Cloth With A Stain On It

     For hundreds of years church and religion has been the backbone of black families.  During slavery you could hear hymns being sung by slaves as they worked tirelessly in the sweltering fields.  They also worshiped together in their quarters whenever possible.  Fast forward to today.  Many people cannot wait for the work week to end so that they can carry the troubles and stress that life brings us to the Lord.  The House of the Lord is that place of peace where you sometimes walk into with your faith and spirit on E.  After hearing the word and some inspirational singing, souls come out with their full armor on ready for battle.  The saints emerge with a new walk, talk, and ready for whatever the enemy has next.

     Just like many of you, I myself has grown up in the church since I can remember. From church service on Sunday, to Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, serving on the usher board, to going with my mom to choir rehearsal.  If it had anything to do with church, best believe Wendy Wilson had me there.  Even as an adult, attending church services and functions has been a big part of my life.  I enjoy the church atmosphere of worshiping God in unison with fellow church members.  I love the preaching and teaching from powerful pastors or ministers.  Their intelligent interpretation of the Bible personally helps me to better understand the word.  

     The pastor is the man (or woman in some cases now) that God calls upon to lead a particular church.  He is not only the person standing before you on Sunday preaching the word.  He leads you in Bible study, counsels you when needed, takes phone calls in the middle of the night from members who are either in trouble, or sick among other things.  Some folk just don't realize what actually goes into overseeing a congregation.  Some just think the pastor shows up on Sunday, opens his Bible, speaks a few words, quote a few scriptures, hoops and hollers, then leaves only to return next Sunday to repeat the process all over again.  Being a pastor is truly a 24/7 job.  I know this because my ex father-in-law was my pastor at one point.  I witnessed the work ethic, sacrifice, and the passion it takes to do God's work in a manner that's commendable.

     For the saints of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lithonia, GA.  The leader and pastor is Bishop Eddie Long.  I'm sure that all, or most of you know that late last year, four young men filed lawsuits alleging that Eddie Long used his "pastoral power to coerce them into a sexual relationship with him." Say what you want, but, these are tremendous accusations against a man whose influence not only reaches the 25,000 plus members at his church (last count by Wikipedia), but, the countless people who follow him via television, radio, and internet.  When I first caught wind of the allegations, my first thought was that if he is not guilty, then he must fight this in order to clear his name.  I also thought that if he was guilty, then shame on him.  Needless to say, I was expecting an all out defense on the part of Long.

     The Sunday after the allegations were made against Long, I'm sure many eyes were on him to see what his response might be.  I feel, and many other people I've talked with feel that what we got was a show.  As I watched Long address his congregation, I waited for him to defiantly deny the accusations levied upon him.  He instead kept referring to the media who were in attendance.  There were several moments when the congregation seemed more like fans rather than members taking a listening ear to see what their leader had to say concerning the serious matter at hand.  Not saying that they shouldn't support their pastor because they should indeed support and pray for their pastor.  Eddie Long went on to say that he has "never portrayed himself as a perfect man," and that "he wasn't the man that's being portrayed on television." He then ended by saying that he has been "accused and was under attack," and that "this thing I'm going to fight." But the coup de gras came when he said:  "I feel like David against Goliath, but, I got five rocks.  And I haven't thrown one yet!" He then picked up his Ipad, grabbed his wife's hand, and whisked away to the roar of the crowd.  At that moment I felt that he didn't necessarily deny the accusations, but he made it known that he would fight it.

