What began on Sunday, Feb. 8, as a commendation of two members of Providence M.B. Church for their service to the community quickly eroded into a warning against “folks out there trying to divide us,” a characterization of “any black person who supports voter ID” as one who “has got to be stupid and crazy … (because) voter ID is no different than a poll tax,” and, finally, an observation, “How can the great grandson of the perpetrator tell the great grandson of the victim what is good for him?” The bearer of these glad tidings? State Sen. and City Council President David Jordan.
Because my job takes me away from home, I listen over my daughter’s phone to share with my family during the weekly worship service. I was not “shocked” to hear Jordan’s voice. The opportunity to speak is a courtesy that some black churches traditionally extend to all community leaders and local politicians. But his use of that opportunity to be demeaning and disrespectful, to flame the fires of racism and separatism, is shameful. Why am I responding? It’s simple. I don’t like bullies.
Interestingly, one who boasts of walking with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and professes a deep and abiding belief in justice and righteousness, arrogantly abuses the respect people have for him — a respect manifested in the fact that he is invited to address the congregation during a sacred worship service.
The content of his tirade was as ludicrous as the tirade itself. Who is trying to divide whom? The Providence Church family is just that — a church family. Under the capable leadership of our pastor, the work of the church goes on and the fellowship of kindred minds continues. Pastor Payne wasted no time in reminding us all that “a person’s right to vote is their right,” and that the church, though in the world, will not be transformed by the world.
The truth is that, no matter how many times Jordan says it or any other politician, voter ID is not a poll tax. Those who understand the sacrifice of Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers and all the others who risked their lives for our right to vote won’t insult them by not going to the polls, no matter what it takes. They fought that we might be freed from our fear, not remain enslaved by it.
Jordan stood up in Providence almost six years ago, when doctors were leaving our community, and declared there was “no medical crisis … just a scheme,” not caring that he was looking into the faces of some who were directly impacted by that crisis. He visited the church to encourage our support of Amy Tuck, but didn’t tell us how he felt when Amy Tuck duped him, then defected to the Republican Party.
He focused more time and energy fighting for an apology from John Lee than addressing the murder of a young woman who should be preparing for graduation. He talks about the fight to get blacks to participate in local government, but only those he ordains. Everybody else is a “pop-up Negro,” “untrained,” or “an outsider put in to divide us.” He, along with other “leading blacks,” stood on the campus at Mississippi Valley State University and encouraged the community to “build a human chain” to keep out the university’s first African-American female president. Now that, I submit to you, was “stupid and crazy.” It’s past time we tell the “emperor” that he has “no clothes on.” We all know why he does not want voter ID. We are not stupid.
Enough is enough. If the senator chooses to spread the “gospel of division,” that’s his choice. But our church leaders must recognize that their calling, spiritual leadership and oversight are higher than the demands of anybody on earth. I would encourage pastors to stand, as did Pastor Payne, and make it clear that in the “house of God,” the focus is God — no hidden agendas, no “paid pulpits,” no manipulation by outside forces, no insults, no games, just Jesus.
Politicians, out of respect for those who respect them, should use their opportunities to address our congregations as opportunities to inform and empower. If Jordan had used his “few minutes” to update us on the challenges that we face as a state or share bills progressing through the Legislature, it would have been useful. During his mention of voter ID, he spent more time attacking “black people who support it” than he did addressing its advantages or disadvantages.
Freedom of speech is one thing; violating the sanctity of the sanctuary is another one.
On Sunday mornings, we’re not expecting words that are insulting, derogatory, or self-serving; we’re expecting a word that edifies, a word that encourages us in our Christian walk, a word of hope and inspiration — a word from God. Hopefully, our church will continue to extend this privilege, but only to those who don’t abuse it.
- Troy Brown Sr. of Greenwood is a contractor with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
