Blindsided: An Imprecatory Prayer on Behalf of Michael Oher
Psalms have imprecatory prayers; I will, too
Dear God,
Parboiled rage simmered in my system as I read this article about how the Tuohy family defrauded and deceived Michael Oher for decades. James Baldwin-type, always roiling, never-done rage.
They deceived that man for years. He thought he was a son. To them, he was a mere commodity; sold and sold and sold again for profit to the tune of $300 million. The people he thought of as parents and siblings revealed themselves as duplicitous profiteers. No better than slavers with a prize “buck.”
I tried to put myself in the shoes of 37-year-old Michael Oher; walked around in shock and heartbreak for a while. Felt the narrow squeeze of reality rubbing blisters into his soul. What do you do when you discover that for over half your life, you were nothing but an enormous cash cow to people you loved and trusted? People who thought so little of your personhood and future that they withheld compensation from you, yet gave it freely to their family and friends? Spoke words of Christian love and forever family over you, but directed you to sign your agency away?
You know how it is, Lord. A story is a story, yes, but the story is also a chapter in an epic work of unjust scales, usury, and religious deception. The story echoes within us with reluctant, painful familiarity. Michael Oher’s suffering is our suffering. We recognize the shape and contours of offering love to dangerous people because they’re constantly advertised as safe and ideal.
We recognize the shape and contours of offering love to dangerous people because they’re constantly advertised as safe and ideal.
I felt it when I trusted a church and seminary sister with my writing years ago. She was so effusive in her encouragement. I trusted her up until the time she copyrighted my work as hers.
I felt it when I invited that family into my home, my church, only to watch them leave the sanctuary in a loud huff just because the preacher mentioned using commentaries by Black men and women.
I felt it when I worked for that pastel pink Christian organization that swore it was “doing the work” of cultural competency, but diminished my role at every turn and isolated me to the point that my health declined and my hair fell out.
These folks each spoke of love while they acted diabolically. But it was far, far worse for brother Michael—I pray you relieve his agony and vindicate him. Make satan get behind him and stay there, please.
Surely you heard our collective groaning when The Blindside wedged itself into national parlance, another example of cinematic white saviorism touted as a “feel-good” movie. Exactly who felt good after watching? As for me and my subculture, we saw the lopsided praise given to the Tuohys. We caught the glossing over of Oher’s indomitable spirit and immense talent. We witnessed the blatant lack of examination of the systems of evil that set Michael Oher and his family’s lives careening into horrible outcomes. We observed the implicit message that the best thing for a Black kid in this country is having white parents (and we see our white Christian siblings peddling this message in adoption spaces).
We observed the implicit message that the best thing for a Black kid in this country is having white parents.
The Tuohys stole Michael Oher’s wealth and personhood in order to enrich themselves, and they covered it over with a flattering history; a touchstone of their so-called goodness. Lord, we have seen this too many times; in confederate monuments and street names lining the streets of the South, in the book-banning and curriculum slashing of states; in the infantilization and protection of abusive leaders in politics and pulpits alike. This is the stuff of myths: rehearsing lies to distort criminal deeds as sainted, until the lies sound more true than the truth.
You are the truth and you said you wouldn’t be mocked. I pray that you sanctify this lawsuit with your truth, Almighty God.
Jesus, I keep remembering the things that made you angry, and not even your own crucifixion stirred your ire. But what did? The deception of little ones. The diminished access to your house because of greed. The usury of faithful people. Get angry and act, I pray.
Vindicate Michael Oher, for his sake, for your name, and for all of us looking on who never received an acknowledgment, an apology, or reparation.
I pray this in the name of the One who stands for justice and keeps the vulnerable in the place of refuge; the One who can make a man rich without adding sorrow; the one who offers a beautiful inheritance.
Amen.
I wept my way through this one. Thank you for the gift of your words, Sharifa, and the emotions they evoke.
The absolute betrayal those people perpetuated and continue to perpetuate is truly evil. Made more evil because they try to hide behind the One who came to make us whole in love.