Americans New McCarthyism
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campaign targeting black churches to oppose gay rights,” he
said.
A member of the National Association of Black Journalists and board
member of the National Black Justice Coalition, Jasmyne Cannick said it best in
her ProudParenting.com article “Purchased Pulpits and Spiritual Exploitation”
(February 24, 2005):
Recently, a group of Black pastors under the name of the Hi
Impact Coalition, held a press conference and summit in Los
Angeles to announce the kick off for their “Black Contract
with America on Moral Values.” Led by Bishop Harry
Jackson of Washington and white Christian evangelical
Reverend Lou Sheldon and his Traditional Values Coalition,
the press conference and summit gave new meaning to the
phrase “Sleeping with the enemy.”
According to the newly formed coalition, topping the list of
issues that Black Americans need to focus on is the protection
of marriage. Never mind the war, access to healthcare,
HTV/AJDS, education, housing and social security, the number
one problem facing Black America is same-sex marriage.
Standing before the press in their Sunday best and eager to get
their fifteen minutes of fame and achievable share of President
Bush’s Faith Based Initiative, these Black pastors seemingly
allowed their pulpits to be purchased by the GOP and Lou
Sheldon, who is to gay people what Strom Thurmond was to
Blacks.
Again likening Louis Sheldon to Strom Thurmond in her
Advocate.com article “Pulpit Bullies” (March 15, 2005), Ms. Cannick had this
to say about the “Black Contract with America on Moral Values” press
conference:
As I expected, standing before us was a group of black pastors
inspired, misguided, and led by one wealthy old crone.
Reverend Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition.
Sheldon, who’s white, dominated the press conference with
his antigay agenda and showed no support for the other causes
the black pastors deemed important in the plight of AfricanAmericans, such as better access to health care and education.