Category Archives: Religion

The Black Church & the Democratic Party Makes (Good), but Strange Bedfellows

Black America, Black Culture, Religion, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

There once lived a polarizing You Tuber by the name Michael ‘David’ Carroll who was extremely critical towards the so-called black community saying there were two people who he labeled as, “The Untouchables”, in which the community could not criticize. One, of course, was the black woman because not only has she been labeled as the “backbone of the black community” or ‘God’; it’s because she’s become the defacto ‘leader’ due to the purposeful usurping of the man that has occurred in this country. The second, which is even more detrimental, is the ultimate untouchable Negroes see every Sunday, holiday (mainly on fashion day with egg hunts and candy baskets called Easter), hospital visits, funerals, and chicken dinners; the black Pastor. At first when I heard him say this, I was immediately taken back by this notion because I myself as many of you who are reading this, were probably raised Christian in some store front or ‘mega’ black church. Even if you weren’t, those words stuck deep with me because I was trained to become a minister and have done PLENTY Christian endeavors as far as witnessing, ministry, you name it; I’ve been a part of it. So to hear this guy spew so much of (what I thought of at the time), hatred towards not only my faith, but a religion that I’ve always followed since my late teens; it made me feel a certain level of discomfort and hostility. Nonetheless, I was still drawn in by his vast knowledge of history in regards to the church, politics, and black culture overall. He was truly a cultural savant when it came to black society, a modern day intellectual who unfortunately passed away too soon.

Now I see what he said then, but now it makes sense.

It would be easy for me to write this blog post about paid celebrities who for as long as I‘ve started following politics since 2012. That’s too easy. It was exactly around 2012 when I completely bowed out of the black church and left it for good not for DNC politics, but for church doctrine and the inconsistencies I started to notice in which I wasn’t allowed to question. Although I could use the various excuses of church scandals, indiscretions, prosperity and opulence over sin and repentance, the list goes on. That’s too obvious and easy. However, I want to tackle the duplicitous relationship between pastors and politicians most notably Negro pastors and the DNC. See, I was once a part of a so-called ‘Mega’ church before and I, (like many others), were blinded by the illustriousness and prestige my church leader had with the movers and shakers in the city I’m a part of. Still, I noticed every single time election season would roll around; here comes this Mayor or this political figure, bellowed by a DNC-laced verbal manifesto, not telling us how or who to vote for; but inferring who we better vote for. This is precisely what I noticed this past election with the black church and many of its prominent so-called leaders being not strange, but GOOD BEDFELLOWS supporting Kamala Harris and the DNC.  Whether they did it for monetary gain (most likely), bring attention to their platforms, a media deal, or operating under the ‘spirit’ of their TRUE white slave master, Margaret Sanger. These Negro preachers, the black church, and its cheerleaders posing as congregants – black women, have created the 21st century plantation under the names of COGIC, AME, Full Gospel anywhere, and the list goes on.

There are some or even many who allude to the fact that the black church as always been essentially the Negroes plantation. From slavery and beyond, based on the way the bible was taught to black folk to always look for hope and the ‘by and by’, and that our reward would only be in heaven after we die. I don’t disagree with this notion because we’ve been conditioned to be a people of ‘hope’ mostly through fear and biblical manipulation which made faith – which not a bad thing – but the only thing black folks were made to settle for. This message was trumpeted louder by no other than the Negro preacher which created a ‘Messiah’ complex, which has now become shared and in the same bed with the DNC. From MLK to Barack Obama and the almost near election of Pastor Kamala ‘The Curry Queen’ Harris, the cognitive dissonance holds no bounds. Black America let’s face it: The DNC party, regardless of the candidate who appears on the ballot every four years, is your surrogate pastor. Just like many of you Negroes who claim you’re a ‘Christian’ but don’t really care about what your bible says; it’s just like your DNC political nominee y’all repeatedly vote for every general election regardless of their doctrine or policies. Just like the watered-down teachings of Jesus who ONLY promises hope and heaven, y’all look to the DNC for hope with their gospel of propaganda and RACISM. Hallelujah, NOT!

