By: Roy Douglas Malonson The COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic still has people trying to figure out how to protect ourselves and our loved ones, whether we dine in or dine out at restaurants, and what buildings should remain open or closed. Texas Governor Greg Abbott became the center of scrutiny at the start of the schoolyear after mandating that students and staff NOT wear masks, and now, on the Nov. 2 ballot is Texas Proposition 3, which decides what rights houses of worships have. Do you know what Texas Proposition 3 is? Not many do, but you should. If voted into the Texas constitution, it will forbid state and local governments from limiting in-person gatherings regardless of threats to overall public health. This proposed constitutional amendment, if passed, would protect churches and places of worship, as well as religious organizations, from being shut down by the government like they were when the pandemic first struck. “I am in support of protections of our religious freedom,” said Rev. T. Leon Preston II, Yale Street Baptist Church. “Religious leaders should have the freedom of choice to determine whether we would shut down, based upon all knowledge and wisdom we gain from the medical experts. Leave that choice in our hands. “ Steven T. Collis, founding director of Texas’ Law and Religion Clinic, says Proposition 3 is designed to ensure states can’t close or limit churches the way many governing bodies did at the start of the pandemic to combat the spread of COVID-19. “There are almost no circumstances where government should be able to order the closing of a church, but a truly deadly pandemic would be one of them. The new statutory and constitutional language would remove any flexibility for government to close churches even if it did have a compelling interest, even if we faced a pandemic far deadlier than COVID,” Collis said. “If people don’t think through the consequences at all, I suspect most church-going people will vote in favor of it,” Collis says. But what are the consequences? And for the Black community, how could it affect us? […]
Texas Proposition 3 and the Black church Read More »
Politics in American society is no longer about public service and servant leadership but has become selfish self-service. Sadly, the political culture of The GOP has devolved into Southern Dixiecrat Autocracy. This sad state of political affairs has taken American society to the other side of fear of power sharing; looking for something for nothing, White Privilege. Too many Americans have forgotten what is ultimately important in any society; especially a democratic society! Individuals can acquire money; even acquire a powerful position of leadership authority, but it means absolutely nothing without a personal relationship with GOD (TRUTH). Therefore, in all of you’re getting: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and in all thy getting get understanding.” Hence, without a personal relationship with God (TRUTH); individuals are capable of doing any and everything under the sun. Thus, such individuals should to go to the nearest police station, and vehemently request to be locked-up, because I am insane and capable of doing anything. Evidently our polarized two-party-system apparently has elected too many greedy pathological individuals who have no God conscience to high political offices, and now we are reaping the whirlwind. Apparently, these individuals think that they are going to live forever! Shame, shame on Christian Right Evangelicals and The GOP (The Party of Abraham Lincoln), because they should know better, and if you know better you ought to do better. Likewise, in the Democratic Party one or two self-serving individuals is one too many, because we all know that one bad apple can spoil the entire barrel. Life is about priority ordering. Priorities are values. Ultimately, what individuals place their hope and trust in is an expression of their faith. Thus, hope is an expression of comfort, expectation, confidence and trust. This is why godly Americans can hope that White Privilege oriented Americans who are lost in selfishness and self-service realize the error of their ways, and cease looking
Socio-economic pathology in America Read More »
No doubt about it, the GOP has a White Privilege racially oriented exclusionary socio-political-economic agenda based primarily upon the tenets of autocracy, not democracy. The real question is: can God conscience/ oriented Americans save America from herself? Seemingly, we will not receive any help from Christian Right Evangelicals, the GOP, and White Nationalists groups, because: “To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Democracy requires equality and inclusion, and the mindset of autocracy is exclusion and privilege for the few. Therefore, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” The GOP’s political platform is based primarily upon negative self-centeredness, anti-science; especially climate change issues, racial replacement fears, and fear of power-sharing. The GOP refuses to believe in and accept democratic principles of interdependence. Hence, generational survival (children) is reason enough for positive changes! However, the GOP is initiating the extinction of itself as a viable political party as well as America, as we know her to be. There are three primary reasons why American democracy cannot survive in a GOP-Russian style autocratic system: loss of hope, lack of spiritual healing, and individual and societal unhappiness. This is why even in Russia autocracy is not viable governing political form of government. Autocracy destroys lasting hope, and the ability of individuals as well as nations to spiritually heal; which in turn, leads to unhappiness, individually as well as societally. Autocracy creates confusion and destroys lasting hope. Thus: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Self-centeredness causes individuals to demand their own way or the highway. Former President Trump was a classic example.
