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OP-ED: I’ve Almost Lost Hope

THE AFRO — Christians — from the Church’s beginning — have rarely agreed on doctrinal issues and the look of authentic public witness. What has concerned me, however, are white Evangelicals who remain sympathetic to and supportive of organizations that carry racist overtones and undertones like the Ku Klux Klan, the Birther Movement, the Alt-Right and the Heritage Preservation Association.

Published

6 years ago

April 11, 2019

Oakland Post

By Rev. Anthony Trufant

As an African American Christian pastor, I’ve almost lost hope for meaningful partnerships with white Evangelical Christians. There was a time when I was far more hopeful. Over the past twenty years, I have periodically attended Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit and Saddleback’s Purpose-Driven Conferences. Another inspirational resource has been the Dallas-based Leadership Network. More recently, I have either attended or streamed Andy Stanley’s Catalyst Conference. All these experiences were helpful in my efforts to grow my congregation, the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Brooklyn. At these conferences, I learned biblical principles and best practices which informed how I have approached my pastoral work with greater intentionality and impact. I also have discovered how to think more creatively and strategically at a time when the footprint of Christianity is shrinking throughout the United States and specifically, the urban Northeast.

While at the conferences, I gained the impression that there were a number of white pastors who genuinely desired to build bridges of goodwill and interracial cooperation in the public square. I was encouraged by heartfelt and insightful comments from white colleagues about how America might be challenged to live up to the ideals of the founding fathers. I was pleased to learn that black and white pastors agreed that issues of drug and human trafficking, political and religious torture of prisoners, insufficient medical treatment for the poor, food insufficiency and substandard housing were unquestionably wrong and should be eradicated.

I have wondered often, over the last 12 years, whether partnerships between white Evangelical Christians and black Christians are tenable. Admittedly, Christians — from the Church’s beginning — have rarely agreed on doctrinal issues and the look of authentic public witness. What has concerned me, however, are white Evangelicals who remain sympathetic to and supportive of organizations that carry racist overtones and undertones like the Ku Klux Klan, the Birther Movement, the Alt-Right and the Heritage Preservation Association. I was puzzled further by the questions raised about the authenticity of President Barak Obama’s Christian credentials. Never did I hear compelling evidence to defend the unfounded claims parroted by so-called Christian patriots.

Admittedly, I was unhappy and stunned by the election of our 45th president. Still, I accepted his win, notwithstanding allegations of election tampering in communities of color and Russian interference — situations which recently have been proven factual. What I found and find problematic is the inconsistency and hypocrisy of white conservative Christians, and some moderates, who have clamored for American presidents to toe the line of personal piety, but have given President Donald Trump wide clearance on crucial areas of Christian character and practice. Thus far, our 45th president has paid only lip service to the vision and values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Yet, President Trump seems to have received a purgatory pass from white Evangelical pastors who are less than vocal about his egregious and embarrassing behavior, inflammatory tweets and texts, and racist, sexist, dog-whistling rhetoric.

White Evangelicals claim they seek unity for the nation, and as part of the body of Christ — I do as well. But I have no intention of feigning a false sense of harmony and accord. In this time of national crisis, I have learned, painfully and repeatedly, blacks and whites filter and see things from vastly different and often antithetical points of view. Prominent pastors like Rev. Franklin Graham, calling for Christians to pray for the protection of President Trump, is something I deem disingenuous and specious. What about calling for him to repent of his racist, sexist, and isolationist pronouncements and policies? Whatever happened to the baseline Christian belief that all public servants, including President Trump, should seek to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) – and fellow citizens of the world?

Despite my disappointments and real doubts, I still have hope. Based on personal encounters and past experiences, I believe there are white Evangelicals who will shed a light on conduct contradictory to the Holy Scriptures and the fundamental and founding documents of this great nation. I’m convinced there are Christian ministers who are less interested in the national spotlight and functioning as personal chaplain to a President whose behavior has been unChristian and unbecoming of the President of the United States of America. I believe there must be a hidden stash of Evangelical prophets who refuse to bow down to Baal. I am looking for them and waiting for their call to action. I’m not sure if or when that will happen. But I remain faithful and encouraged because of the cross of Christ. His witness and wonder allow me to still have hope.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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NAACP Launches #WeAreDoneDying Campaign, Empowering Black and Brown Communities to Take Action Against Senseless Killings of African Americans

THE AFRO — The campaign is a Call-to-Action and highlights the NAACP’s policy interests and supported legislation for African Americans and people of color, a large demographic that is often left out of recovery effort conversations. The integrated and interactive content will create actionable steps for people to feel empowered by demanding action from their state’s elected officials on issues such as healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic justice, and voting rights.

Published

5 years ago

May 9, 2020

Oakland Post

The NAACP has launched a campaign entitled #WeAreDoneDying, aimed at exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2020) – The NAACP, the nation’s foremost social justice organization, has launched a campaign entitled #WeAreDoneDying, aimed at exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large. From COVID-19 to running while Black in America, the abuse faced by people of color, particularly African Americans is devastating.

The campaign is a Call-to-Action and highlights the NAACP’s policy interests and supported legislation for African Americans and people of color, a large demographic that is often left out of recovery effort conversations. The integrated and interactive content will create actionable steps for people to feel empowered by demanding action from their state’s elected officials on issues such as healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic justice, and voting rights.

“With crumbling economic infrastructure, our community members face tough choices as access to food, good jobs, and a quality education slips further away,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “These issues are compounded by the lack of strong leadership from the White House. In the absence of adequate guidance, Black lives are adversely affected. We will no longer stand idle as our people suffer discrimination, marginalization, and are offered as disposable for poor decisions by this Administration.”

