by Jamye Wooten
I try my best to highlight the very best of the black church through Kinetics. And later this week I will be writing about my experience at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference where hundreds of clergy and scholars convened to learn, organize, strategize and partner with Michelle Alexander, author of the “New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness”.
The Black church is a sacred institution to me and I will forever be committed and connected to this institution. Those of us who love the church and are committed to justice must also hold one another accountable in love.
Baltimore Black Clergy Group Betray Community
Thirteen ministers stand alongside Rev. Gwynn during the IMA's endorsement of Rawlings-Blake . (Photo by Mark Reutter/BatimoreBrew.com) July 2011
Once a towering example of faith in motion, Baltimore’s Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) has been reduce to a paper tiger.  The fact the Afro article refers to them as an “influential group of Baltimore- based ministers” is laughable. The IMA supports democratic incumbents that will offer the few ministers crumbs while the rest of Black Baltimore crumbles.
On yesterday the Rev. Alvin J. Gwynn Sr., president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and pastor of Friendship Baptist Church continued this pattern by making a formal announcement endorsing Senator Cardin. This is the same Alvin Gwynn that shamelessly endorsed Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for Mayor without interviewing all of the candidates.
This is Betrayal.
State Senator C. Anthony Muse is a pastor who rose from the streets of Baltimore, overcame every obstacle, went on to earn his doctorate degree from Howard University and now serves as a state senator representing Prince Georges County, Maryland.
Now I am not suggesting that you should endorse a candidate simply because they are African-American. Baltimore is filled with black politicians that I would never support. But when someone emerges as capable and competent and most of all an advocate for the people it is shameful to have a few black clergy to allow themselves to be divided and conquered.
Senator Ben Cardin
Let’s be clear. You will not see any group of Jewish Rabbis holding a press conference or inviting African-American candidates to the synagogue for their endorsement when a Jewish candidate is their opponent. Only black preachers allow themselves to be divided and conquered. If black churches across the state of Maryland are unified, C. Anthony Muse wins hands down and Senator Cardin is aware of this. This is why he spent last Sunday at Pastor Donte HIckmans’ church. Betrayal.
Don’t We Deserve Representation?
Of the 96 white Senators, 12 happen to be Jewish. Jews make up 2% of the U.S. population. On the other hand, African-Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but have zero representation.
We have the opportunity to make history in Maryland. And not just support a black man, but a righteous man who has a track record of standing up for the least of these.
Let’s make history Maryland!