Some of y’all who will read this may think I’m endorsing being a conservative and or a Republican like I’m some traitor or sell-out. Nothing could be further from the truth because this isn’t about voting per sa; it has more to do with your mindset and for you to release yourself from the plantation (both the black church and the DNC). Do not ask me about well, “What about white folks who only vote for Republicans?” Nice try but if you check the voting records those white folks have a balanced voting record on both sides (for the most part) but see that’s that disease you have where you have to link how YOU think with what THEY DO! Stop it! Liberals have trained many of you to focus wholeheartedly on race and police brutality and we’re heading into 2025. This is NOT to ignore such matters and act like we don’t deal with racism at some covert level. However, most of the racism is fed to you through media propaganda because let’s face it, they don’t believe you Negroes are smart. Why do you think Kamala held those concerts posing as campaign rallies? Why do you think they ALWAYS visit black churches? Why do you think they recruit black pastors (just like celebrities) because they KNOW many of you will listen to them instead of a black intellectual? But I forgot, unless if it’s someone who’s charismatic, funny, and will hoot, holler and scream sayings that tickle your ears; you won’t listen to them. Your pastor knows this and that’s why you give them your money, and your DNC leader knows this too, this is why you give them your vote. Peace.

Why Pastor Jamal Bryant Didn’t Listen To Chris Brown

Black America, Black Men, Black Women, Jamal Bryant, Religion, The Negro Church, Uncategorized

Nearly two years ago next month, the black church and various other media outlets and blogs couldn’t wait to dispel the latest sentiments from a message involving mega church Pastor Jamal Bryant. Bryant, who’s certainly no stranger when it comes to controversy both in and outside of the pulpit, received an enormous amount of scrutiny and public backlash when he preached a sermon that contained a line from current R&B bad boy Chris Brown and his latest song at that time, “These H**s [Girls] Ain’t Loyal.” Seems like the mega church Pastor can’t leave these ‘girls’ alone as yet another woman has come forward alleging Bryant is the father of her newborn son. According to reports from The Christian Times, the child’s mother, Latoya Shawntee Odom, a 34-year old Californian massage therapist, bare it all to Obnoxious Television through a series of text messages that she had a sexual relationship with the popular pastor and gave birth to his son, who she named John Karston Bryant, in July 2015. The woman also freely and willingly provided Obnoxious Media a copy of the paternity tests that Bryant has requested and paid for. The test was carried out by LB Genetics, one of the most trusted DNA testing facilities in California among U.S. federal courts. The facility specializes in paternity, family relationship, and human identification testing. Test results sent to Odom showed that Bryant is 99.9999% to the 10-month-old boy.

The founder of Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church and son of Bishop John Richard Bryant, the charismatic pastor have undergone several scandals involving women before which eventually lead to the divorce of his now estranged wife, Gizelle Bryant, back in 2008. Bryant appeared to show a level of contrition and sincerity in an interview he did with Roland Martin entitled, Drama in the Church: Temptation Ended His Marriage, Nearly Destroyed the Ministry of Pastor Bryant. In the candid 2013 interview, the then rejuvenated reverend spoke about how God restored his ministry after an extramarital affair nearly tore it apart. As Bryant explains:

“My father [Roland] asked me a critical question: ‘Were you preaching for applause? If you were preaching for applause and the people—it was a performance. But if you preaching because of your calling—your assignment; the same passion you had when there was thousands; is the same kind of intention now that you got to have now there’s been reduced to hundreds’” (…)

Since the interview, Bryant was again catapulted to the spotlight and appeared on numerous nationally syndicated platforms, reality shows as a spiritual adviser, mentor, and recently as a prominent voice in the Black Lives Matter movement. Just last month, Rev. Bryant held a peace march which signaled the one-year anniversary death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, and the civil unrest that transpired. As reported by the Baltimore Sun, Bryant left an online message asking those listening to invite as many people as possible, and to come from all across the region. Bryant further stated:

“Come in from D.C., from Virginia, from Delaware, from Philadelphia, from New York. Come on y’all. Stand with Baltimore. Let’s make a change. Let’s change this city. Let’s change the narrative. Let’s change a generation.”