Can Democracy Survive in Autocracy? Read More »
Bobby E. Mills, PhD Christian Right Evangelicals know this: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep himself unspotted from the world.” Thus, when individuals give to the hopeless, they demonstrate spiritually and religiously what it really means to serve others. In order to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, we need to spiritually commit ourselves to the ethical moral system of Jesus Christ; not the world’s monetary system, which in turn, is based upon money, power and sex (pleasure): PMS. True Christian faith means absolutely nothing if individuals are contaminated with the external value system of PMS. Racism is not a religion and should never be. America, know this: God is keeping a record, and He is checking it twice, and in the end, He knows who has been faithful, naughty or nice, because great is thy faithfulness O’Lord unto US. Jesus was faithful to the will of God unto death. Something very, very sinfully sick is occurring in American society, and penicillin is not the cure. White Privilege Vigilantism has taken root in American society. Too many individuals are attempting to become their own law enforcement agency, and at the same time his/her own worst enemy seeking to create an autocracy for White Privilege. Russia has an all-White autocratic governmental system, and Whites are fighting Whites. Question: what makes White Privilege oriented Americans think that an all-White autocratic system in America would not produce the same results; whereby Whites would be fighting each other for power, privilege, pleasure, and money? Russians are fighting each other and no permanent-tan minorities are involved! Moreover, the democratic tenets of the constitution are under attack and, tyranny is religiously celebrated and advocated; even by Christian Right Evangelicals. In fact, Christian Right Evangelicals have been referred to by many names: the moral majority, the Tea Party, and the party of family values. This question must be asked, because of the hypocrisy of Christian Right Evangelicals: what’s in a name? They have never lived-up to the spiritual-moral tenets of their
White Privilege Religion Read More »
The Afro-American News/Issues dated July 4, 2021 featured two headline stories regarding Gay Pride Month. Reverend William Crabtree, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, chose to singularly reference one headline story and not the other. In fact, he goes to the extreme of chastising the Senior Pastor of a church that regularly advertises in the Newspaper. Ironically, the editorial Reverend Crabtree did not reference was entitled: “There Is No Pride In Sin,” written by Bobby E. Mills. Which in turn, was a balanced approach to dealing with news issues? Generally speaking individuals only agree with those issues that they agree with. However, God hates sin, and “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” God asked US not to judge one another for ye shall be judged also. God also has said that vengeance is mine, and I will repay says the Lord. God hates sin, and He desires that we call out sin for what it is, because sin is sin. There are no little sins or big sins. However, when you have been warned concerning sin and you continue sinning, and compound sinning God will turn you over to a reprobate mind. Therefore, homosexuality is a sin, adultery is a sin, fornication is a sin, lying is sin, and so on. Again, sin is not about human personalities. The Afro-American News is in the news reporting business. Thus, everything that is newsworthy is not necessarily reflective of the moral and spiritual value orientations of the managing owners, but only reflects the opinions of the editorial writers. The managing owners of the Afro-American News are not necessarily in absolute agreement with editorials or editorial writers. Hence, Voltaire said: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Reverend Crabtree this is what democracy and freedom of speech is all about! And African-American News&Issues respects your right to express your opinion whether it is good or bad, because: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ: that every one may receive the things done in
A Response to a Response: Gay Pride Read More »
This letter was sent to African-American News&Issues, forwarded from a person who took issue with one of our articles. Dear Pastor Davis and Church Leadership, Hello, I am Rev. William Crabtree, Minister of the Gospel from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where Rev. Otis McConico is the Senior Pastor. As a Preacher of the Gospel, I am concerned that many are not standing for Jesus Christ, as they should. One way you and your church are not standing for Christ as you should is that you are buying ad space in the periodical, African-American News & Issues. On one hand, the periodical typically gives a liberal democrat-centric political viewpoint (not a biblical viewpoint) on whatever subject it is addressing. Mixed in with that political point of view is their idea of Afro-Centricity (again, not a biblical viewpoint.) But most importantly, they give blatantly unbiblical viewpoints with their subject matter. Case in point, African-American News & Issue, Dated July 4, 2021, Vol. 26, Issue 23. Their front page cover story entitled, “Pride” gives blatant support for unbiblical and immoral homosexuality and the homosexual lifestyle. Which, in the article, is called gay, Gay Pride, queer, gay affections and LGBTQ+. Not only does the article wholeheartedly support this unbiblical lifestyle and behavior, the author of this article is planting seeds in the minds of the readers, that if embraced and accepted, will grow and result in the readers also supporting the Gay Pride Lifestyle. This periodical is inside of churches and it’s inside your church, since you are buying ad space in it. Also, no other churches should be displaying this periodical because of its unbiblical stance It doesn’t make sense to call yourself a Bible-Believing Church but at the same time display and support this unbiblical lifestyle. The Bible is clear, all sin is an offense to God. The Bible is also clear that the homosexual, queer, Gay Pride and LGBTQ+ lifestyle is a sinful lifestyle! (See Romans 1:18-32) Churches must not agree with, nor support this sinful lifestyle and they must not support periodicals that support the Gay Lifestyle! Plainly said, since
Reader Feedback: A matter of ‘Pride’ Read More »
Republicans are sick and penicillin is not the cure, because they desire to live in an entirely White country. America was never a White country because Native Americans (Indians) and Mexicans were indigenous-inhabitants of the land when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. By and large, the Republican Party has a White Privilege agenda, and the Democratic Party has an inclusive Multi-Cultural American identity agenda as profoundly displayed in President Biden’s inaugural inclusive-programmatic format.
