Spiritual and intellectual warriors

Every now and then I write about things that I just LOVE. One of these things is quality production of the Baha'i Writings set to music. I find that I can listen to these works of art over and over again feeling them nourish and soothe my soul.

On a new favorite blog Befriended Stranger I just learned of another CD in this genre--Badasht by Eric Dozier and JB Eckl ...(listen to snippets here)--I ordered two copies of the CD one for me and one as a special gift for some special friends.


Here is the other thing about Eric Dozier--he adds to a list of deeply spiritual, incisively intellectual African/African American men that seem to be teaching and inspiring me all at once recently. Lets see, there is Frederick Hanna, Phillipe Copeland, Jonathan Jansen and now Eric Dozier. All of these individuals started out in divinity school/seminary and continue to pursue intellectual endeavors and this is combined with their critical awareness of the ills this world is suffering from. This sounds to me like an explosively powerful combination.

'Abdu'l-Baha, speaking during his travels in the United States in the early 1900s, had much to say about the importance of simultaneous development of material and spiritual civilization:

"Since my arrival in this country I find that material civilization has progressed greatly, that commerce has attained the utmost degree of expansion; arts, agriculture and all details of material civilization have reached the highest stage of perfection, but spiritual civilization has been left behind. Material civilization is like unto the lamp, while spiritual civilization is the
light in that lamp. If the material and spiritual civilization become united, then we will have the light and the lamp together, and the outcome will be perfect. For material civilization is like unto a beautiful body, and spiritual civilization is like unto the spirit of life. If that wondrous spirit of life enters this beautiful body, the body will become a channel for the distribution and development of the perfections of humanity."

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 11)

But back to Eric Dozier, he has his masters in divinity from Duke University and he happens to also be a fellow graduate of mine from Landegg Academy. Here is some of his bio on the Amity Records website

"While at Duke, he served as the minister of music for the Duke University Modern Black Mass Choir. Eric’s enthusiasm for gospel and blues music was cultivated from a very early age and during a choir tour to the Czech Republic, he recognized gospel music’s potential to connect people of diverse cultures and languages.

Compelled by the urgent need to help establish unity at a neighborhood, national and global level, Eric Dozier formed One Human Family Music Workshop combining jazz and gospel to create a unique gospel experience. Through his role as co-founder and National Director of Arts and Education for One Human Family Workshops, Inc., Eric devotes his musical, spiritual, and intellectual talents to eradicating social, religious, racial, gender, and cultural discrimination.

A one-time delegate to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, Eric is often invited as a keynote presenter on an array of topics: Community Building; Youth Violence, Punishment and Justice; Black History; Abolitionist History; White Supremacy; Sexism; and Music History; and facilitates workshops and seminars for schools, colleges and universities, community centers, and corporations. His heart stirring music, dynamic speeches, historical presentations, and music workshops serve to weld the hearts and minds of a divided humanity into one loving fellowship."

I can't help but feel that individuals such as Eric Dozier are perfectly situated to take humanity to new places.