"Learn not the ways of the white. It will blow your heads"

South African proverb

Some two thousand years ago, the word became flesh and walked among mortal men, but they discerned him not. He told them, "I have not come to break the law, but to fulfill it." literally, he came to modify it. Let's see some laws he did modify.

The law once said, " An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but Jesus modified it to be " If any man smites your right cheek, turn to him the other also. He continued, " If any man take away your coat, let him have you cloak also."

He did not stop there. For the law, which says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy," He gave, " Love your enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.

Many abound, but I would want to talk about an eventful day that took place while He walked this side of eternity.

It was a hot and humid afternoon, while he discerned mystery with the sand but not far away, an angry and self-righteous crowd had gathered ready to stone a woman to death for committing adultery. They had brought her to him for condemnation according to the laws of Moses.

But the teacher looked up and said " If there be any with no sin, let him cast first his stone." while he continued his hand-to-sand meditation.

He looked up. The crowd was gone, leaving their stones in front of him. (I heard the stones were enough to build a temple in three days.) He said to the faulty woman "Neither have I condemned you, but go and sin no more." It was never recorded that the woman was later stoned to death neither was a record of adultery with her name revealed again. She changed her ways. Some Bible historians recorded that she was the same woman who anointed his feet with expensive oil. That, I cannot prove.

But I know many years ago, black people delved into their traditional religion. They carved for themselves images of their gods thinking they connect them to Heaven. And in concern for them some white men sailed across many waters to these uncivilized nations and like Jesus, they came to modify their lives.

Some had wrong motive. They, forcefully, took the strong black men like Nebuchadnezzer took the gifted youths of Israel in his reign (Book of Daniel chapter one). Unlike Nebuchadnezzer, they put them in chains and sold them to slavery in foreign lands. But some with genuine hearts came as Missionaries. They preached Christianity to the lost world. Also in their best understanding, these priests of God (Missionaries) taught the uncivilized dark skin brothers their own ways.

They taught them to wear cloths, shoes, look in the Mirror, build good houses, and ride in cars, airplanes, and ships. They taught them to perfectly use the communication gadgets. Finally, they introduced the Internet to them. But unlike the true messiah, in this case, they left the blacks nations without proper instructions.

This fast changing world got into the head of these growing dark skin brothers and blew it. Now the same fair skin nations that invented these things blame their colored brothers calling them names like fraudsters, thieves, criminals and god forsaken creatures.

I pity both races.

The other day, I visited a US Government website and it read, " Nigerians are fraudsters." Like Jesus, I wept. Not because my friend Lazarus is three days in the tomb, but because this pure Black Country had been nailed to the cross.

I sat for a while and wondered.

Are these race (Nigerians) as callous as Osama Bin Laden who orchestrated the massive destruction of World Trade Center?

Are they as wicked as those Colombian or Peruvian barons who put bullets through people's heads for not paying for the great powder?

Are they as stone hearted like those who tested biological weapon leading to lungs disease (SARS) in Asia and other regions?

Are they as greedy as some Politicians who would go to any length in damning their opponents with records from the past?

Are they as rotten as those paedophiles that go nude on cam to seduce teens? Some sleep with young girls and are never caught by the Innocent Images, a special FBI task force dedicated to tracking down paedophiles.

Are they as dishonest as the Prime Minister of queen's land that was not noble to his words to stand down for the Chancellor of the Exchequer? (Was he allegedly accused?)

Neither are they are as pretentious as Gordon Brown who finds it hard to forgive Tony Blair.

I do not say Nigerians are innocent, but I think they could be pardoned or remembered for their impact around the globe.

Maybe, the fact that a Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, is a Nigerian is insignificant.

If I'm not mistaken, aren't they as good as Brazilians or Argentines to have won the Olympic gold in Atlanta 96?

Are the likes of Kanu Nwankwo, Obafemi Martins, Jayjay Okocha not playing alongside David Beckham, Ronaldino, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Henry?

Aren't they (Nigerians) beautiful and brilliant enough to have produced the 2001 Miss World, Agbani Darego?

Aren't they kind to have provided petroleum to some parts of the world while they face energy crisis back at home? What a sacrifice.

Aren't they brilliant to have produced the 2005 Pulitzer winner?

Aren't they hardworking and friendly to have come to take odd and executive jobs in Europe, America and other part of the world?

I can go on, but like Jesus said to the most righteous people (Those who nailed him to the cross) and those (Christians) who hated his killers, I will say, " Father, forgive them (both races) for they know not what they do.

Every gathering--Grade Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Universities-- need inspiration and motivation to move on. For voluntary humanitarian session, call A.Z. Alfred on 07031907360 or mailto: blackzeal101@yahoo.com



About the Author
A.Z. Alfred is the founder and coordinator of Lamp Foundation. He is also a writer and inspirational speaker whose greatest pleasure is observing the world through a window while listening to inspirational songs.