A group of White evangelical pastors are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris — and Franklin Graham is not happy.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

In his prime, the Rev. Billy Graham, the legendary Baptist minister and televangelist, was known as the “Pastor to Presidents.” Over nearly seven decades, Graham was a regular presence in the Oval Office, giving spiritual counsel to every sitting president from Harry Truman to Donald Trump. 

Since entering politics in 2016, Trump himself has had the White evangelical Christian vote on lockdown. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, Trump’s tough brand of social conservatism led 70 percent of them to choose him over President Joe Biden.

Now, a group of White evangelical pastors want to break Trump’s political grip on the faithful. They are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, using Graham’s and Trump’s own words to make their case.

And Graham’s son, Franklin Graham — a staunch Trump supporter and an influential figure in conservative politics— isn’t happy about it. 

The younger Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, has demanded  Evangelicals for Harris (EFH) cease and desist their campaign, and vowed to sue if they don’t stop airing their ad. 

In an interview with Premier Christian News, Franklin Graham slammed EFH, and condemned Harris — the first woman of color to occupy the vice presidency, the first to win a major party’s nomination for the presidency, and who is running neck-and-neck with Trump— as “anti-Christ in her positions.” 

“They are trying to make it look like my father would have supported Vice President Harris,” Graham said. “My father was a strong conservative all of his life, theologically as well as politically. He would have never voted for or supported someone like Kamala Harris — someone who is almost anti-Christ in her positions. She has done nothing to support people of faith and what we believe and what we stand for.”

But EFH is standing its ground. 

“Our communications, our references to Billy Graham, and this larger discussion of our community’s values are absolutely critical to a healthy democracy,” according to a response to Graham’s threat. 

At issue is the decades-long claim conservatives have on evangelical voters. 

By definition, every Christian is an evangelical; the word simply signifies the belief in God as creator and Jesus Christ as savior and signals a commitment to the gospel he taught when he was on Earth. 

Controversy ensues when regular evangelical churchgoers unwaveringly support Trump — a boorish, twice-divorced convicted felon and purported sexual abuser with little familiarity of the Bible and no clear church affiliation. 

Just recently, a group of evangelicals issued a call to return to Christianity’s basic tenets of faith and away from the political draw to Trump.

What seems to most upset the younger Graham about EFH is its video ad comparing his father’s words to Trump’s crude self-assessment. 

For example, the ad begins with a video of Billy Graham preaching: “But you must realize that in the last days, the times will be full of danger, men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money.”

Then, there’s a clip of Trump: ”My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.”

The membership of EFH includes different races and varied faiths, and they claim credit for helping Biden reach the White House four years ago. Their platform cites the accomplishments of the current administration and Harris’ religious background; they argue she isn’t a newcomer to Christianity and has a platform aligned with Christian values.

“We keep surprising people,” Rev. Jim Ball, founder and chair, said in a statement. “We helped Joe Biden win in 2020 and we’re helping Kamala Harris today.

”Her policies are pro-family. As a former prosecutor and attorney general, she will defend our democracy, the rule of law and continue the drop in crime,” he said. “She’ll keep the government out of private family matters. She’s pro-environment and pro-climate action. And she will keep the economy growing and wages increasing, while continuing to bring prices down.”

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

The post Evangelicals for Harris: ‘She’s a terrific combination’ appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

While joy was a buzzword at the convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris, plenty of speakers brought the Black church to the party.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

Word in Black

For generations, the Black church has been a cornerstone of Democratic Party politics, from “souls to the polls” voting drives to hosting candidates who want to reach Black audiences. 

So it was no surprise when Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia lawmaker and ordained minister, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19 he also took his audience to church. After referencing his mother — who, after years of picking cotton picked her son at the ballot box in 2020 — he compared voting to an act of faith.

“Voting is a prayer we pray collectively for the kind of world we desire for ourselves and our children,” said Warnock, senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was once pastored by Martin Luther King Jr. “And our prayers are stronger when we pray together.”

Warnock was among several voices that intertwined faith, Black church traditions and politics before a national audience at the DNC. The speakers offered faith as a rationale to make Vice President Kamala Harris the next president — itself a mission to save the soul of the country. 

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, D-S.C., one of the party’s elder statesmen, referenced scripture in his presentation for Harris: “As 2 Corinthians informs, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.

“Our great democracy has been tested, and so has the basic goodness of the American people,” Clyburn said. “But our resolve to remain a great country with freedom and justice for all will not falter.”

Rev. Cindy Rudolph, of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, was one of several clergy who spoke at the DNC. She praised the leadership of Harris and Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate, saying it dovetails with Jesus’ teachings. 

“As we look upon our leadership, we see what You require of us: To do justice, like the justice Vice President Harris has championed her entire career,” Rudolph said in her benediction. “To love mercy, like the mercy Governor Walz has modeled as a lifelong public servant and educator. And to walk humbly, like the humility President Biden has embodied with decades of outstanding servant leadership.”

The faith factor seemed widely felt. 

“The inclusion of more deeper faith-based references during night one at the Democratic National Convention was a subtle nod, I believe, to President Biden’s own walk of faith,” says digital creator Linnyette Richardson-Hall, #PoliticalDIVAsez. “He is a deeply religious man for whom his faith is everything and he’s not been shy about telling the world how it’s shaped and sustained him. He’s not ostentatious nor zealous in his profession – he’s as humble as the beatitudes suggest.” 

She called the insertion of faith at the DNC “an excellent way to showcase the stark differences” between Biden and

Trump. One, she says, is “a man who believes versus someone who wants you to think he knows something about faith.” 

Ray Winbush, a professor, researcher and activist at Morgan State University, agreed.

“I think we’ve gotten so used to negative political discussions, it was refreshing to hear and see love expressed publicly,” he said. 

It was a challenge, however, for any other speaker to come close to Warnock. Given the rapturous response to his speech, delivered in the cadence of a skilled Baptist minister, one wondered if Warnock would extend the opportunity to save a few individual souls in the process.

Along with comparing voting to prayer, the reverend went on to express good wishes for his neighbor’s children, the poor children of Israel and Gaza, those in the Congo, in Haiti and the Ukraine, “because we’re all God’s children.”

“And so, let’s stand together. Let’s work together. Let’s organize together. Let’s pray together. Let’s stand together. Let’s heal the land,” he said, to rousing applause. “God bless you. Keep the faith.”  

Commentators instantly lit up social media. On the Facebook page of Win With Black Women, members went wild for Warnock: the tone of his presentation, the possibility it might involve an altar call, wondering why an organ wasn’t playing. They were impressed that he strayed considerably from the teleprompter.

The Black faith traditions Warnock invoked resonated, “but in an actual real way, actual real faith, honest and true,” says Jacqueline Malonson, owner of Jax Photography. “I was struck and heartened. I know it when I see it and feel it, and it gives me hope.”

This article was originally published kn WordinBlack.com.

The post Say Amen: How Black faith traditions showed up at the DNC appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black

When you talk to Rae Lewis-Thornton, you discover that she’s full of faith and humor—and she’s determined to live life to the fullest. 

