About Us
Outcrier (out'cri-er)
n. 1. One who cries out or proclaims; a herald or crier (Webster's New College)
noun. Person who raises an outcry; a person who proclaims or protests.
Origin 16th century; earliest use found in Biblia: the Bible. From out-t-crier, after outcry, to cry out, or outcry. (Oxford)
Exodus 14:15
Are we not our brother's keeper?
Published Works
Musings: The Sociopolitical and Spiritual Thoughts of a Targeted Individual
This is a harrowing true story of an ordinary person - one who might live next door to you, or work with you, or go to your church. Ordinary people live from day to day never expecting to be caught up in an overpowering whirlwind of incredible and extraordinary circumstances that changes their life forever. We tend to feel that we are self-sufficient and invulnerable. Even as we profess our faith in God, can we truly say that we place our lives into His hands? Do we really trust God or are we just going through the “acceptable” motions? “If it is to be, it will be by me” was once my mantra. Even though I felt that I was a strong Christian - confident in my faith walk – I struggled with a tiny lingering vestige of this flawed mantra. Not until “I looked into the face of Satan” (Luke 10:18) did I come into full realization of what it meant to trust God.
When the shocking realization gradually unfolded I could not accept or believe it. This could not be happening! Not my friends, my family, my neighborhood, my country! The knowledge of it was stifling, choking, horrifying! I had put my trust in mankind and mankind was letting me down. My democratic country was letting me down. This Christian nation was letting me down. There was nowhere I could run and nowhere to hide. Fear, heartbreak and relentless pain were ever present, like a hovering specter. I had almost given up had it not been for the reviving belief that I would see the goodness of the Lord.
How many of us can look in the mirror and see the real person? How many of us can commit heinous acts if we thought we could do it with impunity? How many of us are smug in our spiritual walk – thinking we “have it like that”? This story is one of spiritual warfare wherein one had to examine the depth, height and breadth of their walk with God - one who was just an ordinary person - like you.
This book is the chronicle of the life of a targeted individual. It lays out the growth and struggles of a disenfranchised American family during the era of the second great migration. It provides insight into the experiences that shaped the author’s psyche as she pursued, what seemed to be at times, the elusive American dream. It documents the withering of that American dream which is gradually replaced by a living nightmare. The author shares a step-by-step outline of the terrifying events that left her paralyzed with fear. Through her sometimes wavering faith, she manages to summon enough spiritual strength to survive the initial mental, emotional and physical onslaught. Only after recognizing a meaningful purpose for her life did she experience a “resurrection” of life. She writes of finding a true purpose in life and of hope for stemming the tide of moral decline in America.
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter One - Cognition
The author uses the first chapter to introduce herself to the reader. The stage is set for a gradual relationship with the reader starting with that point in life where everyone harbors distant memories - days of first cognizance. Here one gets a first glimpse of the hardships, some of which are not uncommon to many, that are endured as she navigates through life. The initial driving force which forced her family to migrate from the south was a strong desire for freedom from fear and persecution. Added to that was the promise of opportunity. The simple quest for a better life for her family would eventually turn into a full-blown hunger and striving for the “American Dream” for her.
Chapter Two - Finding and Knowing Your Place
There are many things, many lessons, to be learned while one is negotiating his or her way through life. For a person of color in mid 20th century America this total process can be summed up as “finding and knowing your place”. If you are fortunate enough to grow up in a core family with strong family ties and moral values, one should be better able to handle whatever life throws at you. The author, more than likely, experienced a family life similar to many who migrated north. She lived in cramped-shared substandard housing. She went to a new elementary school every year as the family moved constantly. The most telling and impactful event - that perhaps shapes the life of many - was having to live with an abusive alcoholic father. She witnessed a strong mother who, thought it all, kept the family together. Her mother became her greatest role model. She took to heart everything her mother told her. “Get an education” she would say. Don’t put yourself in a position that you have to depend on a man. She made sure her children went to church. She would say “keep your hand in God’s hand”. As strange as it seems it was the mixture of the unsavory and dirty events of life, and the forced church attendance, that would best prepare me to “roll with the punches”.
Chapter Three - What is Success?
At times one might set their goal in life too high or, could it be that they set it amiss of what God plans for them. Is that possible? When you have negotiated your way through life’s “rungs on the ladder” - education, marriage, a home, children and an adequate pay check - have you really reached a state, or status, that can be referred to as “a dream” come true? When we have achieved the goals we set for ourselves is it really the American dream? What is success? A central theme for the author during the years of struggle was reconciling herself to God and finding ultimate peace.
Chapter Four - Paradigm Shift
Reconciliation to God is not just redemptive - it is life-saving. Where she once thought about suicide frequently, she now wanted to live to please God. This is the epitome of the American dream. Where else could one worship freely, move about freely, attain the status of “bourgeoise” and enjoy many other benefits of living in a free American society? A gradual realization of a departure from presumed inalienable rights led to a feeling of hopelessness. The grim and incredible actuality a part of America that would constitute a seismic paradigm shift. She would come to know that Satan really exists But, more importantly, there is a God! There is a God!
Chapter Five - Fear
It started with constant ailments- constant trips to the doctor’s office. It accelerated to perpetual and inescapable pain - relentless night-time torture that eventually persisted into the day time. There was no place to hide and no one would believe her. Travel to other countries offered no refuge. Members of the general public willingly joined in on the harassment. Was this going to be the end of her life? Is this America? The American dream had become a nightmare. Lord help!
Chapter Six - Resurrection
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou has enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer” Psalms 4:1. “But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The Lord will hear when I call unto him. Psalms 4:3
In the darkest hour there was a gradual spiritual reawakening. Almost as gradual as the destructive and overwhelming forces that had become evident. The amazing realization of having untapped spiritual power overcame fear. Life had new meaning in spite of the never- ending harassment. On asking God for help, and yielding completely, he revealed his purpose for her. No longer feeling like a victim but, feeling empowered beyond measure, the writer embarks upon many activities she feels were God-given.
Chapter Seven - Wilderness
Experiencing the most challenging time of her life would prove to be the most humbling. It was while in the “wilderness”; while interacting with those who “pursued her” that faith would be tested, molded, shaped, and fine tuned. It was a time of honest self examination and deep contrition. There would be many encounters; many opportunities to share God’s word in a way that she could never have imagined. This new role - this ministry - would find her sorely lacking at first - she who once felt totally equipped.
Chapter Eight - What Now?
In a state that wavered between consternation and compassion, the author reflects on morality and humanity as it exists today in America. Christian values of a nation supposedly founded on Christian principles, seemed to have given way to one of complete self-indulgence. Many have fallen away from the church - some forming their own personal beliefs. Hatred and divisiveness seems to be the norm. Where is the American dream or, to be more exact, what is the American dream? The burning question now is will God bless America?
Chapter Nine - Will God Bless America?
America, as a nation, can reasonably be described as a warrior nation. Its history is riddled with numerous wars and conflicts. Some of its history, like any other country, is unsavory. America has its share of skeletons and treacheries. In its quest to remain the pinnacle of democracy and economic success, valuable attributes may have been neglected. Not with-standing our decline in world rankings concerning education, health, environmental protection and economic development, we still manage to maintain military superiority. Will we? What about the spiritual state of the union? We are living in a world with rapidly increasing technology. Without unfailing moral character when incorporating mind-blowing technology we have to ponder - will it be for the good of mankind?
Available as of April 2021
Available on:
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