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COMMENTARY: Play Ball, To the Victor Goes You

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Can you imagine any athletic event where the ball actually participates as an independent active component? Well, the truth is we are that ball in this high-stake game for our very own souls. Imagine that. We can stack the deck in our favor. But it can’t be happenstance. It must be deliberate, and we must be constant in making sure that the ball takes favorable bounces throughout the game.

Published

6 years ago

April 13, 2019

Oakland Post

By James A. Washington, Publisher of the Dallas Weekly News, NNPA Newswire Contributor

I have often found myself wrestling with the concepts and the realities of good and evil. If you believe in God and His goodness, power and the righteousness of Jesus Christ, then it follows that you must also believe in Satan and his earthbound inherent ‘evilness.’ If this is true, then it is the height of ignorance or hypocrisy that we as human beings follow a course of action consistent with one belief and act totally inconsistent with and contrary to that same belief.

We concede to the reality that evil exists. As a matter of fact, our civil laws and subsequent penalties are there to protect us against criminal, abhorrent and, yes, even evil behavior.

Hence, what I am merely recognizing here is that the counterbalance of this fact ought to be a set of behaviors, or at least a set of professed beliefs, that confirm the reality of God, the good stuff.

Unfortunately, it has been my experience — and at times my behavior — that evil demands action, while ‘Godness’ gets a whole lot of lip service. I believe this is true because with all of our flaws and faults (sinfulness), we’ve gotten used to functioning in a world somewhat controlled by the evil one.

Christians must recognize that Satan has power in the secular world.

Thanks to him, many of us have become numb to those things that demonstrate his existence in this world where we temporarily reside. Fortunately, when we come to Christ, we are able to put some perspective on all of this as we begin to see the contrast between good and evil in our own lives. That’s when I believe you finally get it.

By putting ourselves in perspective to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, it becomes clear where we fit in this struggle between good and evil. We are the ultimate prize.

To the victor goes us.

Fortunately for us, we have some say in the clubhouse celebration. Once you accept the truth of good and evil in the context of God and the devil, the rules of engagement are clear. In this game the ball (us) has a say in who wins the game.

Can you imagine any athletic event where the ball actually participates as an independent active component? Well, the truth is we are that ball in this high-stake game for our very own souls. Imagine that. We can stack the deck in our favor. But it can’t be happenstance. It must be deliberate, and we must be constant in making sure that the ball takes favorable bounces throughout the game.

To be sure, with this in mind, Christ has given us the game plan we need to insure victory. “He who believes in me….shall never die.” John 11:25-26. That’s it. It’s all about belief.

When Jesus says in John 16:8-9, “when He (the Counselor/Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin because men do not believe in me…” He is telling us that the biggest threat to our own salvation is disbelief. You see belief in Christ brings about condemnation of Satan and Satan-like things i.e., evil. It must follow.

Now we are armed and ready for this struggle. We are prepared and fortified against the evil that would destroy us. We now have a reference point for current and future behavior, and we know the rule of engagement because we know the difference between good and evil.

More importantly, we can now recognize our weaknesses in relation to evil and our strengths in relation to good. No contest worth anything is without risks. But for now, let’s play and may God forgive your fumbles and bless your recoveries in the name of His Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

May God bless and keep you always.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: