The Baptism by Ijoema Umebinyuo
when one first thinks of the word Baptism, you would automatically jump to thinking of something that has to do with a religious act or cleansing of sort. I immediately think of a baby's christening, which is the day whereby the newly born child is cleansed and blessed for their life ahead, they are blessed and kissed good luck by presence of God.
Umebinyuo's poem makes reference to the idea that a name other than the traditional white European names are not tolerated in church, a place whereby acceptance is preached and holiness is expected.
Stanza one: the most shocking of all the 5 stanza's
The first stanza represents how throughout the world, there is this sense of ongoing white supremacy that is happening. The idea that if you do not have a name that fits in with the Eurocentric and Christian line of traditions then it will not be accepted. A line that states "But here are a number of European saints you can choose from" - this line almost reminding us that not only is traditional names from other countries not tolerated or not allowed, the names that are accepted, if you had to now pick another, would only be white names of white saints..
If the church preaches to love all, and that each being is a child of god, why then is it that you are not allowed to be loved, blessed and praised for the culture you were born in. Why does the trace of another culture through the act of a name dismiss a Childs right to be accepted in the eyes of god?
The third Stanza states boldly: "God will not understand"
this line is so contradictory to what Christianity preaches. God is to accept all, as we are all as previously mentioned, his children. However, if god made us all then he would have contributed to the Childs traditions, culture, color of skin and potential name - knowing and contributing to this precious making.
However, the point of colonization and white supremacy, is the that it sits so highly on a pedestal, chanting and singing demands that suit their every needs, dictating what is right and what is wrong. - change your name because god won't understand it? - god is within all of us, not just those with saint names or white skins. - darkness does not creep in through skin colour or culture, it creeps in through hatred, inequality, genocide and inhuman activities.
Umebinyuo's poem makes reference to the idea that a name other than the traditional white European names are not tolerated in church, a place whereby acceptance is preached and holiness is expected.
Stanza one: the most shocking of all the 5 stanza's
The first stanza represents how throughout the world, there is this sense of ongoing white supremacy that is happening. The idea that if you do not have a name that fits in with the Eurocentric and Christian line of traditions then it will not be accepted. A line that states "But here are a number of European saints you can choose from" - this line almost reminding us that not only is traditional names from other countries not tolerated or not allowed, the names that are accepted, if you had to now pick another, would only be white names of white saints..
If the church preaches to love all, and that each being is a child of god, why then is it that you are not allowed to be loved, blessed and praised for the culture you were born in. Why does the trace of another culture through the act of a name dismiss a Childs right to be accepted in the eyes of god?
The third Stanza states boldly: "God will not understand"
this line is so contradictory to what Christianity preaches. God is to accept all, as we are all as previously mentioned, his children. However, if god made us all then he would have contributed to the Childs traditions, culture, color of skin and potential name - knowing and contributing to this precious making.
However, the point of colonization and white supremacy, is the that it sits so highly on a pedestal, chanting and singing demands that suit their every needs, dictating what is right and what is wrong. - change your name because god won't understand it? - god is within all of us, not just those with saint names or white skins. - darkness does not creep in through skin colour or culture, it creeps in through hatred, inequality, genocide and inhuman activities.
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