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    Diary of Agony and Hope: Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
    Diary of Agony and Hope: Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
    Diary of Agony and Hope: Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
    Ebook91 pages1 hour

    Diary of Agony and Hope: Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement

    By E. Hammond Oglesby

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    The purpose of this book, Diary of Agony and Hope, explores the ethical themes of justice and hope through the lens of folk sayings, case studies, and real-life experiences on the part of the writer as a resident of St. Louis County for over thirty years. The writer believes that the tears for the fruits of justice in the Michael Brown, Jr. case are tears that will be further reckoned with in light of their implications for reform--especially in the use of deadly force--among police departments throughout the community of Ferguson and our troubled land. Here every American must work together for a better society! The writer believes that the daunting task of working together will build bridges of trust, understanding, and hope between police officers and the communities in which they serve: particularly communities of color.

    Research for this volume was largely taken from the writer's diary. Insightful and engaging, this book is a "must read" for morally concerned Americans who want to know more about the story of the Ferguson Movement. In the movement itself for justice on the part of peace protestors, we see the force of love among ordinary people of goodwill.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherResource Publications
    Release dateNov 18, 2015
    ISBN9781498231695
    Diary of Agony and Hope: Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement
    Author

    E. Hammond Oglesby

    E. Hammond Oglesby is the United Church Professor of Theology and History at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and an ordained minister in the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. He is the author of nine previous books, including O Lord, Move this Mountain: Racism and Christian Ethics (1998).

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      Book preview

      Diary of Agony and Hope - E. Hammond Oglesby

      9781498231688.kindle.jpg

      Diary of Agony and Hope

      Waves of Folk Sayings in the Ferguson Movement

      What’s really behind Funky Rhythms and Deep Cries of the Ferguson Movement?

      E. Hammond Oglesby

      9237.png

      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, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

      Resource Publications

      An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

      199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

      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

      Image1.jpg

      Grandson, Ashton Oglesby, held by presidential candidate, Barack Obama, 2007, Detroit, MI.

      Table of Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Preface

      Chapter 1: Ferguson

      Chapter 2: Waves and Voices from the Otherside

      Chapter 3: Waves of White Anger vs. Black Response

      Chapter 4: Waves of Lament and Hope

      Chapter 5: Case Studies

      Chapter 6: *Study Questions

      Bibliography

      About the Author

      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 6 : 8 ).

      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

      This 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 55 : 17 ). 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 one’s 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 America’s 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

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