Black Liberation Father James Cone on the Black Church and "Success"

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Please take the time to view this seven-minute video clip from Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union IV, The Black Church: Relevant, Repressive, or Reborn? James Cone asserts that the black church has lost its mission and purpose and has become too success-oriented.

State of the Black Union IV is a must-see for those interested in the black church and the perspectives of various nationally-known black bishops, pastors, and theologians. It features Cain Hope Felder, Michael Eric Dyson, Marcia Dyson, Charles Ellis, Cynthia Hale, Noel Jones, Frederick Haynes, Carolyn Knight, Vashti McKenzie, Jeremiah Wright, Charles Adams, Jamal Bryant, Jacquelyn Grant, Cheryl Townsen Gilkes, Kenneth Flowers, Floyd Flake, Barbara King, Paul S. Morton, Eugene Rivers, Al Sharpton, Gardner Taylor, William Shaw, Cornel West, Raymond Brown, Marvin Winans, Wendell Anthony, Carlton Pearson, Johnnie Coleman, and Barbara King.

The entire seven-hour summit is available for viewing free through Jesus Saves Ministries

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

I "Mus" Comment Says Sharpton On Imus

The following is AN EXCERPT of a discussion between the Reverend Al Sharpton and Don Imus on Reverend Sharpton's radio show regarding racial comments made on the Don Imus radio show, as recorded by The New York Times. To read the entire transcript, www.nationalactionnetwork.net.

SHARPTON. This young lady just graduated . . . , went to Temple. She is not a nappy-headed ho, she's my daughter.
IMUS. I understand that.
SHARPTON. And when I heard what you said, I've got to defend my daughter. This is not about whether you're a good man, it's about how you devalue, how my daughters and the daughters of a lot of people listening are going to be looked at in this world. You have anchormen from news, network news, you have senators, you have presidential candidates that come on your show. Are we now saying it's acceptable in the middle of these kind of candidates and these anchormen for you to sit up and call my daughter a ho? That's what we're talking about here?
IMUS. Absolutely not. But why aren't -
SHARPTON. But then, then how can we then say the answer to that is a good guy?
IMUS. Why listen to the same kind of outrage, let me ask you, in the black community when rappers and other people in the black community, athletes in the black community defame and demean black women?
SHARPTON. I am one of them that is outraged.
IMUS. And call them worse names that I ever did.
SHARPTON. I am absolutely outraged by it. I attack it, I disagree with it. I've had friends of mine that used bad raps on radio that was fired. And I do not think that there ought to be two standards. I think you ought to join them.
IMUS. O.K., I think what makes a difference in this context - and you can still call for me to be fired, that's fine - but I think what makes a difference, a crucial difference, is what was my intent? Am I some rabid, racist, vicious person who's on a rampage screaming and got on the radio and turned on the microphone and said, here's what I think these women are? That's not what I did. What I did is repugnant and repulsive and horrible. You know what's horrible about it is here are these young women, who, at the pinnacle of their life and their athletic accomplishment, they played for the national championship of basketball -
SHARPTON. And really suffered to do that, worked hard to do that.
IMUS. - and I ruined it.
SHARPTON. Yeah, and that's the point.
IMUS. Yes, sir, I know that.
SHARPTON. But the point is this: The question is not whether you're a rabid racist with intent. If you commit a crime, intent may be an element, but the crime is still there.
IMUS. I understand that.
SHARPTON. To go to court and say, Your Honor, I didn't intend it. I got up this morning and I really was going to go to work, but I got mad and killed a guy. You still are guilty. The question of intent, you yourself said it was repugnant and all of that. Here's what I hear you saying, Mr. Imus: It is repugnant, it is unbelievable - but let's get past that, go on to the next commercial and I live to curse another day.
IMUS. I didn't say that.
SHARPTON. What are you saying?
IMUS. I didn't say anything.
SHARPTON. That's exactly right.
IMUS. No, I'm -
SHARPTON. You and I agree, you're not saying anything.
IMUS. I'm not saying anything about firing?
SHARPTON. About what - if you don't think your resignation is in order, what do you think the price should be that you pay? Not that I would agree with it. I'm just curious. What do you think?
IMUS. I haven't thought about that.
SHARPTON. I know. Let's bring Reverend Buster Soaries up. Reverend Soaries, you talked with Mr. Imus last -[blip in transmission]
BUSTER SOARIES. . . . whether or not Mr. Imus is a good or bad person.
SHARPTON. Not at all.
SOARIES. And so I'm willing to concede that he's done some good things and perhaps did not intend to offend anybody. I think I'm a good father, but if I'm speeding on the turnpike and get a ticket, I still have to pay for the ticket. In other words, you don't get fined based on your previous good act; you get fined based on your current bad acts. And I think Mr. Imus has proven to be a progressive thinker, probably a liberal, you know, in philosophy. But it really doesn't matter if you slap me with your left hand or your right hand, I've been slapped. And so if Rush Limbaugh slaps me or if Don Imus slaps me, I've been slapped. And I think what we're having problems with is that Don Imus does not fully understand the depth of the impropriety because if he did, then he would understand why you and I can be civil but at the same time ask for his removal -
IMUS. Well, if I understood that, I wouldn't have said it in the first place.
SOARIES. Well, well, and that's our problem.IMUS. Yes, sir.
SOARIES. I mean if a person in your position -IMUS. Yes, sir.
SOARIES. - you've got about 10 million listeners; as Al said, president candidates stop by because they respect your ability to penetrate the marketplace. And if someone with you ideological bent and philosophy can say something that mean-spirited and that damaging, my God, then we don't need enemies.
IMUS. No, I know, you said that last night and I agree. I don't have a good answer.
SHARPTON. Mr. Bryan Monroe is also on, Mr. Imus, who is the head of the National Association of Black Journalists. Byron[as spoken].
BRYAN MONROE. Thank you, Reverend Sharpton, and thank you, Mr. Imus, for coming on Reverend Sharpton's show and standing up and -
IMUS. Yes, sir.
MONROE. - looking us in the eye and telling us what were you thinking.
IMUS. Yes, sir.
MONROE. Mr. Imus, I have a daughter. I think you have a daughter. What would you do if a 67-year-old man went in front of millions of people and called your daughter what you called these women? Mr. Imus, what do you think the consequences of those words should be? Should an apology be enough?
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Jesus Saves Ministries discusses the Imus firing, race, and gender in America Friday, April 13th with guests Rev. Robert Thomas, Director of Evangelism, St. Stephen Church, and Karen O'Bannon, author of A Song for You: Parables and Pearls on Jesus Saves Ministries LIVE! 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on 1350 WLOU. Call 502-776-1350 and say, "I-Mus Comment" and let your voice be heard.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Don Imus Fired: Licked By His Own Tongue

