12 on Tuesday: Rev. Alex Gee

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    Reverend Alex Gee was thrust into the public spotlight in 2013 when, in response to the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families’ not-very-flattering Race to Equity report, he penned a column titled “Justified Anger.” That column spawned a conversation which became a movement. Gee now leads the Justified Anger Coalition as a non-profit organization, in addition to running Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development and serving as pastor at Fountain of LIfe Church in Madison, where he has served for more than 28 years.

    Name your top 5 MCs. (I took the liberty of including singers.)

    Old School Gospel Groups That Helped My Young Faith

    1. Fred Hammond/Commissioned
    2. The Winans
    3. Milton Bronson & The Thompson Community Choir Singers
    4. Walter Hawkins and Love Center Choir
    5. The Clark Sisters

    Old School Music That Created The Soundtrack For My Childhood

    1. Stevie Wonder
    2. Jackson 5
    3. Temptations
    4. Gladys Knight & The Pips
    5. Ohio Players (Don’t tell my mom!)

    What motivates you more: doubters or supporters? Interesting question.

    They both do in different ways. Supporters motivate my confidence in my ability to think outside of the box. Their support assists me in addressing the nervous butterflies and in seizing important key moments. Supporters remind me of the opportunity costs of not taking risks, and they remind me of my past risks that had been successfully undertaken. And most importantly, my supporters remind me of why it is that I do what I do…for the betterment of society, a noble cause or the good of someone in need. It is not about my own needs.

    Doubters, on the other hand, motivate me differently. These folks cause me to re-engage my motives and my faith. My motives are reengaged because doubters often ask good questions: why, where, and how. However, they force me to answer a deeper question, through Whom do I work? This is where faith is kicked in. Rather than being upset that doubters are asking questions, I remind myself that I am often called and equipped to do things that my doubters haven’t seen before, or perhaps they have not witnessed the manner in which I go about it. Their doubts tell me more about themselves and their fixation on criticizing others for doing something they lack the faith or skills to ever attempt.

    Supporters cheer me and doubters jeer me; however, when God is near me, no task is impossible nor vision unattainable.

    What does it mean to be Black in Madison? For me, being Black in Madison means that you’re bi-cultural.

    Being Black and having been educated in Madison means that most likely you have learned from people who have probably never educated people who look like you.

    Being Black, having been educated in Madison and obtaining some degree of success here in Madison means that you thrived in the midst of instructors, trainers and teachers who, at times, doubted you could do what makes you successful. It also means you show up first, stay late, represent your firm/agency at every cultural affair, you answer every question about diversity, and you are the living proof that the racism which you stare in the face everyday, does not exist. The force of racism which makes your feats incredible, against the pressure of which you recommit yourself…daily…is invisible to those you outthink, outsmart, outwork and outlive, on a regular basis.

    Being Black and strong in Madison means you’re constantly measured against and compared to your Black colleagues as if there can only be one strong and intelligent Black representative of our complex community. And if your strength dares to challenge injustice, racism and systemic impediments to the success of other Black people, you are called divisive, a demagogue or arrogant by whites.

    Being Black and Christian in Madison means you’re narrow-minded, superstitious, invisible and voiceless. The broader community has an extremely limited concept of the role of faith and the faith community in the history of the success of Black people in this country and in this world.

    Being Black and male means that you are expendable, statistical, unemployable, and uneducable. It therefore means society can make money off of you through incarceration, special education, and social services.

    Being a Black dad means you’re an anomaly!

    Being Black in Madison means you’re angry, even when you’re not.

    Being Black in Madison means always explaining what it means to be Black in Madison.