The ordained Baptist minister, 62, does so even though she has AIDS. Her days, which she spends educating people about the disease, demand a strict regimen of survival strategies. But she’s up to the challenge.

“The life expectancy of AIDS is certainly different than when I was diagnosed in 1987. I mean, if you had lived three years, you were a long-term survivor,” Thornton says. “But living with AIDS is a lifelong challenge.” 

And her life has always been about faith and purpose.

The role of faith in her journey

Thornton’s faith journey started in childhood, guided by her grandmother who took her to church. She says she was always loved by the pastors of the two churches she attended until she was on her own. Later, the support she received from her pastors and other members of the faith community helped her navigate the difficulties of her diagnosis.

“AIDS was still new, and people didn’t know what to do,” she says. “We knew about gay, white men being afflicted, but when it landed in the Black community — especially the church community — it was a real problem.”

However, Thornton says “The church has come a long way since many pronounced AIDS to be a punishment from God.” 

The enduring HIV/AIDS crisis

While her personal faith community has always been present and supportive, Thornton is concerned that many people mistakenly think HIV and AIDS are a thing of the past, or at least not much of a problem. Data, however, shows exactly the opposite.

According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 31,800 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2022. Annual infections in the U.S. have been reduced by more than two-thirds since the height of the epidemic in the mid-1980s. Further, CDC estimates of annual HIV infections in the United States show hopeful signs of progress in recent years.

Although people who identify as Black and/or African American made up approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States in 2022, they accounted for 37 percent of the estimated new HIV infections — more than any other racial or ethnic group. 

Thornton says people also think care and maintenance if you get HIV is minimal, as is the need for testing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I’m no longer on 31 pills a day,” she says. “My specific HIV regimen is eight pills, but I’ll never be able to do the one pill a day because I’ve been infected for a very long time, and I’ve developed a resistance to some of the meds because that was all we had. And compliance is incredibly important.” 

Caring for her mental health

And it’s not just the physical concerns that she deals with. 

“I experience a couple days a week with some level of fatigue, which shouldn’t happen theoretically if your viral load is undetectable. But sometimes, it’s just hard to get through the day. Depression is also common with HIV,” Thornton says.

“So I take my antidepressants and see my therapist regularly. People say to me, well, you’re happy. Yes, I’m happy because I’m doing what I need to care for my mental health as well as the physical.”

She says she’s probably happier than she’s been in a very long time because she’s at peace.

A private diagnosis made public

Thornton initially kept her HIV diagnosis to herself. But in 1994, she made the transition to AIDS. 

The first person she told was Rev. Jesse Jackson — then head of Rainbow/ PUSH. Thornton worked as the national youth director for Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1984 and 1988. She also told his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, who had taken Thornton under her wing as her special charge. 

“They immediately prayed for me and even suggested I move back into their household, because a diagnosis back then was nothing less than a death sentence and they didn’t want me to die alone,” she says.

A mission to educate others

That same year, she became an AIDS educator, speaking at public schools across Chicagoland. She soon took her message of hope wherever she was called to go. In December of 1994, her activism landed her on the cover of Essence. The headline read: “I’m young, I’m educated, I’m drug-free, and I’m dying of AIDS.”

Two years later, “in 1996, I did a series with CBS ‘Living with AIDS’ that I won an Emmy award for,” she says.

Those same two pastors from her childhood churches found out about her status after they saw the program on their local Chicago CBS affiliate.  

“The one pastor who always called me Rae Rae, called the television station. When I answered, he asked, ‘Is that my Rae Rae?’ As he had done since I was a child.”

She was likewise supported by her Chicago pastor, Rev. Clay Evans, an internationally known gospel singer, and pastor of Fellowship Chicago Church of God. 

“He was loving and tender and also found out by seeing me on television. He called me to the front of the church during the service, and I was terrified because this was something he was known to do, and who knew what would come next? He asked if that had been me he had seen on television. When I said yes, he just said, we’ll have to have you talk to our young people. And that was that.”

As she wrote in her memoir “Unprotected,” published in 2022:  

“I was a full member of the Christian family. I now belong to a family that wanted me. I cried tears of happiness… I was too young to fully understand what it meant to become a Christian… but if I had not found the church when I did, I don’t know how I would have made it… what I know for sure today is that God heard my cry literally and created a path for me that the light to help me maneuver through the darkness in my life.”

Her faith family has been an unexpected — but so necessary — gift to Thornton’s survival. Despite the headline of the Essence cover story, Thornton’s still alive and aging with HIV. She continues to advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, proper testing, and comprehensive care, and she’ll never stop giving thanks to God.

“You’re going to need a God, whoever your God is,” Thornton says. “It’s imperative. You’re going to need God every step of the way.”

This article was originally published on WordInBlack.com.

The post Rae Lewis-Thornton’s faith-filled fight against AIDS appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

One of the most exciting pieces of news from the 2024 Hampton Ministers Conference is the launch of Hampton University’s School of Religion, which offers the usual degrees in religion and theology, and is now the first HBCU to offer a doctorate. 

“It’s more than a dream come true. It’s much needed at this time in the life of the Black church and the Black community. Churches need as much support and assistance as we can give them,” says the Rev. Dr. Debra L. Haggins, founding dean of the School of Religion, executive director and treasurer of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, and Hampton’s first woman chaplain.

“Theological education is changing. It’s a post-COVID education. People are going to church differently with different expectations,” Haggins says.

She says COVID brought to the forefront a culture of consumerism in the church, and people are making choices unlike those previously made.

“Not only have we survived COVID, but the paradigm has literally shifted. We now rely on the creative side of worship; technology to broadcast, social media platforms like Meta live. Technology came together to keep the church alive, and we rely heavily on it now,” Haggins says. 

Not only is the school already in full operation, but its first partnership has been formed with the Church of God in Christ Second Jurisdiction of Virginia.

“We are thrilled to announce that the Church of God in Christ is our very first partner with the School of Religion,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams in a statement. “Together, we are shaping the future of religious education and leadership, stepping forward to support our mission of preparing inspired and effective leaders for the 21st century.”

The Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world. Founded in 1907, C.O.G.I.C. is known for its commitment to spiritual growth, community service and social justice.

“The collaboration between C.O.G.I.C. and Hampton University’s School of Religion is a remarkable opportunity to enhance spiritual education and leadership,” said Bishop Michael B. Golden Jr., one of the youngest bishops of C.O.G.I.C. “We are honored to be the inaugural partner in this endeavor, and we look forward to the positive impact this will have on our communities and beyond.”

“The School of Religion is a dream realized for Hampton University and the faith community,” said Haggins in a statement. “This institution will provide a comprehensive and inclusive platform for theological education, research, and spiritual development. We are excited about our partnership with C.O.G.I.C. and we’re committed to fostering a new generation of leaders who are well-equipped to address the challenges of our time.”

The School of Religion offers a diverse range of programs and initiatives, including:

• Degree Programs: Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in theology, religious studies, and ministry.
• Continuing Education: Workshops, seminars, and certificate programs for clergy and lay leaders.
• Research and Publications: A robust agenda of research projects and publications aimed at advancing religious scholarship and practice.

“Our online classes are cutting edge technology, custom built and contextually appropriate,” Haggins says, adding that applications are being accepted for the doctoral level through July 15 and all other levels through July 30.