Last night, MSNBC did "the right thing" as Spike Lee has said and fired morning talk show host Don Imus of Don Imus In the Morning. I applaud MSNBC for listening to their staff, some of whom are African American and were very offended, advertisers, and consultants on this one as Imus certainly did not need to "go there" with his April 4th racist comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Sid Rosenberg should not escape punishment either since he was the one who started and instigated the comments and neither should Bernard McGuirk.

You can say what you want about Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. I applaud them, too for having the backbone and courage to stand up, not only for the Rutgers team, but for women of color everywhere. Rev. DeForest Soaries, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, the pastor who will be "mediating" Imus' meeting with the basketball team was one of several guests on the Today Show yesterday. He said that had Imus called one of the white women executives at NBC at "white, ugly ho" he would be fired, and that to only suspended Imus for saying something worse about young, black women was a double standard. Thank you MSNBC for doing the right thing.

Here are the April 4th comments that led to Imus' firing and the youtube.com description.

watch video YouTube Video Description On the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which is comprised of eight African-American and two white players, as "nappy-headed hos" immediately after the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the team "hard-core hos." Later, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg, who was filling in for sportscaster Chris Carlin, said: "The more I look at Rutgers, they look exactly like the [National Basketball Association's] Toronto Raptors." McGuirk referred to the NCAA women's basketball championship game between Rutgers and Tennessee as a "Spike Lee thing," adding, "The Jigaboos vs. The Wannabees -- that movie that he had." ------ Remember, it's not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves.

Sharpton Speaks Sharply In Louisville

By: Angela Lee Price

Pictures courtesy of George Williams

The Lord certainly knew what He was doing when he gave civil rights activist and 2004 presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton the last name “Sharpton.” On Thursday, August 3rd, he was sharper than a two-edged sword...again! Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the keynote address, Believing An Evil Report on Simmons' Night at the General Association of Baptist in Kentucky’s 138 Joint Session. The event, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Louisville, Kentucky drew an audience estimated at 400.

