Derek Minor's Twitter Rant
To Be a Christian, Black, and American: It's Hard.
Christian Hip Hop artist Derek Minor set the Twitter world on fire almost more than the trending topics of the verdict on yesterday when he wore his heart on his fingers and tweeted raw emotions for the world to see.
Moments after the guilty verdict was given, regarding the Chauvin case in which Chauvin murdered George Floyd, every type of media platform erupted in response. Twitter feeds were full of rejoice, release, tears, frustration, and the loud reminder that this verdict was not only justice but accountability done right. Something many people realize has not happened regarding the killing of black bodies by police officers in a very, very, very long time.
With emotions high and fingers ready to type, any person had the opportunity to say or see a variety of reactions to the news. For the Christian Hip Hop world, one reaction stood out the most, and it caused quite the stir.
Minor, a true veteran to the game, tweeted "Don't drop the soap, hoe" yesterday evening after jurors announced guilty verdicts for the officer who murdered Houston native, George Floyd.
Immediately after, he was mentioned in rebukes, agreement, laughter, and shock. Some even went as far as to accuse the rapper and producer of backsliding from Christianity. Others, understanding the frustration, sadness, and vindication in Minor's words, attempted to remind him of who he is expected to be as a Christian and acknowledge his pain at the same time.
With the deluge of opinions flooding his Twitter and Instagram feed, Minor began to give his opinion to why he said what he said. "You expect more of me than you do yourselves," Minor wrote. "I'm not your hero. I'm not your Jesus. I'm human..."
Read the following screenshots for full thread.
Human or Hero?
Okay. Now. This. This is a Black man. A Black man that has chosen to follow Jesus. A Christian Black man with children. A Christian Black man with children living in America. A Christian Black man with children living in America with a platform. If you do not understand the heaviness of those words, let me try to explain.
Derek Minor is a human in a land and a Church (universal) where humanity is viewed as sin. To be an expressive, emotional, and imperfect person is often looked at as being dangerous, sinful, and unfit for Christianity. Who did Christ come to save, again?
Derek Minor is a black man in America where his skin is viewed as sin. To be expressive, emotional, and alive is often looked at as being dangerous, scary, and unfit to breathe. Who did God make in His image, again?
Derek Minor is person with a platform in a society where notoriety can save or hang. To be an expressive, emotional, and imperfect person on a platform will bring love and hate. Let's not make idols of mere mortal men.
Speaking specifically to the Christian.
Since when did our mistakes mark us worthy to be stoned instead of loved on? Prayed for? Compassionately corrected with TRUTH? Judged not?
Should Minor have posted that comment? No, but he did. Should people have told him that his faith in Jesus must be a lie? No, but they did. Placing blame and kicking people out of Heaven will never soothe and heal the division that exists in this land.
Think of Christ and the disciples. Not once did HE condemn them for their mistakes, misunderstandings, or inappropriate behavior. Jesus rebuked and lovingly corrected them. Why and how? Jesus understood them. He knew their hearts and minds. He understood their humanity - sinful nature. What did He apply? Truth and Grace.
Who are we to rip the seal of someone else's inheritance off of them? Where is our grace for one another as Christ had grace for us?
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:3-5 NIV
Speaking to all.
Do you understand the how the heart hitches in a brown skinned chest when an officer drives past?
Or the wrenching scenarios that fly like annoying flies around a Black person's head?
What about the soul that moans a desert cry every time another Black life is taken from this earth on "accident", on purpose, in "self-defense", or because of a "weapon" that seems to rarely exist?
How empty it can feel to live in a land that claims freedom, yet is built on the backs of slave labor and greed that has shape shifted every couple of decades to fit with the times?
How about the tiny thought our media feeds telling us that anyone with too much melanin in their skin is more likely to be an inexplicable foe and not a friend?
In The End...
These are the things the Christian Black person fights seemingly daily. To not live with a spirit of fear and know that earth is not our home yet indubitably aware of the wicked and uncompassionate world around us. This is what makes it hard to be Christian, Black, and American.
After all the drama, Minor tweeted, "Didn't mean to offend nobody. I was just hurt. Pray for me." Then he said he was logging off for a bit.
Thank God for Him, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the perfect Trinity. Without Them, none of us would be.
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Love D. Minor! I agree! I'm angry too! Pray for us! This has gone on waaaay longer than enough!