North Boulevard Homes aka "West Tampa"

My first visit to "the projects" took me to a neighborhood known to its residents as "West Tampa". I arrived in the morning around 10AM...driving into the large housing area I was somewhat concerned that there is only one way in and one way out. I'm not sure why but my arrival seemed to draw out a crowd of nosy neighbors who eyed my car as I waited for my associates. I've never been one to attribute anything to the "demonic", but this neighborhood is the only place I've ever been that gave me a sense of spiritual oppression. Entering into the residence, the cinderblock walls and concrete floor felt like a prison cell. There was no electricity in the residence due to HUD violations by the leaseholder. When I encountered the individual whom I had gone to meet, I'd never seen anyone in such despair. She had a countenance of utter hopelessness. On the wall hung a painting of a somber, African Jesus. At that time, I thought of it as a bit racist since Jesus was clearly of Middle Eastern descent, not African.

Several months later I had the opportunity to meet with the same individual outside of "West Tampa" after she moved. I was shocked to see her, she was beautiful. A different, happy person in spite of rooming in an overcrowded residence. I commented on the difference and she said it was because she was out of "West Tampa" and that you couldn't pay her to go back. She explained that you have to fight to get by in that community. I later learned that the homes were built somewhere around the 1940's and in the 1960's were used as temporary housing for the disadvantaged. However, somewhere along the line the housing turned into permanent housing and now you can find several generations living out their days in the neighborhood.

I've been back to that area on multiple occasions and it hurt my heart each time. I read a statistic on the area from 2003 saying that only 14% in North Boulevard Homes are employed. 80% are African-American. A majority of the residents do not have cars and must rely upon public transportation. I can't imagine...living in housing where if you get a job your rent goes up, you have to catch and pay bus fare, you have to pay to put your kids in daycare...I wouldn't want to work either. It truly is a lose/lose situation.

This caused me to wonder a few things. Has the African-American community ever recovered from slavery? Where is the church and why has it had, I assume, no impact on this injustice? I am not sure of what the answer is here but I pray that God will act on behalf of the poor and oppressed living in North Boulevard Homes. The portrait of the black Jesus demonstrates that he identifies with "the least of these" even if God's people have not.

Off the pew into the city

Almost two years ago, I was blessed with employment which would lead me into neighborhoods and homes I would never have had the chance to visit otherwise. The experiences I had in those neighborhoods have affected my life more than any good book or sermon. In the past I've had the chance to visit Europe, Mexico, Canada and Oman. None of these things has eroded my faith in God's people as much as seeing Tampa's inner city. After visiting with the poor and oppressed in my community, I find it difficult to continue attending my beloved home church as it is fairly affluent and predominantly white. It is hard to explain, but this is why I began this blog. I want to get my thoughts out in writing as the Lord has awakened an ache in my soul for our city's disadvantaged.

Of course, I still believe that personal growth and transformation as well as theological understanding are an important part of the Christian life...but I have focused on these things to the exclusion of orthopraxy and I am starved to encounter "the least of these" as Jesus said that I would find him there.