A Post-Election Word To The Black Community: Post Mortem In Black

By Dennis Edwards
New Journal and Guide Columnist

Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory Tuesday night needs to ignite some more inclusive getting together in the Black Community. The fact that Trump was able to garner 20 percent of the votes of Black men cannot be ignored. 

Folks in the African-American Community need to openly accept a troubling fact. When it comes to political discourse Community Barber Shops and what they used to call Beauty Parlors have effectively taken the place of the Black Church.  Especially when it comes to political awareness and dialogue.

The Church needs to resume its role of spiritual and political epicenter with politicians coming in to explain themselves, what they will do for the community and answer questions.

Instead Barber Shops and Beauty Shops have become the primary hub of our discontent without the balm of resolution and reconciliation. We no longer “Take it to the Lord in prayer” or in worship. We go to the shops and salons to testify at the feet of conspiracy theories, 80 percent of which have no basis in fact or fiction. But they do allow us to blame everybody and everything for what we did not do when we should have.

The rise of the prosperity gospel has supplanted the essential Christian messages of Salvation and Redemption, a message that’s led African-American Churches to the precipice of political power. But the prosperity phenomenon is causing our sons and daughters to worship the pursuit of things and wealth over any relationship with God in whichever religious expression they choose.

The ongoing pursuit of the “name it and claim it” mind set, especially in the Black Church, has produced generations of members who put the accumulation of things above their salvation and community service. Instead of spirituality first with blessings linked to fidelity to the Lord, Family and Community, we willingly trade all that away in pursuit of personal wealth. We bask in the name of The Lord but without a life long evolving spiritual relationship. It is this kind of twisted perspective that leads too many of our young men and women toward feeling the way they do.

As for the Kamala Harris Campaign, several mistakes should never have been made nor repeated. Having Former President Barrack Obama go into a barber shop full of Black men who are at a different socio-economic level the way he did was a big mistake.

He came off as one of “the others.” Not one of them. He also chastised the young men without really listening to what they had to say, how they feel. Accusing them of not wanting to vote for Kamala because she is a woman. The truth of that accusation not withstanding, the optics of the moment were a disaster. They were gathered in jeans and street casual clothes. He shows up dressed like an Ivy Leaguer standing apart as they huddled together around a barber’s chair. Trump met with a similar group and did more listening than talking.

As an African-American Man, I was offended Kamala didn’t go herself. Why treat them with a Former President’s “long handle spoon?” Harris not showing up there made it look like she was or is afraid of Black Men.

As for brothers ourselves? This conspiracy obsession is played, gotten old.  We need to be honest about the damage our theories (excuses) are doing to our family and professional relationships. Honest about how talking that non-sense implants an excuse in the minds of our children not to even try to achieve. Every obstacle we face is not part of some conspiracy to hold a brotha back. We need wake up to the opportunity to be intensionally purposeful in life and living. To avoid making mistakes that land us in jail with a conviction that won’t let us vote.

To be sure, everything I’ve written here applies equally to Black women as well. Perhaps there’s a need to commit to a partnership in the love of a marriage or relationship with the man in your life. And not with the punitive cloud of an “I got to tell you what to do” attitude. Men won’t complain, won’t say a word in the world. But they will leave you alone. Build inclusive and respectful relationships. Also Moms, teach your sons how to be men, not dependents. Or get out of the way and let their Fathers do it.

As for the Black Church. It’s past time to abandon a non-sensical “Prosperity Gospel” and re-embrace the prophets call to “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Young folks with families need to renew their connection with the Black Church and its legacy in civil rights. There’s no profit in being in a church where everyone is the same age as you are and no one can really advise you on how to deal with the shifting tides of the stages of life, the unfairness of racial discrimination and/or all of its resulting evils.

And fellow Preachers and Pastors, a thought for you to consider. Set aside the ‘Prosperity Gospel.’ Go back to the essence of the Salvific and Prophetic word. Teach parents and children to pursue righteousness in relationship with our Lord and Savior as in Matthew 6:33: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you.

Not the other way around!

Dennis Edwards is a Major Market Emmy and Virginia Associated Press Broadcaster Award winning TV and WRVA Radio News Anchor, Investigative Reporter, Columnist and Pastor. He is a graduate of Virginia Union University and its Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology)

Copyright November 5, 2024