Knowing the reputation of some of these authors (including Kirbyjon Caldwell), I was prompted to look up this letter.  I think it’s very worthwhile to consider:

Washington, DC (August 25, 2010)—Over 70 prominent Christian leaders and denominational heads from across the ideological spectrum joined together today to call for a stop to the misrepresentation of President Obama’s Christian faith.   In an open letter, these Christian leaders called on the media, public officials, and their fellow Christians to stand with them in opposing those who continue to insinuate that the President is a Muslim, not a Christian.

The full text of the letter and a list of signatories is below.

As Christian leaders— whose primary responsibility is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our congregations, our communities, and our world— we are deeply troubled by the recent questioning of President Obama’s faith. We understand that these are contentious times, but the personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate.

President Obama has been unwavering in confessing Christ as Lord and has spoken often about the importance of his Christian faith.  Many of the signees on this letter have prayed and worshipped with this President.  We believe that questioning, and especially misrepresenting, the faith of a confessing believer goes too far.

This is not a political issue. The signers of this letter come from different political and ideological backgrounds, but we are unified in our belief in Jesus Christ.  As Christian pastors and leaders, we believe that fellow Christians need to be an encouragement to those who call Christ their savior, not question the veracity of their faith.

Therefore, we urge public officials, faith leaders, and the media to offer no further support or airtime to those who misrepresent and call into question the President’s Christian faith.  And we join with the President in praying that God will continue to bless the United States of America.

Links with complete list of signers:

http://www.eleisongroup.com/news/national-church-leaders-condemn-misrepresentations-president-obama%E2%80%99s-christian-faith

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/August/Pastors-Criticize-Misrepresentation-of-Obamas-Faith/

Pictured here (l-r): Former Brazilian minister of racial equality Matilde Ribeiro, Mt. Holyoke College’s Kenan Professor of Latin American & Caribbean Studies Roberto Marquez, UMass Amherst Du Bois Chair Amilcar Shabazz, author Carlos Moore, Du Bois Department professors Kym Morrison, Agustin Lao-Montes, and Bill Strickland at La Piazza Ristorante.

When I finish reading Pichón i will post my review of it here. Carlos himself directed us to a critical review posted at http://afrocubaweb.com/carlosmoore.htm

Venceremos! Cuba Libre! Amandla!

Roundtable events  associated with this series consider the meaning of the Cuban Revolution to a post-Cold War student generation by critically assessing 50+ years of Cuba’s domestic and international revolutionary practices, and by reaffirming connections between Cuban Studies and Black Studies. Prof. Karen Morrison is the organizer of this event series.

Roundtable #1
“Contested Visions of Cuba’s Domestic & International Revolutionary Practices”
Panelists (l-r): Carlos Moore, independent scholar, Lillian Guerra, Yale University History Department, Damian Fernández, Provost of SUNY Purchase, Margaret Cerullo, professor of sociology at Hampshire College, and Du Bois Department Professor Kym Morrison.

The panel took place Wednesday, September 23rd, 4-6pm, in Campus Center rooms 174-176.

Our next session takes place Dec. 1st. 4pm-6pm. Its theme is “Race in Contemporary Cuba: Demographics, Rights, and Culture.” The participants are Jafari Allen of Yale University, Odette Casamayor of UConn, Alejandro de la Fuente of University of Pittsburgh, and Mark Sawyer of UCLA.

For a PDF flyer on the event go to http://www.umass.edu/afroam/Lessons_Cuban%20Revolution_final.pdf

Sonia Gloss, a senior majoring in Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst, is conducting research in Kenya for her senior thesis. At the end of May she traveled to Mombasa, then to Mariakani, and on from there all over the country. Here is an excerpt from her wonderful travel/research blog at http://soniamombasa.blogspot.com/ ::

“I have done some research this week. Although I am focusing on the lives and sexual lives of truck drivers, I am not limiting my focus and am open to interviewing and talking with all Kenyan men. I spoke with about 5 different non-truck driving men this week. Actually I was speaking with one regarding the stereotypes that certain people hold about men of different tribes, specifically Luo and how people view them as promiscuous because they are uncircumcised. As I was walking around my street a little bit later that day, two men called me over saying they had heard I was asking men about these issues and they wanted to talk to me about it, primarily about why men want to be with so many women. It was great! I was being asked to research, so I was very excited. I talked about many things with those men, it is incredibly interesting to hear oral histories and the things people talk about.”

Sonia will be writing up her findings under my direction this year. I look forward to seeing her work and practicing my Kiswahili with her. This is not her first time doing work in Africa. Here’s an excerpt on her from Maasai International Challenge Africa  http://www.micatz.org/staff.html where she previously worked:

Sonia Gloss – International Program Manager
Sonia has a big heart for the poor especially the children; Sonia was first exposed to travelling the open road while on a cross country trip around the United Republic of Tanzania at the tender age of twenty. Sonia plays a role of conducting orientation seminars for the students and individual people from USA and others near countries who want to come to serve in Tanzania…She’s very excited to be working with Maasai Challenge to provide once-in-a-lifetime travel and conduct volunteer opportunities seminars and feels like she’s finally able to make a difference in global conservation.

SAFE TRAVELS SONIA! TUTAONANA!