The new school is also bringing 32 new professors to Hampton, and they’ve already experienced extensive training and two faculty retreats. 

One of those new professors is the Rev. Drew Kyndall Ross, senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, who says his passion for teaching at a seminary level started while studying for his master of divinity in 2011. 

“It was then that I began having a desire to teach preaching,” Ross says. “Last year, I started a Ph.D. program to eventually teach preaching. When I saw that Hampton University’s new School of Religion was accepting new professors, I quickly applied.

“The opportunity at Hampton has been a dream come true. It gives me a chance to teach in a field of study that I love. It also allows me to make an impact on preachers who are seeking to sharpen their skills. I am looking forward to this new journey as an extension of my preaching and pastoral ministry.”

This story was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

The post Hampton University announces new school of religion appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

While some question the reality of what we’ll refer to as “church hurt,” others, especially those who’ve had the experience, have no doubt. They might be unable to explain it, but when you know, you know.

“I define church hurt as the emotional, psychological and religious harm done to parishioners either intentionally or unintentionally due to religious dogma and unhealthy leadership practices,” says Atlanta-based therapist Dr. Jesaira Glover-Dulin. 

“About 75 percent  of my clients seek out services to resolve and make sense of the church hurt they’ve experienced down through the years.”

What Church Hurt Looks Like

There are as many types of church hurt as there are people trying to heal from the painful experiences. Sometimes, it happens when the family unit has experienced a trauma, a death, or a divorce — something that changes the way one can relate to the church family.

“Much of the hurt comes from parishioners feeling coerced and manipulated into lifestyles that don’t align with who they really are. Oftentimes, this is sexism for the women, and they feel forced into roles that are not truly who they are,” Glover-Dulin says. 

“Maybe the pastor had an affair or the congregation fought over money or the leaders were disguising gossip as ‘prayer,’” author and former pastor Stephen Mansfield wrote in his book, “Healing Your Church Hurt.” 

And then there’s outright discrimination. In his book, Mansfield, who is White, detailed “how a predominantly white, affluent congregation treated my Hispanic daughters. All of my daughters are adopted, and two of them are from a Latin American country. While my wife and I were welcomed with open arms by the congregation, the distasteful treatment accorded to our little girls in their Sunday school classes — by teachers and students alike — made it impossible for us to stay put. Once again, the gap between what was preached and what was practiced made it unbearable for us to remain in our church home.” 

Glover-Dulin says hurt can also evolve “from unmet and unrealistic expectations from the church and its leadership.”

This happens because some people see their spiritual leader as someone they are willing to take advice from, someone whose voice they respect to guide them. We often mistakenly place these leaders on a pedestal and are crushed when disappointed. 

New Jersey-based therapist Siomara Wedderburn offers yet another type of church hurt.

“One type of hurt is the instance of a professional person feeling their gift should make room for them within their church, but getting no encouragement and sometimes are discouraged by the leaders they respect,” she says.

“When there is a prescribed path toward leadership, but then favoritism or power dynamics come into play — where certain families or individuals are obviously preferred over others. This can be earth-shattering to a new Christian who just wants to fit into the church,” Wedderburn says.

Church hurt “also shows up as bullying, emotional abuse, verbal abuse from the pulpit. These women are also overworked in church ministry and lack self-care and healthy boundaries,” Glover-Dulin says.

The result is that many, if not most, leave the church — and may not return to the church where the abuse occurred.

Deciding to Leave Your Church

We sometimes talk about church as if it’s nothing, but most people have invested a lot of time and energy into their church of choice. It is often the church their family has attended for generations, and leaving cannot be an easy option.

Christian research agency Barna Group says a significant number of people who leave their churches cite negative experiences as a key reason. Their studies have found that nearly 40 percent of people who’ve stopped attending church regularly point to “personal hurt” as a primary reason. LifeWay Research, another organization that focuses on church trends, found that 66 percent of churchgoers who stopped attending church regularly reported they left because of personal conflict or painful church experiences.

Glover-Dulin says most of the women she’s worked with who experienced abuse at church didn’t return to their congregation.

“While there tends to be a love of God, there’s a strong disdain for the institution called church. They don’t feel heard, seen, or validated,” Glover-Dulin says. 

“People do often leave because of the turmoil over even the fact that the relationship has been severed. And it’s so painful,” Wedderburn says. “But it’s not a decision that’s been made lightly, and it is connected to your relationship with Christ. And especially for people who thrive on fellowship and being in a body has become part of your spiritual practice and discipline, leaving that has some big implications.”

How to Heal From Church Hurt

To help her clients heal from church hurt, Glover-Dulin says she helps them identify their core values and work towards value-based alignment and living. 

“I also teach them the importance of establishing a consistent self-care regimen and clear boundaries,” she says. She adds that her clients are subconsciously living according to religious roles and outdated archetypes not reflective of their values.

“It is important for these individuals to redefine and clarify their identity beyond the religious circle, which will assist with managing expectations while fostering a healthy, balanced self-concept.”

Wedderburn helps her clients examine their situation. 

“Are you connecting? How are you connected? How are you reaching out to become a part of and understand the unique rules of engagement of that particular congregation?” she says. 

She also suggests joining a smaller group to learn the dynamic before attempting full church leadership.

“Go only if and when the Lord says so” is the advice Jenni Lien, founder of the online ministry the Yay Project, offers on her website and in her podcast. She readily shares her experience and understands that church hurt is a difficult pain to overcome.

Lien’s number one tip is to cry out to Jesus. 

“No matter what others might say, we can have 100 percent confidence that God cares about our hearts. He’ll definitely lead us to his truths and help us act in his ways,” Lien said. “We are his daughters and can speak with him honestly.” 

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

The post The hidden pain of church hurt appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

On June 2, when thousands of ministers representing all ages, genders, and cultures descend upon Hampton University’s campus in Hampton, Virginia, the convergence will be unlike any other in the world.

For the 110th time, ministers, chaplains, pastors, choir members, organists, musicians and directors will gather with great anticipation of yet another time of worship, learning, and fellowship, to attend the school’s annual Ministers Conference and the 90th Choir Directors and Organists Guild Workshop.

Attendance at last year’s conference had not yet returned to pre-COVID numbers. But this year’s registration numbers seem to indicate that people are ready to come back — and that doesn’t include those who register on-site, as many do.

“I’m excited because of the number of women participating,” says the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, founding and senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, and current president of the conference. “My goal was to increase the numbers of women in ministry as well as the young ministers and pastors of all cultures.” 

Dr. Hale says there had been wisps of dissension because of the ongoing changes, but she knows her assignment. “Finally, I’m at a place where I can do what God has called me to do, and that is to position ministers so they can grow and excel.”

