I only have one question for the African-American Christian "leaders" who are encouraging their parishioners to stay home November 6...
Is THIS what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rep. John Lewis caught all those beatings for?!?!?!?!?!?
I'll elaborate below the fold, if you'll be so kind as to join me.
Now, it's been known for quite a while that even without the prodding and chicanery from the National Organization of Marriage (NOM) and that group's disgraceful re-tooling of the Southern Strategy that the black Christian community has a reputation for being pretty homophobic. It's common knowledge that black religious leaders are largely against same-sex marriage. So, when earlier this year, President Barack Obama's opinion had finally "evolved" to the point where he could come out in support for same-sex marriage, it comes as no surprise that numerous black Christian leaders were flummoxed because their bigotry wouldn't allow them to let their own opinions evolve as our President's opinion has.
Now, to find, as the Associated Press has reported yesterday (16 Sept., 2012) that there are African-American Christian leaders planning to tell their congregations to sit out possibly the most important election in a generation...this is just plain insulting and infuriating to the point where I'm beyond rage.
Those that marched for the civil rights of black Americans in this country have risked their well-being and, in point of fact, their very LIVES in the pursuit of securing a black persons' right to be represented in our national dialogue. The right to be respected equally under the protection of the law and allowed the opportunity to chase one's own goals without the threat, most notably in the case of Emmett Till, of being literally hung from the tree of bigotry and racism. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 secured African-Americans the freedom to take part in shaping the destiny of the country they call home. It is, in part, the catalyst that lead to the eventual nomination of the nations' first African-American president.
However, there are now African-American Christian leaders suggesting that their congregations not vote this coming election. Why, you ask? Why would any self-respecting black leader spit on the legacy and efforts of their predecessors?
Because one candidate is a Mormon...and the other supports the right of same-sex couples to legally marry.
It's bad enough that religion is a factor. Let's be honest, here. I have plenty of problems with Mitt Romney (the Mormon) and his religion itself is not among them. Of course, I generally have a problem with spoiled, sanctimonious hypocrites that have a spine that doubles as a socio-political weather vane. I most certainly have a problem with ANYONE that would use their own spiritual beliefs as a weapon to persecute people they see as "other" or "less than human."
However, to tell your followers not to vote for President Obama simply because he supports same-sex marriage? If that's your course of action as a leader, then you have proven yourself to be a darker-skinned Mitt Romney. In a year where between the two major national political parties, one of them is working day-in and day-out to CIRCUMVENT the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchise ethnic minorities across the country, there are those that will "go fishing" on November 6 simply because they want to continue to oppress ANOTHER minority!
Dwight McKissic, I'm looking at you.
Jesus of Nazareth has done enough weeping, apparently. It seems time, now, for the late Martin Luther King Jr. to shed some tears from the hereafter.
While Dr. King weeps, THIS black man will vote to honor his legacy and make that small step to uphold it. Woe betide ANY so-called "leader" that would purport to bar my path or try to persuade me otherwise.
If there is one African-American religious leader that has his head on straight, it is the Rev. Dr. William Barber. These choice words from him will hold a place in the core of my being:
"If we ever needed to vote, we need to vote RIGHT NOW."