Preaching from Numbers Chapter 14:36, Sharpton said too many people in the church are believing an evil report. “We’ve built mega churches with miniature missions….We’ve built a generation of people with titles and no function, ministers that don’t minister to nobody, and trustees that can’t be trusted."


Left to Right: Rev. K. L. Moore, Barnetta Cosby, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Rev. Dr. A. Russell Awkard

The church is believing an evil report, he chimed repeatedly. He told the audience of mostly pastors, preachers, and church leaders that many of our people don’t work, but run from church to church looking for the next fix. “When you don’t work, you become Holy thrill freaks, he said.” We’ve got bigger houses, but we are not speaking to each other; new cars and nowhere to go,” Sharpton said.

Speaking on the final night of the four-day convention, the 52-year-old Sharpton sharply criticized African Americans for believing false stereotypes and not trying hard enough to advance themselves. “Even if you are not responsible for being down, you are responsible for getting up,” he said. Black men who abuse their women believe an evil report. “Ain’t nothing hip about degrading your mama, calling your sister and girlfriend out of her name,” said Sharpton.

Simmons College of Kentucky President and St. Stephen Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby gave a glowing report on the state of Simmons, Kentucky’s oldest historically black college, just one and a half years into his presidency.

Cosby told conferees his role as president is to acquire “bucks, buildings, bodies, and brains.” Cosby helped raise $2 million dollars for the school since becoming the 13th president in January 2005; helped Simmons re-acquired its former campus at Eighth and Kentucky; completed major renovations at the Seventh Street campus; hired new staff and professors; and established ties with Campbellsville and Kentucky State Universities. The school expects to enroll more than 200 students this school year, and is in the process of becoming accredited.

Cosby introduced head coach Stan Hughes and unveiled the school’s new basketball team, the Simmons Panthers. The St. Stephen Voices of Praiz performed contemporary and hip hop gospel music. Simmons raised an additional $75,000 for scholarships.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

It's A HBCU Thing - Please Understand!

By: Angela Lee Price

Simmons College of Kentucky is expanding its course offerings in 2006 and will be re-acquiring its former campus at 7th & Kentucky. To God be the glory! Simmons College of Kentucky has a rich heritage. Enroll at Simmons College of Kentucky and become a part of a proud legacy that has played a significant role in the advancement of African-Americans since 1879.

Plan to spend an evening of "Jazz Under the Tent" with the 13th President of Simmons College of Kentucky, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby (photo right), faculty and staff Friday, July 28th at 1811 Dumesnil Street.

Don't miss minister and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton (photo right), Simmons' Night, Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky's 138th Joint Annual Session at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The following audio excerpts are from the Simmons Saturday Morning Solutions July 15th radio broadcast on 1350 WLOU, Louisville's Best Gospel Music Station. The hosts were Simmons College Executive Vice President and New Covenant Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. J. R. Sams and Simmons Director of Institutional Development Michael Hicks. Guests appearing on the show were Simmons College of Kentucky Director of Finance & Administration Sharon Adams and myself.

My experience at Simmons - Angela Lee Price comments #1

An HBCU Education is PRICEless! - Angela Lee Price comments #2

Support Simmons College of Kentucky, Kentucky's oldest historically black college. All students enrolling in Fall classes will receive a scholarship. Register now! For additional information, click on Simmons College of Kentucky or call 502-776-1443. Simmons College of Kentucky, It's an HBCU thing - please understand!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius nor New Ages that saves. Jesus saves!

Sharpton Sharper Than Two-Edged Sword

By: Minister Angela Lee Price

It's getting HOT in here! I can feel the heat from Dallas! Rev. Al Sharpton's blazin'! He's in rare form, and he's coming to Louisville. He will be speaking August 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Sharpton's upcoming visit to the state's oldest historically black college, Simmons College of Kentucky and the General Association of Black Baptists in Kentucky's 138th Annual Conference energizes my hopes that black preachers will stop selling out and brainwashing our people, and start taking seriously their calls to speak truth to power.

Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent black leaders spoke last week at the two-day National Conference and Revival for Social Justice in the Black Church conference at Friendship-West Baptist Church. Gordon Jackson in the article, No Social Justice, No Spiritual Peace said, "Not giving specific names, Sharpton and several of the other 100 ministers representing 20 states at the event criticized in general today’s Black mega-churches for emphasizing prosperity for their congregations, but leaving out practical agendas like helping its fellow man and uplifting the African-American community as a whole. " Click on the BlackPressUSA.com link in the title to read the full story.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!