The theme for this year is “Tools for Transforming the Life of the Leader,” and the highly anticipated presenters for this year are:

• Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, mid-day preacher, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia.
• Rev. Marissa R. Farrow, morning preacher, associate at Allen AME, Jamaica, New York
• Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, lecturer, senior pastor
• Rev. Dr. Shareka Newton, women in ministry hour
• Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, conference preacher
• Rev. Dr. Cynthia James, senior stateswoman
• Rev. Dr. Raquel Lettsome, lecturer

The Ministers’ Conference got its start in 1914, born from the collaboration of the Negro Organizational Society, the Conference for Education in the South, the Southern Education Board, and the Cooperative Education Board. These groups, confronting the urgent issues facing African-American churches and their communities, found a powerful ally in Hampton Institute. This institution, with its strong community ties, became the birthplace of the original Ministers’ Conference, then known as The Conference of Negro Ministers.

Its first home was in the campus chapel, Memorial Church, with only 40 ministers from four denominations. By its 14th anniversary, attendance had grown to 800 ministers representing 19 different denominations. And in 1934, the conference grew by the addition of the Choir Directors’ and Organists’ Guild.

More than a century later, “We are pleased to present a stellar program of powerful prolific preachers and proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus Christ from across the nation,” Dr. Debra L. Haggins, executive director and treasurer of the Conference, said in a welcome statement online. 

Hale is especially excited about the young preachers and how they worship after all the other planned activities for the day are over.

“They have their own preaching series, and it is absolutely incredible. They’re in all stages of their journeys, some in seminary, some pastoring, others preaching. They have praise and worship, but then this ring, I call it a boxing ring, in the middle of the floor in the Student Life Center; and the preacher goes up there, and they literally just circle the preacher,” she said. “There is wonderful affirmation and excitement.”

There is also much opportunity for learning during the week. Participants can attend two sessions of workshops. 

“They are relevant, they are practical, and speak to their needs right where they are,” Dr. Hale says.

This article was originally published by WordinBlack.com.

The post Hampton Ministers Conference fosters learning and fellowship appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

Given its rich history, it’s safe to say that New Psalmist Baptist Church is as much a part of  Baltimore as crab cakes, Orioles baseball games and “The Wire.” 

Founded in the basement of a house just a few decades after the CIvil War, the church grew from a few dozen souls in the late 1800s to a congregation that at one point reached 7,000 active members. Revs. Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson have visited; so has Pastor T.D. Jakes, former President Bill Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama. It ministers to the poor, the deaf, the homeless and the formerly incarcerated, among others.  

Yet in 125 years of existence, through growth and change, New Psalmist has had just three pastors shepherding its congregation: its founder, Rev. Junius Gray; his successor, Frederick C. Atkins; and its current leader, The Right Rev. Walter Scott Thomas Sr. 

Passing the torch

Recently, however, the church received its fourth leader. After 49 years at the helm, Bishop Thomas stepped down as the church’s pastor to make way for New Psalmist’s next leader: his son,  Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr. 

“I’m excited to see him run against the wind and to accomplish the sight you see when you make that last turn and start heading down the straightway,” he says. 

As one of the nation’s most influential Black churches — and Thomas’ profile as Bishop and Presiding Prelate of The Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors — the installation ceremony received national attention. 

But Bishop Thomas also knows it’s time to pass the torch. 

“The last thing I wanted for New Psalmist was for them to be left with a vision of me dying in the pulpit,” he joked, acknowledging it’s not an unusual occurrence. “We often see a church in transition because someone has died or even left the church, and there’s no time for the new leader to glean from the previous leader.”

A lifetime of preparation

Fortunately for him, Dr. Thomas has had a lifetime of preparation to fill his father’s enormous shoes, even though he found the idea daunting in the beginning. 

“First, just the thought that my pastor was retiring — that was a big thing to take in,” he says. Then came the decision whether to leave First Baptist Church of Steelton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he’d been senior pastor since 2014, and move his wife and young children to Baltimore. 

But the young minister said he and Jarrette, his wife of 15 years, prayed continually until they were content with their decision. 

Dr. Thomas grew up in New Psalmist and will now pastor people who have known him his entire life. As with most preacher’s kids, his experience included doing maintenance, cleaning up trash, working with the catering ministry, serving food and cleaning the bathroom. But his call to ministry seemed almost preordained. 

After hearing the call to ministry in 2001, the preacher’s son graduated Cum Laude from Morehouse College, majoring in religious studies with a minor in psychology. He then went on to obtain his master’s of divinity from Howard University and his doctorate from United Theological Seminary.  All the while, his ties with New Psalmist deepened. 

The succession process

Dr. Thomas says him being his father’s successor wasn’t guaranteed. 

“The church had to vote and they could have said yes or no,” he says. “I’m grateful that the process was one where the vote happened while my predecessor, my pastor, is still in position, so we can walk this journey together.” 

As for the ceremony itself, it was filled with “praise and worship, great preaching by the Bishop, as well as much of the traditional pomp and ceremony,” Dr. Thomas says. “We were trying to streamline the service, but we agreed this was a time to do what was needed and desired, and not worry about the time.”

He hopes other churches will follow the succession model they’re putting into practice, leaning into what a blessing the senior pastor can be to the incoming pastor.

For Bishop Thomas, it was an emotional moment watching his son take the church into the future. But he plans to share the space with Dr. Thomas as the handoff takes place. After that, “I’ll serve with him through the year and then he will be running that race — and I’m excited to see what that leg will look like.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black. 

The post Nationally influential Black church gets new leader appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

While violence in houses of worship isn’t new, attacks have more than doubled since 2022 — including an attempted shooting near Pittsburgh last weekend.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black

The Rev. Glenn Germany, pastor of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in Pittsburgh, was halfway through his sermon last Sunday when a young man in jeans and a black T-shirt got up from one of the pews and walked to the altar. 

Holding a silver handgun, he aimed at the preacher and pulled the trigger. Germany dove behind a wooden lectern, the only cover he could find. 

That’s when the gun jammed. As a parishioner tackled the gunman, Germany ran over and wrestled the gun out of his grip and helped hold him until police arrived. 

Unfolding on the church’s live webcast, the incident was shocking, but not uncommon. This year alone, armed intruders have opened fire inside several houses of worship, including the Texas megachurch of celebrity pastor Joel Osteen. There, security officers shot and killed a woman who shot and wounded several people, including an 11-year-old boy. 

Studies show the number of shootings in houses of worship — fueled by political dissent, personal conflicts, non-specific mental health outbursts and even the overflow of domestic disputes — have more than doubled from 2022 to 2023. And  threats against both Jewish and Muslim worship communities have spiked since the  Israel-Hamas war began. 

The worrisome trend has prompted the federal government to set aside more than $400 million to help 

churches protect themselves with extra security equipment, with an application deadline of May 21. But there has also been an emergence of private companies that are specializing in providing security to churches. 

Donell Trusty, owner of Trusty Training Solutions, has provided security to churches since launching his company  in 2021. He says he trains his agents to assess the situation, then handle it swiftly and calmly. 

“We have encountered individuals with mental issues who have come into the place of worship and caused disturbances,” Trusty says. “In these instances we have to understand the condition of the person and be able to navigate in a manner that will not disrupt the service or drive people away from future worship opportunities.”

Violence against communities of faith in houses of worship is not new.

The Sept. 15, 1963 bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama — an attack that killed four little girls — is etched in civil rights history. In June 2015, a gunman hoping to stoke a race war killed nine worshippers attending Bible study in Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Three years later, an assailant gunned down 11 people at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in U.S. history.

