about his work and explains its importance in today’s top story. You won’t want to miss it.
See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends.
Indian Muslim Artist Seeks To Reinvent Syncretic Spaces
The Real Story Of The Rev. Oliver Brown, Lead Plaintiff In Brown V. Board Of Education by Bobby Ross Jr.
Cheryl Brown Henderson, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Oliver Brown, shares behind-the-scenes details about her family’s important connection to the landmark 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Henderson spoke at Oklahoma Christian University’s annual History Speaks event.
Pope Benedict XVI: Has His Legacy Been Tarnished Forever? by Clemente Lisi
(ANALYSIS) The German church is at a crossroads. The present is certainly an issue. That’s something Pope Francis will have to deal with. How the press will handle the current pope and these clashes over moral theology will be interesting to watch. For now, it’s Benedict XVI who’s on the receiving end of bad press with his latest blunder potentially damaging his legacy.
90-Year-Old Keeps Watch Over Historic Black Church And Schoolhouse In Tennessee by Erik Tryggestad
From her front porch, adorned with periwinkles and impatiens, 90-year-old Evelyn Buck keeps watch over a small piece of American history: the West End Church of Christ at Silver Point, where a thriving community of Black Christians served orphans, taught schoolchildren, launched cottage industries and trained gospel preachers in the early 1900s.
What Would Jesus Do At An Israeli Military Checkpoint? This Palestinian Pastor Wants To Know by Naomi Zeveloff
For 42-year-old Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac, the bullet hole inside his church is a symbol of the conflict he aspires to resolve. A Lutheran with an evangelical background, he is involved in the controversial and often slow work of exposing Christians abroad to the realities of the Israeli occupation.
The Weeknd’s New Album ‘Dawn FM’ Takes Listeners On A Spiritual Journey by Connor Walter
(REVIEW) Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, dropped his newest album, “Dawn FM”, in January and it’s packed with spiritual themes, including drawing on Christianity.
‘Redeeming Love’ Combines Worst Parts Of Faith-Based And Romance Films by Joseph Holmes
(REVIEW) The film ‘Redeeming Love’ is based on the hugely popular 1991 Christian romance novel by evangelical author Francine Rivers that loosely retells the biblical story of Hosea. Unfortunately, this adaptation combines the worst parts of faith-based films, romance films and gritty dramas into a hilarious Frankenstein’s monster of a misfire.
Does European Multiculturalism Threaten Women’s Rights? by Dr. Robert Carle
(REVIEW) “Prey” is a meticulously researched book, and Ali offers us page after page of grim statistics to support her thesis that the surge of immigration into Europe in 2015 has led to a surge in sexual violence.
Descendants Of Self-Freed Slave Still Live And Worship On His Nashville Land by Erik Tryggestad
It’s easy to miss amid the upscale apartment complexes of Nashville’s Bellevue neighborhood. But the Old Hickory Boulevard Church of Christ is rich with history, standing on one of the oldest settlements continuously owned by an African American family in the state of Tennessee.
Opinion
Online Church And Virtual Spirituality In The Pandemic Age: Can We Please Have A Wordle?
In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. goes high-tech — with stories about online worship, virtual reality church and Wordle as ritual. Plus, catch up, as always, on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe!
We Can't Ignore Calls For Attacks Against Muslims In India by Ewelina U. Ochab
In Post-Pandemic America, Will Sagging Church Health Damage Public Health? by Richard Ostling
Jokes And Big Questions: The Babylon Bee Meets With Elon Musk And Learns A Few Things by Terry Mattingly
We Are Losing Ground In The Fight To End Female Genital Mutilation by Ewelina U. Ochab
In Reportage On Russia And Ukraine, Don't Neglect The Importance Of Two Rival Churches by Richard Ostling
Why Church Conflict In Ukraine Reflects Historic Russian-Ukrainian Tensions by J. Eugene Clay
After Grim Reports For Canadian Churches, How Will They Respond? by Terry Mattingly
Why Are People Calling Bitcoin A Religion? by Joseph P. Laycock
The Only Winner Of The 2022 Beijing Olympics Will Be The Chinese Government by Ewelina U. Ochab
Solving The Opioid Crisis, Ethically: Is The Answer Less Supply, Or More? by Travis N. Rieder
Don’t miss our latest podcast
How Jesuits are Helping Refugees Find Stability in India
Delhi, India-based Jesuit Refugee Services work with refugees from Afghanistan and Myanmar. Like many refugee communities, they face extreme anti-immigrant discrimination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many have spiraled into deeper poverty. Jesuit Refugee Services started a women's tailoring group to help the refugees find income and safety. With earnings trickling in from hand-stitched masks, clothes and decorations, these refugee women are finally achieving some stability. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.
In case you missed it
Editorial picks from our archives
How Orthodox Jewish Law Is Adapting To In Vitro Fertilization by Nomi Kaltmann
According to increasingly common interpretations of Orthodox Jewish law, any assisted reproductive technology — including egg and sperm extraction or IVF, which have grown in popularity in recent years — requires the presence of “mashgichim,” Jewish law supervisors. But not all Orthodox Jews agree with the practice.
NFL Standout Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp Furthers Faith And Football Family Legacy by Luke Kerley
(ANALYSIS) Cooper Kupp is a well-known name across football who helped punch the Rams’ ticket to the NFC championship in 2022. But above all, what’s most noticeable is Kupp’s character and Christian faith.
Thanks again for reading!
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