As the incidence of COVID-19 cases and deaths rise, the Black community is experiencing the worst outcomes. With more confirmed cases and deaths than any other country, African Americans are facing the brunt of this virus. The numbers continue to rise each day while states reopen non-essential businesses with little to no evidence that the country is ready.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the deep-seated racial disparity in America embedded in all aspects of life,” said Leon W. Russell, Chairman, NAACP Board of Directors. “The NAACP Empowerment Programs’ 111 years of advocacy and fighting for the rights of Black people positions us to lead the fight for our community’s interest during this time of uncertainty.”

Learn how you can join and get involved with the campaign by visiting NAACP.org.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas here.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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The AFRO Awarded $100,000 Grant by Facebook Journalism Project

THE AFRO — After receiving more than 2,000 applications for the COVID-19 Local News Relief Grant Program from newsrooms across every state in the US, all US territories and Washington, D.C., we are providing grants ranging from $25,000-$100,000 to help publishers continue serving communities during the coronavirus outbreak. These grant recipients were selected through a process led by the Local Media Association (LMA) and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and with significant contributions from the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION), Local Media Consortium (LMC), and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Thanks to these organizations’ partnership and expertise, we were able to set up a program to meet the immediate and timely needs of these newsrooms.

Published

5 years ago

May 7, 2020

Oakland Post

Sign up for the Facebook Journalism Project newsletter to receive updates on Facebook’s ongoing efforts to support the news industry during the COVID-19 crisis.

Today, Facebook is announcing that more than 200 news organizations will receive nearly $16 million in grants through the Facebook Journalism Project’s relief fund for local news. These grants stem from $25 million in local news relief funding announced in March as part of Facebook’s $100 million global investment in news. It includes:

$10.3 million being awarded to 144 US local newsrooms as part of the COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program. The fund is supporting many publishers who are hardest hit by this crisis: nearly 80 percent of recipients are family- or independently owned and more than half are published by or for communities of color.

$5.4 million being awarded to 59 North American newsrooms that participated in Facebook Local News Accelerator programs focused on subscriptions and memberships.

Remaining funds will be used throughout 2020 to support projects focused on longer-term sustainability in local journalism. This includes $2.5 million for Report for America, helping the group place 225 journalists in 160 local news organizations for their 2020 reporting corps.

Partnering with leading industry organizations like The Local Media Association and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism to move quickly, the Facebook Journalism Project has awarded more than 600 grants across the US and Canada since the pandemic began. Additional grant programs have been launched to support journalism around the world.

COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program

After receiving more than 2,000 applications for the COVID-19 Local News Relief Grant Program from newsrooms across every state in the US, all US territories and Washington, D.C., we are providing grants ranging from $25,000-$100,000 to help publishers continue serving communities during the coronavirus outbreak. These grant recipients were selected through a process led by the Local Media Association (LMA) and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and with significant contributions from the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION), Local Media Consortium (LMC), and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Thanks to these organizations’ partnership and expertise, we were able to set up a program to meet the immediate and timely needs of these newsrooms.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role local news plays in our communities, while simultaneously threatening their very existence. Reviewing hundreds of applications on a tight timeline both illustrated the depth of need, but also highlighted the innovation that these small, independent publishers can provide for their communities when given the resources,” said Jonathan Kealing, INN’s chief network officer. “I’m excited to see new news products and more critical original reporting in these communities, thanks to Facebook’s support.”

The pool of grant recipients is notable in several ways:

Nearly four in five are family- or independently owned.
Half are published by or for communities of color.
Nearly 40 percent are digitally native publishers.
Just over a third are non-profits.

“We’re proud to support this diverse group of publishers — many of which are family- or independently owned. Not only are these journalists working tirelessly to serve people right now — they’re focused on transformation, building innovative local news businesses that can continue to serve communities beyond the current pandemic,” said Campbell Brown, VP of global news partnerships at Facebook.

The COVID-19 Local News Relief Grant Program was designed to provide support for US local news organizations serving a critical role for communities impacted by COVID-19. Funding is intended to a) respond to immediate community needs and/or b) offset some revenue shortfalls to help publishers maintain long-term sustainability during this crisis.

Facebook Journalism Project Local News Accelerator Program

Launched in 2018 to support local news businesses in their transformation to reader revenue-driven business models, the Local News Accelerator program has grown to more than 600 participants from more than 100 newsrooms worldwide.

he program includes a three-month period of workshops, now fully virtual, led by the Accelerator’s executive director Tim Griggs, regular reports on best business practices and grants administered by the Lenfest Institute and the International Center for Journalists.

Accelerator participants from the US and Canada are receiving relief grants to help safeguard the transformation they’ve achieved over the last several years and to capitalize on new opportunities. As these news organizations continue to test and learn, we’ll share their progress, actionable tips and results on the Facebook Journalism Project website.

The coaches in the Facebook Accelerator went “above and beyond to help us, teaching practical concepts and tools that we could use right away and taking time to talk through problems. Our cohort members have been encouraging, collaborative and generous with their knowledge and experience,” said Jennifer Napier-Pearce, editor of the Salt Lake Tribune, a participant in the 2020 Subscriptions Accelerator program. “We’re so grateful to Facebook for supporting local news at such a precarious time.”

The Facebook Journalism Project will host a webinar session on Friday, May 8th at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST titled “Practical Lessons to Accelerate Your Reader Revenue Strategy.” Led by Accelerator Executive Director Tim Griggs and Accelerator Program Manager David Grant, the session will give a distilled look at key tactics and strategies drawn from Accelerator publishers. To join, register to receive information about the program here: FB.me/BootcampRegistration.

News reporting has never been more critical. We’re proud to support all these news organizations as they provide critical reporting to their local communities during this challenging time.

Sign up for the Facebook Journalism Project newsletter to receive updates on Facebook’s ongoing efforts to support the news industry during the COVID-19 crisis.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.