Still, the violence has become more common in the era of mass shootings and widely available handguns. Some 430 incidents occurred in 2023, more than double those in 2022 and eight times those of 2018, according to a Family Research Council Report.

Trusty, the security company owner, says providing security for a house of worship typically calls for discretion, among the key traits he looks for in prospective employees.  

“We always screen individuals to ensure they understand the sensitivity of the assignment. We don’t just find a random security office and send them,” Trusty says. “We want to ensure that they are sensitive to the needs of the house.”

Besides providing security, Trusty says he also provides training to help churches enhance their own security. 

“We have encountered individuals who have had life-threatening situations occur to them” who have come for training “to help deal with the trauma,” he says. “But they were able to overcome their issues. So while we do provide training for people to get certified for firearms, tasers, etc., our training also can serve as a form of therapy.”

Janice Lee, owner of Afterhourz Security Consulting and Protection Services, counts churches among her government and business clients. She even attends services herself.

When her agency was smaller she had to personally guard the pastor. But it’s grown large enough that she can enjoy worship, knowing her agents are in place. Most churches need someone to guard the offering time and space and someone for the pastor, “unless there’s a particular threat,” Lee says.

This article was reprinted with permission from WordinBlack.com.

The post Church shootings force reckoning between faith and security appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware,
Word in Black

Imagine working 64 hours a week and being unable to cover basic needs like food, shelter and utilities. Imagine working that many hours at more than one job and still not having adequate health coverage for yourself or your family.

Millions of people in the United States live like this. In 2022, 17.1 percent of Black folks lived in poverty, twice the rate of White people, according to U.S. Census Bureau data — and elected officials often ignore their voices. But the Poor People’s Campaign has a master plan — a 40-week blitz to mobilize the political might of 15 million low-income voters in 30 states in time for the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“For far too long, extremists have blamed poor people and low-wage people for their plight, while moderates too often have ignored poor people, appealing instead to the so-called ‘middle class,’” said campaign co-founder, activist and pastor Bishop William Barber II, while announcing the effort on Feb. 4 at the Press Club in Washington, D.C. 

“Meanwhile, poor and low-income, low-wage people have become nearly half of this country. And we are here today to make one thing clear: Poor and low-wage brothers and sisters have the power to determine and decide the 2024 elections and elections beyond,” he said.

Barber made the announcement with his fellow campaign leaders and several folks who will be putting boots on the ground — self-characterized poor people.

Together, they’re kicking off the campaign with a bold statement on March 2, orchestrating major actions at 30 statehouses across the United States. And they’re inviting hundreds of thousands of “poor” people, people of faith and activists to show up at their respective statehouses to raise hell and demand to be seen.  

And they’re not stopping there. On June 15, these same people– and probably many more– plan to show up at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to sound the same alarm at Congress’s door. The message? Working folks in the United States shouldn’t be living worse than folks in countries we call “underdeveloped.”

And they have the goods: votes. This campaign could deliver millions of votes from poor people and low-wage workers who haven’t previously voted, although they’re eligible to do so. 

According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2020 election, about 158.4 million people headed to the polls, but that was only 62.8 percent  of people of voting age. Get those 87 million eligible voters to cast a ballot, and that’s an election game changer.

“It is time for a resurrection and not an insurrection,” Barber said.

During the event, Shailly Gupta Brown, national policy director for the campaign, said there are 39,000 eligible non-voters in Georgia alone, nearly four times greater than the 10,000-vote margin of victory in the last election.

This is another move in what Barber has coined the “Third Reconstruction: Fully Addressing Poverty and Low Wages From the Bottom Up.” 

“Poverty is claiming 800 lives a day in this country. It’s time to build a 3rd Reconstruction and abolish poverty as the 4th leading cause of death,” according to the Poor People’s Campaign website. 

Barber and his team met with Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) and Barbara Lee (D-Cali.) to secure a resolution of the same name and intention: to ensure a livable wage, expanded Medicaid, fully funded public education, and an expanded childcare tax.

Indeed, the campaign’s website details that they’re seeking “a revival of our constitutional commitment to establish justice, provide for the general welfare, end decades of austerity, and recognize that policies that center the 140 million poor and low-income people in the country are also good economic policies that can heal and transform the nation.”

Barber’s faith team, determined to restore that hope, includes leaders of all faiths, ordained and lay leaders committed to organizing and mobilizing.

It also includes workers with stories of homelessness, sickness, trying, and rarely succeeding because the system works against them. Beth Shafer said, “I’m exhausted,” and she should be– working 64 hours every week.

Liz Theoharis, director of the campaign partner, the Kairos Center — a national anti-poverty organization housed at Union Theological Seminary — spoke against a political system that could end poverty tomorrow if it chose to. Instead, decisions to end pandemic relief policies will ensure 700,000 people will have lost Medicaid by March. 

“But we’re mobilizing, organizing, educating and motivating. More than a thousand voter suppression bills have been passed since the last election, and poverty is on the rise since the pandemic policies have lifted,” Theoharis said.

Poverty is the fourth leading cause of death in this country, according to Rev. A. Kazimir Brown, executive director of Repairers of the Breach, who added the fact that “46 million people still don’t have safe drinking water.”

Barber said, “We won’t be silent anymore. If we have to make Election Day a labor strike day, we will.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

The post Rev. Barber’s bold vision: A revolutionary election year, powered by low-income voters appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware,
AFRO Managing Editor,
dboulware@afro.com

“Dorothy Scott. He said your name before I could ask.” 

Why would anyone get so excited at the sound of their name? I’ve been Dorothy Scott for more than 72 years, even though I’ve been Boulware for 54 of those years.

“Dorothy Scott” was the response to a question. 

“Do you know of siblings outside your regular family?” Without hesitation, my newly found little brother had responded to my colleague with one moniker: “Dorothy Scott.”

Most exquisite was the fact that there had been no prior discussion between them, though quite a lot between my friend and I. 

The response answered not only that first question, but all those that had ever been asked before that peculiar evening under a sky covering conference goers, totally unaware of the history made in their very presence.

Most poignant to me also was the fact that my father– a person I disdained only to match the disdain he’d shown me– had spent a bit of time writing my name in his journals. 

I don’t know what that meant to him, having only seen my biological father a total of 10 times in a lifetime. To me it meant I was more than a notch in his proverbial belt; more than a boast in bad times and a brag in the best of times. 

I was a sentence in a journal– actually sentences in more than one journal. 

To me, it meant the missed meetings might have had some reason…or not. To me, it meant I was important enough to speak my existence for the heirs who would have their hands on the journals in the future.

Actually we’ll never know.

But my colleague found me a brother. And my brother introduced me to our nephew.

And last night my niece introduced herself to me and called me “Auntie.” 

Not bad for a family-fostered child who belonged to everyone in the family and no one, all at the same time.

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

The post Ties that bind: AFRO Managing Editor Dorothy S. Boulware connects with sibling appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware, Special to the AFRO

No one would deny Baltimore is a city with its own unique challenges, but it is so much more than tally-marks in negative columns. Ask any Baltimorean, native or transplant. Baltimore rises above continually and it’s because of the people, the neighborhoods, the indomitable spirit of the collective…it’s because Baltimore is destined to soar, to compound the victory of its beginnings with ingenuity, technology, faith and sheer human determination.