    What three leaders in Madison under 50 have impressed you the most? This question is often asked and the similar are produced. To my disappointment, there is too often and preponderance of Black males who are recognized. I want to recognize Black female leaders who have served in our community for many years in the shadows of their Black male counterparts:

    1. Lilada Gee, my sister, who has used her own painful story of surviving incest to bring hope and healing to often-overlooked African American girls for nearly 30 years.
    1. Angie Crawford-Hicks, scholar, educator and principal of Wright Middle School and product of MMSD who grew up with me in South Madison.
    1. Tamara Brown, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, wife and mother, and also the owner of Fringe, a successful hair salon here in Madison.

    What’s the biggest stumbling block in Madison to turning the corner on our racial disparities?  Admitting the problem exists. Bringing and KEEPING those who understand, and face, racial disparities regularly, at the table. Challenging the policies, practices and perceptions which impede access to places of power. A strong commitment to helping to create a constant stream of financial support to community leaders who are able to organize communities, build leaders, advocate for access and produce replicable models of success.

    A key issue is that Madison wants easy success. We want to check this matter off our to-do list so that we can go back to enjoying earning top honors as one of America’s most livable cities.

    Lastly, Madison’s non-profits need to work more collaboratively, and our philanthropic community needs to fund collaborative efforts rather than allowing non-profits to be pitted against each other.

    Today people talk about “Black Lives Matter.” Explain why Black faith matters In today’s society. There is a rich history of the role of faith and faith-based organizations for African Americans in this country. No system is perfect, including religious systems; however, the Black Church was a unique place that offered refuge, empowerment, inspiration and perspective on life. Faith isn’t merely the ability to see what does not yet appear, it is also the ability avoid fixating on what is—i.e. discrimination. In other words, faith wasn’t merely a tool for seeing the sweet by-and-by, it was a way of dealing with the here-and-now. As our affluence increased, our worldview waned, and we lost our need for faith…or so we thought. Today’s pressures remind us that perhaps our pursuit for equality, access, opportunities and wealth—all noble things—-has allowed us to neglect what has grounded and connected us when we had nothing else, faith and family.

    What have you learned about Madison since you wrote your “Justified Anger” column? Several things.

    1. People are more ready to talk about issues of racial inequalities than I had realized. There is more angst and white guilt than I had imagined.
    2. People are not as apt, however, to make the necessary changes, pay the necessary cost, find the necessary people or stay the necessary course…for the long-haul.
    3. People want change without changing…or challenging…anything.
    4. It’s easy for Madisonians (Black and white) to be armchair coaches on matters of racial inequalities. We need more people in the trenches and fewer coaches in comfortable armchairs.
    5. A handful of donors and community activists cannot tackle these issues alone. People in Madison mistake good intentions, cutesy hashtags, repostings and attending Black events for activism.
    6. People think that these issues will just go away.
    7. At times, Madison’s power-brokers seem to be threatened by strong, intelligent, collective, non-coopted Black voices.
    8. People don’t like the fact that I am angry and not easily pacified by racial rhetoric.

    How does living in Madison most of your life help you when it comes to dealing with our racial issues? My indigeneity affirms my experiences, legitimizes my voice, and authenticates my concerns, hence making it very difficult to silence my message. By being raised and educated in Madison, I am not easily intimidated by influential people, nor are my concerns for radical change easily assuaged because someone simply compliments my work. As a Madisonian I understand our propensity for tolerating ongoing think tanks, powerless recommendations, token hires, and short-lived lip service. Madison likes for ugly issues to just go away, that is why I (along with many others) will never let the issue of racial disparity and social inequities go until the are duly addressed and eradicated.

    What are three things most people don’t know about you?

    1. I like to grocery shop and cook
    2. I was a Junior Olympian in track and field
    3. I’ve never seen a single Star Wars movie…ever!

    Chitlins or greens? Collard greens!!! 

    Are you going to write a follow-up to your book Jesus and the Hip Hop Prophets? My coauthor and I begin talking when Hip Hop Prophets turned ten years old in 2013. Our publisher doesn’t like book sequels, so we’ll need to think up a new twist if we do it. The book was a hit with young non-religious readers. I think we owe them something current.