Weighing in on MLK Day and more....

Each year on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, I make a statement on behalf of Black Buddhists who have been shunned by their Christan family members and friends. I feel that we must recognize the King legacy is defined by Christianity in the Black community, which is today without much regard for Buddhists globally, and African American Buddhists especially.  This year is poignant considering the American Buddhist community's similar problem welcoming Black Buddhists into their ranks.  It's time to connect some dots.

The fact is religions of Abraham (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) have assailed the Black mind since the Roman Empire. Abrahamic impact on the Black mind in Africa and America lies just below the surface of what appears to be religious pluralism. This includes the American Buddhist community and its people of color allies who have of late been wrestling with the, "Why is Western Buddhism so white issue?" issue. The issue requires broader critique than that which is mustered by LGBT, feminist, and intellectual Buddhists of color who benefit from keeping the homophobic, misogynist, underclass of Black converts from swelling their ranks. 

The dot to be connected is how a culture of dominance migrated from Abrahamic birth religions into American Buddhism to serve at its helm with impunity.

Rainbowdharma has been devoted to the identification of this problem. Our first contribution to the discussion a decade and a half ago was, "American Buddhism: What Does it Mean to People of Color?" Certainly not the first to express concern, we have at least tried to maintain its voice without capitulating to the powers that be. Subsequent articles, interviews, books and an award winning film have kept the discussion present on the Rainbowdharma table. The cost has been high, including being treated with the same disdain as those whose voices we've represented. Nevertheless, I take pleasure in announcing final edits of a 500 page tome on the subject is underway.

The book dispenses with concern for dominant culture issues. Black Buddhists in America are not responsible for fixing what they didn't break. Nor, do they have any responsibility whatsoever to perpetuate a Christian biased African American legacy that marginalizes them. Instead, Secret Escape from the Plantation of the Mind, is a call for introspection and revisioning of the African American Buddhist mindscape. It's the doctrine of a Spiritual Underground Railroad whose purpose is to do for the Black Mind what Tubman's work did to physically liberate slaves. A more detailed description of the book will be available soon. Its publication date will be in the next few months on the Rainbowdharma imprint exclusively. There will be a ten day window of initial publication at cost. This is on behalf of those with limited budget who wish to plan ahead. Thereafter, the book will be sold at market rate. Those interested in updates prior to release can write a note of interest to: SecretEscape@rainbowdharma.com. Again I thank you for your years of interest.

Looking forward to deepening the 2012 discussion of
what's best for our community and country,

Lama Rangdrol