     To my surprise, Long threw some bones, or duckies (money) to the accusers (as reported by different news media outlets in Atlanta) by settling the lawsuits just last week.  This is hardly fighting or throwing any of them five rocks he claimed to have ready to throw such as David did against Goliath.  In my view, if Long was indeed innocent of these allegations (which he semi-denied), then he needed to use all of them five rocks and more!  If you're being "accused and under attack"as Long claimed he was, then you go on the defense to protect your innocence, as well as your good name and reputation.  As I stated before, my ex father-in-law was a pastor.  Because of that, I have formed friendships and have gotten to know other pastors in the Northern California area.  One pastor in particular (who will remain anonymous), came under the same accusations that Long did.  Actually, these particular accusations were a little more harsh.  He denied the allegations and maintained his innocence.  It didn't stop people from judging him prematurely, or, the removal of him as pastor at his church.  He fought the accusations for almost two years.  It did eventually come to light that the allegations were indeed false.  He is now repairing what was damaged of his reputation and has even started a new church in which he is pastor.  This pastor whom I'm referring to has nowhere near the influence an Eddie Long has, but, his plight was tragic all the same.

     Many people are quick to say, "leave him alone," and , "why are so many people worried about him?" Here's what I want people to understand.  Sometimes in life, you have to be held responsible and must answer to some things that you may not want to answer to.  When I was in the Army, I had an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer or Sgt.) who was grooming me to become an NCO.  He would always point to the stripes on his collar and remind me that great responsibility comes with those stripes.  Sometimes he was held accountable for things that he didn't do.  It could've been that one of his soldiers was late to formation, and to get their point across, the 1st Sgt. would impose punishment on that soldier's first line Sgt. to ensure it doesn't happen again.  At New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Eddie Long is the man with those stripes on his collar.  So in some sense, he bears responsibility to answer to these charges.

     I'm sure that since these lawsuits have been settled, no one involved is permitted to talk about the lawsuit or the details of the settlement.  This is almost an admission of guilt.  Some would argue that it is in fact an admission of guilt.  I tend to agree with the latter.  In no way am I trying to sway opinions of others.  But a lot of this is just not right to me concerning this issue.

     The sanctity of the church in many places is becoming more like a corporate business, rather than running on the true foundation of what God intended it to be.  Sad, but hard truth.  Many people throw around what church they attend like it's a status symbol or a bullet on their resume.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for forward moving and thriving churches.  But only in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God.  Anyway, let me not digress any further, because that's another topic for another day.  My final words will be this.  Don't let the aura of a man allow a veil to cover your face so that the truth is not visible.  Remember that man is still man, and all man will fall short of the glory of God at one point or another.  I just pray that Bishop Eddie Long realizes this and deals, or, has dealt with this accordingly.

