By Bob Allen
A female Bible scholar, ordained as a Baptist and United Church of Christ minister, says immigration is not a “black and white” issue in the African-American community in this week’s installment of a series of Bible commentaries on social issues published in major media outlets.
Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, who until last year taught New Testament studies at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., commented in the Feb. 20 installment of the Odyssey Networks ON Scripture series that much of the political debate surrounding immigration reform is being framed in an “us-vs.-them” fashion, such as that a massive influx of non-citizens will subtract resources available to Americans of European descent or reduce jobs among African-American low-wage earners.
Crowder, who received her master of divinity degree from United Theological Seminary and master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees from Vanderbilt University, said African-Americans view immigration in different ways ranging from a class issue that divides to a social issue that views blacks and Hispanics united as victims of racial profiling.
As an African-American Bible scholar, Crowder said beyond discussion of the how-tos of immigration reform, “at the heart of the matter is the human need for belonging, for a sense of security through identity.”
While not offering a specific prescription for immigration reform, she said Bible passages like Genesis 15 and Philippians 3:20 offer strong glimpses of what it means for people to identify with people and places.
“The texts provide a glimpse into human tendencies to be in relationship,” she wrote. “Abram’s desire to have an earthly heir and Paul’s polemic regarding heavenly citizenship both point to a common core of communal responsibility and mutuality. For Paul’s listeners the community, the citizenry they must model in the Roman Empire is reflective of the same in God’s kingdom. In turn, God’s promise to Abram speaks to ideas of extended family and ‘seed as countless as the stars in heaven.’”
Both passages, Crowder said, resonate with the African philosophy “Ubuntu,” translated, “I am because we are” and advocated by humanitarian scholars such as Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
She closed with President Obama’s speech on immigration in January, which stated: “Unless you’re one of the first Americans, a Native American, you came from someplace else. Somebody brought you.”
“If sans the Native Americans, all are ‘aliens,’ then perhaps African-Americans should as the anthem ‘We Shall Overcome’ declares ‘walk hand in hand’ with Latino immigrants,” she contended. “If there is a human longing to belong, whether through familial bloodline or due to civic struggle, then one can see ‘black and brown together.’”
ON Scripture is a weekly commentary that features preachers and scholars interpreting biblical passages from the Revised Common Lectionary in the context of current events. Each article is paired with an Odyssey Networks video that illustrates the scripture being put into action in the world today.
The series was launched in 2011 as a partnership between Odyssey Networks, The Huffington Post and Day1.org.
It is published on the Odyssey Networks website, as well as other national media platforms: The Huffington Post, Sojourners, Patheos and Day1.org. The column reaches more than 500,000 people each month and is supported by The Lilly Endowment.
This story was edited after posting to correct an error in the second paragraph.