Because of that, it’s always a good time to celebrate our city and that’s exactly what the AFRO is doing with its upcoming publication, “The Thing I Love About Baltimore.” It’s a book compiled of chapters by local – teachers, students, preachers, leaders, young people, not-as-young people, singles and couples. It’s a declaration that there’s so much to love about Baltimore as each writer, people you know well, highlights different aspects, different places, different concepts that all spell out the beauty of Baltimore.

What do you love about Baltimore?

In the coming weeks, we will print your Baltimore “loves” in the paper, and select the most interesting of them to include on a page in the book. I love the Inner Harbor. I love City Hall Plaza. I love the Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the people who created it. I love the squeegee guys. I love the folks who defend the squeegee guys. I love the people who weep when the “running man” is assaulted. I love the folks who show up at City Hall when things aren’t going well. I also love the ones who show up to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. I love the debaters. The policy makers. The scout leaders. The marching bands. I could go on and on.

What do you love about Baltimore? Send your responses, 100 words or less, to afrolovebaltimore@gmail.com as soon as possible so they can be published. Look for them in the paper and online at Afro.com. And maybe even on the locals’ page of “The Thing I Love About Baltimore.”

“The Thing I Love About Baltimore” can be preordered by calling the AFRO front desk at 410-554-8200 or at webmistress@afro.com.

The post What do you love about Baltimore? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware, Special to the AFRO

When family and friends gather July 17 to celebrate the life that blessed them so much, they’ll remember in concert Deacon Filmore W. Hart, the man with a heart that just couldn’t stop loving.

“He had a great love for life and an overwhelming zeal to live it to its fullness,” said his daughter, the Rev. Jocelyn Hart Lovelace, presiding elder of the Boston Hartford District of the AME Church. “He loved to laugh. He was a great jokester and was quite competitive. People just loved being around him.”

Deacon Filmore W. Hart retired from his work at Social Security Administration but never missed a step in his church and community. (Courtesy Photo)

Church leader, gifted administrator, great friend and amazing father, he died July 5 at 90 years old after a short illness that ended in peaceful transition with his children around him.

Deacon Hart, spiritual leader, community leader, convention instructor, family leader, faithful servant and friend to all,” said his pastor for many years, now pastor emeritus of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, the Rev. Dr. Charles Coger. “Each of these represents his 64 years at Mt. Ararat.

With a great amen from his successor, the Rev. Myeskia Watson said, “Deacon Hart was a great man of godly character who served faithfully and fruitfully modeling how to enjoy life standing on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ.” And she echoed the sentiment of many, “He will be missed because his seat will be empty.”

Rev. Lovelace hardly knew where to start in talking about her father. Reflecting on the earlier days, she said, “I remember running out the front door to greet him when he came home from work.” And even more day to day memories.

“Every day greeting him, every day seeing him kneel at his bedside in prayer, every day knowing he’d be there for us, when we were kids and even as adults,” she said, adding, “There for us, his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren. He wanted to know everything that was going on with us and them.”

She remembered how he safeguarded them when he was involved with his community work.

“He would take us to the Boy Scout Jamboree and place us so we were never out of his sight, and dare us to move. And every moment he made sure we were safe,” Rev. Lovelace said.

Her sister, Sandra Hart Harris, said their father was all about family.

“We were raised in the traditional way. Our time was spent between church, school and family. We were either visiting with his mother in D.C. or our mother’s side of the family in Ohio and Atlanta.”

They remembered Saturdays when their mother, Marion, was working on her masters and Dad was in charge, feeding them things she’d never have allowed.

“On those days we had salami sandwiches we couldn’t ordinarily eat because of nitrites or anything with garlic.”

And many road trips because he loved to drive and would drive almost anywhere.

So many people have shared their memories of Deacon Hart with the family.

“You think you know your parents, but you don’t know it all,” Rev. Lovelace said she discovered when she recently heard a young man acknowledge her father as one of three men who’d had the most impact on his life.

Always there for his family and community. And always there for his church, Mt. Ararat Baptist, where he has served for many years as chair of the deacon board. And where he was reacquainted with Elaine Harris who had previously been a member and returned after a 30 year absence. There they began a courtship and sealed it in marriage when he was a young 87. Together they’ve enjoyed their blended family of seven children, 17 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Services for Deacon Hart begin with viewing, 4-8 p.m., July 16 at Joseph Brown Funeral Home, 2140 N. Fulton Avenue. Viewing will also be available 9 a.m., July 17, with services following at 10 a.m. at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, 3008 Gwynns Falls Parkway, where the Rev. Myeskia Watson is pastor. Rev. Jocelyn Hart Lovelace will be the eulogist.

The post Celebrating a ‘Hart’ Filled with Life and Love appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Trouble is a phenomenon that finds everyone, but it has a beginning and an ending. That’s the message the Rev. Dr. Dana Neal posits in her new book, “Released in the Spirit,” hot off the presses for those who are pressed.

“I just want people to know that there is deliverance, deliverance from pain, deliverance from bondage,” Neal said. “Hurting people need to know there’s an end to their pain.”

Her message is neatly packaged in seven chapters that represent a journey of recovery, beginning with “It’s Me O Lord,” which deals with the depths of despair, to “Free at Last,” which is self explanatory. The easy read lends itself to a similar experience on the way to healing.

“I’m trying to go to sleep, but the book is so good,” was the message Neal received from Keisha on Facebook.

Sandra Wilkins, principal of Hebbville Elementary School said, “Wow, I messed around and got blessed.”

Neal invested herself in the writing, but also her story in the book, which garnered appreciation from Valerie Johnson of Miracle Worship Center.

“Thank you for your transparency and for being real,” Johnson said. “So many of us can connect with your story. Truth be told, it’s our story also.”

The structure for the book began in 1999, and with divine inspiration, Neal was able to write it in two weeks.

“Well God created an entire universe in six days, so surely He could get a book written in two weeks,” was her response to the writer’s surprise.

But the final edition, released in October, was revised and updated and developed to include intricate parts of the ensuing journey.

In it, the reader is introduced to the Rev. Pam who’ll “fly with one wing,” rather than wait for wholeness to offer up her worship. Ultimately, the reader is invited to share the rocky path of the author, who has no qualms about telling the truth.

“And it was my son, Wendell and my daughter, Danisha, who inspired me to complete it, who offered their assistance and who give their support while I’m introducing the book,” Neal said.

The promotion of the book, conducting workshops and conferences and monthly healing and deliverance crusades are all part of Dayspring Ministries, which has been in operation for 15 years. Dr. Neal is a Baltimore native who graduated from Polytechnic Institute and pastored Dayspring Worship Center for 11 years.

For seven years she’s been married to Elder Charles Neal, with whom she likes to watch movies and spend free time along with her extended family.

For more information on the book, or to engagement ministry services contact Rev. Neal at 443-469-7577 or e-mail releasedinthespirit@gmail.com. Healing and deliverance crusades are held at 7 p.m. every third Thursday at Miracle Worship Center, 4105 Sunnyside Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 21215.