Now with this latest scandal being added to his philanderous belt, reports have also surfaced that Mr. ‘Black Lives Matter’ Bryant also pressured Ms. Odom to have an abortion because his career—I mean ministry, couldn’t sustain another devastating blow. The tumultuous timing couldn’t have come at a more celebratory time in Bryant’s life as he and several others who I call, ‘motivational ministers’, are set to star in an upcoming show called, The Preachers.

img-Pastor-Jamal-Bryant-urges-youth-to-end-violence

It will be interesting to see how Bryant’s church and those in the clerical hierarchy handle or discipline the reverend this time (if at all) due to his ‘celebrity’ status. Among a plethora of issues which reside in the Negro church, the ongoing lax of church discipline when it comes to certain leaders (mostly males) is staggering. Whereas if this had of been a woman caught ‘hoeing it up’ in like manner, not only would she had been told to step down, but she would have been ostracized in front of that congregation and told to leave the ministry. The double standard is indeed frightening when it comes to these popular ministers who, no matter what they do, people will claim they have been called of God and will tell you to keep your mouth off the manned or woman of Gawd (you know, the whole touch not my anointed scripture). It truly baffles my mind because you would think if this pastor was bold enough to recite some Chris Brown’s lyrics in his sermon, at the very least you would think he’d watched himself in this current “exposure” culture. No, I’m not excusing passa Bryant for his continuous indiscretions out of the pulpit. As the saying goes, ‘What’s done in the dark will eventually come to the light,’ even if that light is for attention that could pay dividends that  includes a reality show—which leads me to Latoya Odom. I find it strange that Bryant’s massage mistress would come forward with this (not surprisingly) bombshell against him even though he’s supporting their lovechild financially. The DNA test as reported and leaked by Ms. Odom herself was done last year in August according to Obnoxious Television’s blog. I guess she wants to put it all out there and not look like the typical church jump off, but to become transparent with her future audience because after all, she’s studying to become, you guessed it—a pastor herself. I guess this trial or test will become a testimony for either Bryant or Odom as well. The only surprise is who will regurgitate that line first between the two.

Peace and love y’all!

The Mis-Education of The Bible: Negroland

Bible, Religion, Stephen Darby, The Negro Church, Uncategorized

Is Jesus Black 1

The term ‘mis-education’ has been tossed around since the days of the historical, intellectual, brilliancy of  Carter G. Woodson, right down to the contemporary musical genius of Lauryn Hill. The American Negro has been constantly catching up with his undiscovered past and hidden heritage concealed by white and black religious authority. This is why there is no comprehensive study about the American Negro at your prominent, prestigious, theological seminary; except for how missionaries and abolitionist rescued and fought for American blacks emancipation. Nevertheless, white theologians have yet to discuss not only the history of the black church, but the cultural importance; the historical ‘black’ significance detailed in the scriptures; and the rise and fall of this social institution. The white Jesus template only did nothing but reinforce a white superiority construct; which still remains in the psyche of many African-American parishioners

For those of the contrary who may say it’s not the white man’s job to disseminate information about the black church, it’s culture and history; then for heaven’s sake why do they do such a good job of discarding it?  How come even in Hollywood , when they make a biblical theatrical release, the characters doesn’t reflect the persons in the bible? How many times will the Moses character be played by a white man? I’m not even going to go there with the “bleaching” of the Christ roles throughout the years. At any rate, just the mere mentioning of a ‘colored’ biblical character especially the person of Christ, will get side-eyes, stares, even some Florida Evans Negro, confronting you like you’re a disgrace to the blind religious ancestors.

I’m posting this sermon because it is critical that black people wake up. I wasn’t one to claim the Hebrew heritage, but it is becoming increasing important that many of us discover who we are–or at least might be–as a people. No, I don’t believe that being Hebrew will ultimately save you in the context of salvation; however, to know that you might belong to an ancestry which has a book/religion that contains the most controversial figure in modern times–Jesus–just cannot be simply ignored. I challenge you to watch this video by Pastor Stephen Darby from Destined Ministries and let me know what you think; and if you’re mind has been changed from this so-called ‘white man’s religion.’ Be on the lookout for many more blogs/articles I will be writing to debunk this faulty assimilation about the bible, the white man, and the American Negro.

For information about Pastor Darby go to: http://www.stephendarbyministries.com