THE PRAYERS OF BLACK AND BROWN MOTHERS

Black and brown mothers are crying out to a God who undoubtedly hears and answers prayers. It is an intense time of difficulty, trouble, and pain. Crisis demands attention, and actions must be taken to address these unstable, uncertain, unjust, and often unpredictable situations. The perils of our time are not the results of random, isolated, unexpected activities. It results from years of human subjugation, hidden plans, secret forces, health and financial disparities, fears, and insecurities, vicious mindsets, abuse of power, racism, and absolute hatred. There is a demand and clamor for change being led by weeping, wailing, mourning mothers. It is an unseen protest; it is a powerful movement of mothers marching, chanting, and crying out for their children to a just God who will not turn them away. Poverty, violence, oppression, and murder have wrapped themselves like a python around the hearts of black and brown mothersaround the world. The incessant and continued squeeze of injustice has caused them to cry out from the unbearable pain. There is a sound filling the atmosphere and rising to heaven. The land is polluted with the blood of black and brown victims. The blood is crying out to the all-knowing God who hears and sees. Mothers are crying and will not be comforted because their children are being intimidated, abused, captured, and imprisoned. Many are no longer alive. "Hear a just cause, O Lord!" A revival of prayer is arising all over the world. This sound has been heard before. Jeremiah, the Prophet, heard it in his day. It was the sound of bitter weeping and deep anguish. It was the sound of mothers crying out for theirchildren. They could not remain silent. There was no comfort. Jeremiah said, "A cry was heard in Ramah" (Jeremiah 31:15). Deep anguish and bitter weeping has overtaken the land. Mother Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for her children are gone. Jeremiah heard a prophetic sound. It was the sound produced by devastation designed to subdue a whole nation of people. It was the sound of inconsolable grief. The most ruthless of tactics used by enemy forces is to kill the children in order to break the will of those who are under attack. Jeremiah heard the cries of mothers who watched the massacre of their children. It was the sound of crisis; it was the sound of an oppressed people being abused by power and authority that had no regard for the sanctity of their lives. It was a tragedy ofunfathomable proportion. Broken hearts, broken families, and broken lives produce a sound. Black and brown mothers are incessantly crying out as they see their children being killed, captured, and taken into slavery. The prayers of black and brown mothers will not be denied; they will not be silenced. God does hear a mother's cry! This anthology of prayers from the hearts of black and brown mothers is a unique compilation of co-authors who represent varying ages and perspectives. Each author shares in a brief biographical format the process of life that led them to the targeted prayer of their heart for this project. Although each author's life plan has been different, there is a common focus that unites.It is the shared experience of being a black or brown mother with the same fears and concerns forthe welfare of their children. They share a unique experience because they are black and brown. These mothers have hopes and dreams for the futures of their children. These are mothers who will not give up and have united to seek the resources of heaven by faith and prayer.