The post Baltimore Preacher Writes Path to Healing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

We hadn’t been sure how long Gainor Hackney worked for the AFRO; for most of us she came with the brick and mortar and was part of the framework that continues to support the 120-year-old, family owned and operated newspaper, probably the oldest of its kind in the country.

Executive assistant to every editor in the Baltimore office beginning in 1952 until she retired in 2008, she holds a unique history of the ins and outs, ups and downs, victories and challenges along the way, and early in the morning of April 6, she took that history with her in death.

No one who’s worked here in recent years could have avoided contact with Ms. Hackney. She knew everybody. She knew everything. And she was intricately involved in the daily operation. As for her newspaper signature, she compiled obituaries, pen pal letters, letters to the editor and composed church news, as needed. As for her claim to fame, she was also an assistant to the renowned sports writer and editor, Sam Lacy, who chronicled the sports world for the African-American community and had a pivotal role in the emergence of Jackie Robinson into major league baseball.

Her supervisors evaluated her as “keeping the office running smoothly,” and being “totally reliable.” One said she “handled work with dispatch.”

“Throughout her decades of exemplary and often challenging service in the editorial offices at the AFRO, Gainor Hackney was never shy about saying and showing that she was on the job to take care of business,” said Moses J. Newson, former AFRO executive editor.

“No one was more skilled on the telephone at tracking down newsmakers across the country. When she reached them, she’d just flash her success smile and say, ‘Pick up!’”

Newson said she was cited on many occasions for the “precise and timely manner in which she handled frequently changing assignments for the national news desk, where we worked as a team for one of her decades.”

Most importantly, Newson added, “on or off the job, Gainor was always ready to extend a cheerful and helpful hand to anyone she encountered.”

A young Gainor Rayford finished high school and college in her native West Virginia and then came to Baltimore. The AFRO was her only place of employment and quickly became her sphere of influence in many ways.

So much so that new employees thought her to be a member of the Murphy family that founded the AFRO. She knew every family member and the whole family tree. She knew every employee who came and went. And she loved the AFRO more than most anything else in her life.

“For many years, Mrs. Hackney established standards of commitment, efficiency, love and affection for the employees of the AFRO,” said Jake Oliver, publisher.

“She was everyone’s best friend and mother. For over 50 years she kept us all ‘in line.’”

Oliver said her many accomplishments rank her shoulder to shoulder with the many “AFRO giants who have contributed to the amazing heritage of this great newspaper.”

Retired production typesetter Elinor Washington said of Mrs. Hackney,”She was one of a kind.” Production Manager Denise Dorsey, jokingly added, “She could talk you to death,” but on a more serious note, “She was a loyal friend and dedicated worker.”

Diane Hocker, director of community and public relations, started at the AFRO in 1997.

“I immediately noticed a group of ‘older folks’ who gathered every Monday morning for coffee, donuts and especially bananas, not realizing then that I was witnessing history,” Hocker said.

“In that group was Gainor Hackney, Sam Lacy, Thomas Stockett and others. Wow, when I think back at the old days of these giants, my heart is filled with joy, just being honored to have worked with them.”

She was married for 45 years to Odis Hackney who preceded her in death. Her family members include her son, Darryl, and close friends like Marc Warren, former AFRO entertainment editor and William Hargrove, current custodian and driver.

Services begin with a wake at 10: 30 a.m., funeral following at 11, April 12, at Morton & Son’s Funeral Home, 1701 Lauren Street, Balto., Md. 21217. Interment will follow at Druid Ridge Cemetery on Reisterstown Road. 

The post AFRO Says Goodbye to Longtime Employee Gainor Hackney 1929-2013 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Circa 1959, while the grownups played on The Avenue, the teens made their way to New Albert Hall in the 1200 block. Clifton “Hines” Early was one of those teens. He was raised by his mother on Brewer Street, a side street near J.J. Brills market.

“We’d practice dance steps all week long getting ready for Friday night,” Hines said. “Fat Daddy was the DJ and everybody couldn’t wait to get there.”

But when they got grown enough, they put on the “glad rags” and hit the midnight show at the Royal Theater. Said Hines, “ the hottest spot in town. James Brown. Jackie Wilson. Ray Charles. Gene Chandler. Smoky Robinson…“and the list could have gone on and on.

“The place was always sold out. There were lines a block long waiting for the midnight show,” he said.

Hines always wore the latest styles, along with pointed toe shoes – some called them tiptoe blades – but was having none of the hottest hairdo – the Conk.

As for his date, Joan, now his wife of many years, “We’d put on our hoop skirts with crinolines to make them stand out, and the black and white saddle shoes with bobby socks.” Her favorites? “Jackie Wilson and Tommy Hunt.”

Hines said the girls screamed for Tommy Hunt like he was Frank Sinatra.

Block by block Hines remembered the landmarks – the churches, pool rooms, lunch rooms and restaurants. He didn’t remember Elder Ruffin’s restaurant with its giblet stew, but he did remember Covington’s, which hasn’t been closed that long.

“Mom’s Lunch Room – the best egg sandwiches in the world. Max’s Pool Room. The Casino Club. The Bamboo Lounge. The White Rice Inn. Northwest Police Station,” Hines added to his list of memories.

During the early years he might have encountered Rosa “Rambling Rose” Pryor-Trusty when young people met at the New Albert. “I was a dancer and I won lots of trophies jitterbug dancing,” she said. “Twirling on someone’s shoulders and being thrown between their legs.”

The same friends she had at church – Wayland Baptist – she had on The Avenue. “We met at the church to go to the Royal Theater.”

Although she went with the group, once inside, her concentration went to the stage.

“I watched every move,” said Rambling Rose, author, manager and writer of an AFRO column bearing her moniker. “From the time I hit the door, that’s all I was interested in. I liked to listen to the singers.”

She began to rattle off her own list, beginning with Tommy Hunt, with whom she still converses. “I just talked to him last week. ‘Lord, why did you make me human?’ That’s the song he’s most known for.”

The Shirelles, Chantelles, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, were others she named.

Pennsylvania Avenue was such a renowned venue that, for some time, the AFRO presented an entire column of that name penned by E.B. Rea. The column was a collection of news bits – the need for a trackless trolley, a new bartender on the street, a restaurant manager on vacation, church news and what was previewing at the Regent Theater.

Businesses thrived on The Avenue – The London Shop, Herbert’s and notably, Northwestern Pawn Shop that still operates today.

And there was always something to be bought right on the street, according to Rambling Rose. “There were cart vendors and shoe shine guys. People were selling jewelry and second hand clothes,” she said. “Hustlers were always selling something out of the pocket, you know. A lot of the stores were still White-owned.”

Disparate perspectives of The Avenue range from tales of prostitutes, numbers runners and drunks to elegant ladies in hats and white gloves who graced the likes of the Metropolitan Theater; ladies and gents in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes attending Pennsylvania Avenue AMEZ Church, or going to the Carver Movie that was so classy that when it opened, they served tea.