COMMENTARY: Hitlerism: Trumpism Read More »
October 16, 2023, HOUSTON, TX – Congressional Candidate Amanda Edwards has raised over $1 million in less than 4 months, a substantial sum that helps bolster the frontrunner status of the former At-Large Houston City Council Member in her bid for U.S. Congress. Edwards raised over $433,000 in Q3 of 2023. This strong Q3 report expands on a successful Q2 where Edwards announced just 11 days after declaring her candidacy that she had raised over $600,000. With over $829,000 in cash-on-hand at the end of the September 30th financial reporting period, Edwards proves again that she is the clear frontrunner in the race. “I am beyond grateful for the strong outpouring of support that will help me to win this race and serve the incredible people of the 18th Congressional District,” said Edwards. “We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s trajectory, and we need to send servant leaders to Congress who can deliver the results the community deserves. The strong support from our supporters will help us to cultivate an 18th Congressional District where everyone in it can thrive.” Edwards said. “Amanda understands the challenges that the hard-working folks of the 18th Congressional District face because she has never lost sight of who she is or where she comes from; she was born and raised right here in the 18th Congressional District of Houston,” said Kathryn McNiel, spokesperson for Edwards’ campaign. Edwards has been endorsed by Higher Heights PAC, Collective PAC, Krimson PAC, and the Brady PAC. She has also been supported by Beto O’Rourke, among many others. About Amanda: Amanda is a native Houstonian, attorney and former At-Large Houston City Council Member. Amanda is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Aldine ISD. Edwards earned a B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Edwards practiced law at Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP before entering public service. Edwards is a life-long member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes. For more information, please visit www.edwardsforhouston.com
As September 13th rolls around, we extend our warmest birthday wishes to the creative powerhouse, Tyler Perry, a man whose indomitable spirit and groundbreaking work have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. With his multifaceted talents as an actor, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and director, Tyler Perry has not only entertained but also inspired audiences worldwide, particularly within the African-American community, where his influence and role have been nothing short of powerful. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1969, Tyler Perry’s journey to stardom was a path riddled with adversity. Raised in a turbulent household, he found refuge in writing, using it as a therapeutic outlet. This period of introspection gave rise to one of his most iconic creations, Madea, a vivacious, no-nonsense grandmother who would later become a beloved figure in Perry’s works, offering a unique blend of humor and profound life lessons. Despite facing numerous challenges, including rejection and financial struggles, Perry’s determination and unwavering belief in his abilities propelled him forward. In 1992, he staged his first play, “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” which, although met with limited success, was a pivotal moment in his career. Unfazed by initial setbacks, Perry continued to hone his craft, and by 1998, he had successfully produced a string of stage plays that showcased his storytelling prowess.
Calling all teenage student-athletes! If you have dreams of playing college soccer and wish to represent an HBCU, the HBCU ID Camp is your golden opportunity. From 8 am to 5 pm on November 11-12, Houston Sports Park will transform into a hub for aspiring male and female soccer players. Coaches from HBCUs across the nation will be present to evaluate, scout, and offer valuable feedback. Moreover, they might even spot the next soccer prodigy to join their collegiate soccer programs. This camp is not just about honing your soccer skills but also a chance to connect with the HBCU soccer community. You’ll learn the ins and outs of what it takes to excel on the field and in the classroom, which is crucial for a college athlete. The HBCU ID Camp is an excellent platform to network with coaches, learn from experienced athletes, and take the first steps toward your college soccer journey. To secure your spot at this incredible event, don’t forget to register [here](insert registration link). Space is limited to 120 participants, so make sure to reserve your place before it’s too late. It’s time to turn your dreams of playing college soccer into a reality.
