b'REFLECTIONThe SLAP Heard Around The WorldBy Michael James1.Malaco 50th Celebration -6.Anne Wilson - My JesusVarious7.For King & Country -W henIsawthe"slap",myfirst2.Canton Spirituals -What Are We Waiting For?thoughtwas.infrontofaHallelujah Anyhow 8.Elevation Worship -worldwidetelevisionaudienceit3.Ricky Dillard -LionseemedblackviolencehadjustBreakthrough The Exodusmovedfromourcities\'streetsto9.Maranda Curtis -inside homes all over America." 4.Trip Lee - The End Die To LiveTheslapwasmoreaboutWill5.Leonard Scott - Keep10 Edwrin Sutton -Smith\'s ego than it was about defend- Hymns Alive The Revivalingthehonorandconditionofhis wife. Will Smith could have grasped a golden opportunity by confronting Chris Rock on stage to educate him andtheAcademyAwardsviewers about Alopecia and how it emotion-ally,physicallyandsociallyaffects his wife along with the hundreds ofMichael Jamesthousandsofchildrenandadults afflicted with this condition.But, in order to deflect the embar- andpeoplebeingkilledroutinely. rassment of being seen laughing atAnnualhomicidetotalscontinueto Chris Rock\'s inconsiderate and igno- surpass previous year\'s figures. Yet rant joke about his wife, Will SmithHollywood stars choose to keep silent reacted with a harsh act of force andfor fear they too will become prey of profanewords.Hadheoptedforsocialmediafanatics,cyberbullies educationratherthanviolenceWilland political lowlifes.Smith would have elevated himself asCityofficials,communityleaders, a real leader for personal and socialareapoliticiansandcivic-minded enlightenmentandprogress.Then,citizensaremiredinthesameold privatelybackstageSmithshouldsocial rhetoric and political baloney. have dealt with Rock." Facingretaliationofbeingbranded Watchingthereactionofa racist or being called a betrayer of Hollywood\'seliteactorscondemntheir race, most well-intended people Will Smith\'s smacking of Chris Rockavoiddiscussingtherealsolutions was almost amusing to me.One byeven when facts and statistics bear onetheyallhadachancetostepout the real truth for our social and up and step out away from the cus- civil troubles.tomaryrhetoricdenouncingviolentIt is becoming more difficult each actionsBut none did.They tossedday for good people to speak out and in their "two cents" decrying violencestep forward to take action without againstoneandother.butmanyhaving to live in fear of harsh criti-of their comments were all "just thecisms,viciouscensureandimper-same old, same old". sonal attacks and character smears. ItwouldhavebeengoodtoseeUntil we cure this problem, we will someoneinliberalHollywoodalsocontinuetoenduretheotherprob-speak out about daily news reportslems.thatarefilledwithstoriesaboutSo,"TheSlapSeenRound crime and murder in our cities fromtheWorld"willtakeitsplacein northtosouthandeasttowest.HollywoodLore.ButIamafraid Black on black crime is rampant inWill Smith opened the door and now many major American cities.Massothersmightchoosetofollowand shootingsinmalls,schoolsandHollywoodwillonceagainjustsit churches have become almost a nor- there and laugh.maloccurrence.Innocentchildren BODY OF CHRIST NEWS MAY 2022 11'