Disagreements aside, none would want to miss an opportunity for celebration and reunion, which is what planners have in mind for Labor Day weekend with the first Pennsylvania Avenue Homecoming Festival. It’s a time to “celebrate, educate and participate” in “Our Heritage, Our Legacy.”

For vendor and participation information, visit www.royaltchc.com.

The post ‘The Avenue’ To Be Revisited appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

On Sept. 30, Perryville in Cecil County will launch with 1,500 machines in a new facility, according to Donald Fry, chair of the Video Lottery Facilities Location Commission that has responsibility for determining the location and operator of “slots” facilities in Maryland.

Following Perryville, Ocean Downs will open in December with 800 machines.

The release of a new request for proposals was recently approved for Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County, according to Rachel Hise, staff to the Locations Commission. This will restart the search for a team to develop the 1,500-machine site.

The 4,500 machine site in Arundel Mills could open within 18 months, since the state’s highest court’s July 21 decision legitimizing the proposed November referendum.

As for the projected Baltimore City site, the Baltimore City Entertainment Group proposal was rejected due to missed deadlines for plan updates and fees, according to Fry. Maryland law requires a $3 million licensing fee and $25 million in construction costs for every 500 machines be paid up front at the time of a bid.?
In the meantime, in an attempt to get the ball rolling again, and to be able to consider other slots bidders, the city asked the court to uphold its right to cancel the land deal with BCEG, according to the Mayor’s spokesman, Ryan O’Doherty. “We are not aware of any specific potential bidders, but we believe that the economic environment has improved and that there is more interest,” O’Doherty said.

Fry did say a request for proposal would be submitted following the impending Board of Contract Appeals decision.

Once the remaining legal issues are satisfied, the work can begin, according to Mike Cryor, Baltimore businessman and community activist. “Taking into consideration the time it takes to respond to the request for proposals, the granting of the license and building of the building, Baltimore will have slots in the not too distant future,” said Cryor, also former chairman of the state Democratic Party.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when,” he said, adding that slots is an instrument the city and state need.

But time is not the only concern in the African-American community.

“Legislation was passed to create the largest economic development enhancement in the history of the state, billions of dollars will be generated,” said Arnold Jolivet, managing director of the Maryland Minority Contractors Association. “And that legislation was intended to include Blacks as owners.”

He said he is incensed that in a majority Black jurisdiction like Baltimore, “where 70 percent of the patronage will be Black, how is it that there is no concerted effort to have Black ownership?”

Jolivet said it seems every time there’s a major infusion of money in the community, Blacks seem to be left out. “It seems planned that way. It couldn’t just happen like that all the time. It seems to be an organized, concerted and contrived conspiracy to exclude Black people from this lottery.”

Jolivet and others are preparing to do something about it. “If the Baltimore franchise is awarded to someone other than a minority, a Black minority, we have plans to file suit,” he said. “We’re prepared to fight it in court.”

Jolivet said he finds it curious that even Black legislators seem to misunderstand. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he said, “If we’re going to be free and equal, we‘re going to have to be a part of the economic structure.”

The post Slots Finally appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Marvin Cheatham, who Pinder Group CEO Sharon Pinder says has restored the NAACP brand, is stepping down as the 18th president and is pursuing election to the Democratic State Central Committee for the 44th Legislative District.

In his real-time work, Cheatham has served for more than 38 years as an election specialist for the National Labor Relations Board and found that the service he’s provided gratis to the NAACP, “that brought with it personal attacks and death threats, paid daily with God giving me the opportunity to help others.”

He accounts a significantly improved level of activism as the strength of his leadership. He says service is the true measure of success.

“Doc is a servant leader whose best leadership gift is his passion, vision and willingness to make the sacrifice,” Pinder said, adding that his tenure brought revitalization to the branch and “reminded us of its continued necessity.”

Among the branch’s most recent accomplishments are its challenge to Wells Fargo’s banking practices and obtaining a settlement on questionable police arrests. It also received the NAACP’s 2009 National Thalheimer Programmatic 1st Place 1-A branch award and the publication award of the same name.

His supporters agree, however, that the achievements are just too many to mention.
Bringing branch meetings back to the original meeting place, Union Baptist Church, tops the list for the Rev. Dr. Al Hathway Sr., Union’s pastor.

“He has re-established the branch as a viable and integral part of the community’s fabric,” Rev. Hathaway said. “He’s committed to addressing the issues that most affect people.”

Taking on uncomfortable criminal justice issues is what strikes Alfreda Robinson-Dawkins, executive director of the National Women’s Prison Project. “He unabashedly holds onto the mission of the NAACP and holds government officials accountable to people of color and speaks out for folks caught in the system, while also establishing help for their return to the community.”

A life member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Cheatham’s hope for the future of the branch is a stronger connection with the faith-based community to engender increased membership and involvement. For himself, he hopes that his longstanding record of walking the walk as a “freedom fighter” will speak for itself in his future endeavor.

The post ‘Doc’ Set for Next Level Leadership appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

On Jan. 28, Wright – a pastor, preacher, husband and father – died from complications of a melanoma at St. Agnes Hospital. He was 73.

The Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway called him an “authentic Christian.”

“Dr. Wright uniquely understood how to keep his eyes on God and his feet on the ground,” Rev. Hathaway said. “He understood that one’s worship of God was expressed in how one lived and served, as well as how one preached.”

Rev. Hathaway said Rev. Wright was “a tireless advocate for those without voice.”

Relentless is a word that comes to mind. His determination was to serve in as many ways as possible so he would not be limited by the confines of the church he so lovingly led for 22 years, First Baptist Church of Guilford, in Columbia.

He made his voice heard in the NAACP. He encouraged voter participation and clarified elections when necessary.

He could be found at local community gatherings as well as at the Oxford University Roundtable at St. Anne’s College in England with religious leaders from around the world.

Despite his international travels, Wright’s roots were firmly planted in Baltimore. The child of a homemaker and a Bethlehem Steel Corp. employee, Wright grew up on N. Calhoun Street and graduated from Carver Vocational-Technical High school before serving in the Army for two years.

After serving his country in Italy, Wright returned to Baltimore where he worked as a home improvement contractor until 1966, when he began work as a building operations mechanic at City Hall. Two years later, he began a 13-year tenure as maintenance supervisor at the Western District police station.

It was during this time that Wright, who served as a Bible studies teacher at New Union Baptist Church, met the woman who’d become his wife, the former Ida Mitchell.

A lover of learning, Wright’s education was ongoing throughout his marriage and various vocational endeavors. He received theological degrees from the National Theological Seminary and College, Eastern Theological Seminary and the Virginia Theological Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Va. He is also a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and completed Mini-Med School classes at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

He served as president of the Baptist Pastors Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity and most recently as president of the United Baptist Missionary Convention of Maryland.

A citizen of the world, Dr. Wright was named a chief in the village of Asiaskwa outside of Accra, Ghana, being crowned Chief Nanna Appiah Atu III. He has also been robed an African chief of the village, Bong County, Liberia, according to First Baptist’s website.

He shared his life and ministry with his wife, Ida Mitchell Wright and their daughter, Dr. Sheila Wright.

Services for the Rev. John L. Wright took place Feb. 4 at St. John Baptist Church in Columbia, Md.

The post Dr. John L. Wright appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.