Black Clergy For Prejudice
By Keith Boykin, in spirituality
Thursday, June 8 2006, 12:23PM
This little gem comes from the San Francisco Chronicle, by way of Pam's House Blend. Aside from the fact that it's funny, it's also a reflection of just how far right too many black clergy have strayed in recent years. The text reads:
"Sick of gay black people talking too loudly during black movies? Sick of gay black people speaking only in gaybonics? You're not the only one. Right now, liberal activist judges are trying to compare our civil rights battles of the '50s and '60s to today's gay marriage battle...But it's not the same. Gay blacks don't talk like us. They don't look like us. A recent study even showed that extremely gay black people aren't as smart as slightly gay black people!"
The ad ends with a "clergy solution":
"Straight blacks and gay blacks should have separate, clearly marked civil rights battles."
It's sad that this cartoon hits so close to home. And it's ironic that many of these church leaders who cloak themselves in the legacy of the civil rights movement never lifted a finger to participate in the actual civil rights struggle. Thanks to editorial cartoonist Don Asmussen for putting it out there. The cartoon continues on the San Francisco Chronicle web site.
Let the church say "Amen."
Comments conceal
Mel Smith
June 8 2006, 1:09PM
Wow! That is a brilliant cartoon.
Kenneth Winfrey![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
June 8 2006, 1:34PM
It's a commentary on the greater problem of perception in America. "Negro Rights," as they were actually once called, became "civil rights," a term that linguistically applies to the greater concept of civility and equality for everyone--not just Blacks.
Oppression and hatred may take many forms, but they are basically the same for those who endure. Whatever works to end it under one circumstance is obviously likely to work under another. I don't see any trademarks or copyrights on the terms or the methods! Was there the same outrage when Coretta Scott King helped Cesar Chavez?
Derrick from Philly
June 8 2006, 2:02PM
Kenneth, it's great to read your comments again. They calm me down better than a fifth of Old Granddad. No, not the whole fifth at one time...have to save some for the late evening hours when I watch "Paris Is Burning" for the fifty'leventh time.
Troy
June 8 2006, 2:33PM
Oh well, I guess Dashiki's this summer are out.
Has ole Pastuh Owens seen this? It's times like these I wish I had a color printer and the time to send this to him and a few others.
ortez
June 13 2006, 2:08PM
Oppression is self-defined, and only those experiencing it can identify as such. It is time to stand tall and take our place in this experience. For the violent, take it by force.
Kricket592
June 20 2006, 11:22AM
AMEN!
Sanjay
July 2 2006, 11:15AM
I think they are the same. Over the years, many gay black men have been ostracized by the white gay community in much the same way that lesbians are treated by the gay male community at large. Race is still a factor in the struggle for gay black men and this poster should not deflect black gays from our 'new' struggle.
Darnell
July 27 2006, 8:35PM
Yes, they are seperate and should not be confused. It's almost an insult to compare the two.
Kirk
July 30 2006, 6:25PM
This advertisement comes as a surprise and is in direct contradiction of the work that Baynard Rustin did for the civil rights movement. Baynard Rustin was instrumental to the civil rights movement and was also openly gay. Check this site out for more info:
http://www.rustin.org/biography.html
The fact that no one hardly knows of the existence of Baynard Rustin in the leadreship of the civil rights movement is reflective of the homophobic history of this country. This add is offensive on so many different levels.
A man for Jesus
August 8 2006, 9:30AM
One thing that we are forgetting is that, whether these men are gay or not, we still have to love them with the love of Christ because that is what He would've done. If you look at the Scriptures, Jesus dwelt mainly among sinners because He wanted to deliver them from their sins. As Christians, we may believe that homosexuality is wrong; however, we are still supposed to be in a position where the love of Christ is completely exemplified, whether they are gay or straight.
In God's eyes, sin is sin, regardless of what that sin may be and, the last time I checked, a sinful nature was 100% in every person on this earth, including Christians. I do not condone homosexuality whatsover (I am completely against it!), but at the same time, we still have to love on them and treat them as brothers, whether we like what they do or not. Christians should be there to encourage, strengthen, and uplift, and until we are able to get to that point, we will continue this all-out "war".
Choices
November 9 2006, 9:47AM
People don't choose their color. People choose who they want to have sex with. I'm still not convinced that there are gay virgins (even typing that is oxymoronic). Its just another sexual deviant behavior, not a feature of the body.
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