You Are My Brother, Right?: A Conversation For Black Men

     It's no secret that some people are born into this world with different dynamics and circumstances.  From the very moment a child takes in their first breath of air, that child is faced with a world of possibilities and struggles unbeknownst to them.  Some are born into wealth.  Some are born into an impoverished family.  Some may even be born to a mother incarcerated in a State or Federal Penitentiary.  There is a bevy of other circumstances, but, I take it that you get the picture.  Being born a black male, I was born into a circumstance that pretty much only one group truly understands.  That group is black males themselves.  It doesn't matter whether you're light skinned like Chris Brown, brown skinned like Craig Wilson II (wink wink), or, dark skinned like Wesley Snipes.  Some would suggest that we as black males are born with two strikes against us.  I never thought that one of those strikes would come from the disdain of my fellow black males.
     Let me give you some background of myself.  My name is Craig Wilson II and I was born in New Orleans, LA on September 8, 1979 to Craig Wilson and Wendy Smith.  My parents were young at the time that I was brought into the world but later married in 1985.  My father was in the Air Force so we moved frequently.  We lived in California, Spain and South Carolina before moving back to Louisiana upon my father's retirement from the military.  I have one brother who is nine years my junior.  I graduated from Destrehan High School which is one of the better public schools in the New Orleans Metropolitan area, and, probably the state of Louisiana.  I attended college at USL in Lafayette, LA (which later became ULL my last semester there).  I enlisted into the Army Reserves then later went active duty.  I am a divorced father of two children ages six and four.  Not such a bad life, right?
     About a week or two ago I was very disappointed to see the comments that boxer Bernard Hopkins made about football player Donovan McNabb.  Hopkins (who is a black male) inferred that "McNabb (also a black male) isn't black enough because he lived a privileged life in suburban Chicago." He made claims that McNabb "wasn't tough enough" and that McNabb "just has a sun tan." First of all, I have been a fan of both of these men. Hopkins for his boxing mainly, McNabb for his play on the field and the way he carries himself off of it.  Second.  Who in the hell is Bernard Hopkins to question Donovan McNabb's "blackness" and toughness!  This is the same Donovan McNabb, who, upon being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles was booed heavily and never really accepted by Eagles fans even though he carried them to three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance.  This is the same McNabb who once broke his ankle in a game and not only continued to play, but, played well enough to carry his team to a win on that particular day.  I don't know about you, but, if I broke my ankle sitting at a desk I'd be through!
     If anyone is familiar with Donovan McNabb you know that he is articulate, well dressed and is well respected by many.  It's fair to say that you won't see McNabb with his pants sagging, wearing excessive "bling," or, even using many slang terms.  So my question to Bernard Hopkins and anyone whom shares the same opinion as Hopkins would be this:  What defines one's "blackness?" Do you have to talk a certain way? Do you have to spend some time in prison (such as Hopkins did)?  Do you have to have some type of "street cred?" In my personal opinion many people in the black community have misconstrued the aforementioned questions as the confirmation of one being black.  If I'm wrong with what I'm about to say, someone please contact me so that we can have a conversation about it.  I thought that our forefathers fought and struggled so that we wouldn't have to.  I thought that they fought for equal rights, the ability to vote and to be recognized as tax paying Americans.  Our forefathers wanted us to enjoy the same privileges that whites have enjoyed for years.  The opportunity to be educated in first class schools.  The opportunity to earn a decent living and house your family in a nice thriving community.  Those are examples of things that they wanted right?
     In my own little perfect world black men would accept each other as brothers and learn to support one another.  Every black male will not grow up in the "hood" under impoverished circumstances.  Just as every white male will not grow up in a wealthy and stable atmosphere.  Bottom line is, Bernard Hopkins doesn't know what Donovan McNabb has gone through over the course of his life.  I grew up in a middle class family, but, was far from being rich.  My family having a middle class title didn't exclude me from what came along with being a black male either.  I recall my childhood friend and I being watched and followed in Food Lion Supermarket.  A place where my friend and I always went to look at the magazines and buy candy.  We never stole one thing in that store or from any store for that matter.  What made it worse was that there were white kids on that same aisle that we were on who were being loud and belligerent.  Yet we were the ones being watched.  I remember being pulled over by a cop in High School in Ormond Estates (a wealthy neighborhood in Destrehan, LA) for no reason, and that cop asking me what was my father's occupation because my drivers license showed that I lived in that neighborhood.  I also remember going to a white female friend's house and being told that she wasn't there by her father when I knew in fact that she was there.  The look on his face said it all when he saw a black boy standing on his doorstep asking for his daughter.  The look pretty much said, "get the hell off of my porch and don't come back!"  I can give you more examples but we'll be all day.  I bring up these points to say that no matter where you come from or where you live, as a black man/male, you have to face issues daily that no other group goes through.  This is a fact, just as Barack Obama.  And he lives in The White House of all places!
     In my book, Bernard Hopkins is committing black on black crime by simply using his tongue.  Sad thing is, there are more black males who feel this way.  If anybody knows me you know that I dislike the term "think outside the box." My theory is that if we do not put ourself in a box then we won't have to think outside of one.  Many black males have become prisoners of a box only to miss out on what this world truly has to offer.  Some people suggest that because I've traveled the world I view things differently. This may be true, but,  it cost nothing to use your mind.  A lot of knowledge is gained from the sheer desire to seek it.  You don't have to travel the world to attain it.  My plea to all my brothers is this:  Partner with your brothers to build the kingdoms God set us out to build.  Live life as a open book ready soak up the familiar and unfamiliar.  Let your brothers know that it's ok to be different because what is a world without individuality. Lastly.  Love and accept your brothers because I love and accept you!