|
 |
|
By J. MATTHEW COBB CONTROVERSIAL PREACHERS - men and women unafraid to speak their opinions in the face of a multi-cultural and highly diverse society - have always been the blunt of mainstream jokes in the world of religion, but now they are taking center stage in the media and are continuing to shape the ideologies of American civilization. Bishop Eddie L. Long has been favored in Atlanta’s African-American community to be one of the chief ambassadors as being the next generation in civil rights. Rev. Bernice King, an elder at Long’s New Birth church and the daughter of the slain civil rights icon, has endorsed Long in his efforts to appeal to the black community for change and liberation in the twenty-first century. But Long has been under fire for his sharp comments against homosexuality and for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s front page spread accusing Long of mishandling funds that were funneled through a charity started by Long. The Senate’s probe of his assets earlier this year also placed Long in the line of fire, along with other mega-church pastors and superstar-like televangelists like Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar. The Rev. James Meeks of the South Side Baptist Church, also a Democratic super delegate, was also under fire for using the “N” word heavily throughout one of his high-profiled sermons - once televised on FOX News’ Hannity & Colmes broadcast - in reference to attacks he made on the city of Chicago’s mayor and for also using hard, condemning words on the gay community. During the wake of the Don Imus controversy and blacks boycotted and asked for Imus’ resignation, Meeks remained a proud supporter and endorser of Obama’s campaign, even after Obama made mention to ABC that he would not allow any person using such language on his staff. During the height of presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign this year, the media pressed an investigation on his mentor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright - the former pastor of the 8,000 member Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL. They uncovered a major set of “soundbytes” that were fueled with antisemitic and anger-fueled sermons that, still to this day, dominate hours of news headlines and media bulletins. Republicans in support of Sen. John McCain for president have recently pulled out a slew of political ads airing Wright’s dark choice of words towards America and oft-times what feels like schizophrenic-preaching. The defensive nature of Wright regarding his statements made in the media at recent forums including the Detroit Chapter NAACP Gala Dinner and the National Press Club. These attempts from Wright during a multi-city tour to redeem his name from negative press have mutated into political spoil against Obama - especially in the eyes of Republican hopefuls. In spite of Obama’s powerful messages about race and his ability to transcend racial lines with his heart for change and hope, his past associations with the controversial speaker and pastor continues to haunt him and his campaign. Top strategist David Axelrod told MSNBC on Monday that while “it’'s a free country...to the extent that people impute to Senator Obama words that are not his and sentiments that are not his, it's [Wright’s comments] obviously not helpful." Adding to the field of challengers in the world of controversial and political-driven preachers is a new breed of bold, gutsy, no-holds-barred rhetoric that makes kind-hearted, Kingdom-building ministers cringe. YouTube followers may have heard of Rev. James David Manning, pastor of the ATLAH World Missionary Church of Harlem, NY, but his messages to the world are no where in the ballpark of Wright’s rhetoric. “Obama is a mack-daddy,” Manning addresses during a sermon from his Harlem sanctuary, “Obama pimps white women and black women. Don’t be mislead by what the devil is doing. You know what he is, he’s the great white hope. He’s white peoples’ candidate.”
If those comments aren’t alarming, his messages -filtered all over YouTube and the Internet - captures big headlines like “Everybody Say No To The Negro” and “Who’s N**** Are You” and “The Choice Is White Woman/White Trash” (the latter in reference to the two Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Obama). And even in that sermon, harsh words ring aloud from Manning’s pulpit. “You know I want yall’ to consider something that when you pull that lever, those all across America, you’re not going to be deciding between a black man and a white woman. You’re going to be deciding between a white woman and black trash. A lot of people come out on a Negro bag on me...get on their high horse and talk about how I’m tearing down black people. We have a chance to make history by putting a black man in office. No history yet? You got white trash. Go and put a black man in office. Go get Alan Keyes, he is as black as they can get. He ran for president, go get him! Then you’ll get a black man. And by the way since you’re talking about black people I haven’t heard you say anything about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas...but I don’t hear any black people praising him. You got Condolezza Rice as a Secretary State running around as a black woman. I don’t hear any of the black commentators or these black people and non-child support fathers praising Condolezza. So it’s not about blackness, it’s about ignorance in you.” It’s a shame that in America our sacred pulpits have replaced the Word of God with hidden agendas and popular propaganda that would normally serve as hot conversations in beauty shops and barber shops. And while Rev. Wright and Rev. Manning have a few truths tucked deep within their messages, the biggest problem with their speeches is tone. There’s lots of ego, machismo and anger that floods through these messages - a typical impromptu response preachers use on hot, heated topics to drive their points home. A quote from TIME Magazine Amy Sulllivan’s response to Rev. Wright’s most recent comments at the Press Club: “Many Americans who were shocked by the clips of Wright's sermons have only known a Disney-fied version of the black church. We know about the good music, but don't listen to the lyrics of pain and suffering. We praise the rousing preaching without paying attention to the words. Civil rights leaders have become aging wise men revered for their inspirational sayings, not radical activists who preached truth to power. "There is so much more going on in black churches than gospel music," says Emilie Townes, professor of African American religion at Yale Divinity School. In the end, the preachers of the black church will have the last say-so over the black community; far beyond the voices of the congregants in the pew. The pastors and church leaders are the voice of the black community. They have been one of the strongest catalysts for change during the Civil Rights movement and were obviously present when times called for reform in American law; leading towards black holiday observances, affirmative action and the 1965 Voting Rights Act law. Pastors and church leaders continue to lead generations of followers into the next phase of government, law and politics amongst other things, but the scariest point of truth lies on how effective their agendas are in present time when attaching it to their improper and flagrant choice of words and the drama that comes with it. OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
|
