When one observes the pulpit, one would notice that most of the so-called big time black preachers appear to be supporters of the Republican party. What is so ironic about this is that 95% of their congregations are Democrats. Now every individual has the right to choose any political party that he or she wishes to be apart of, and, not only this, but, just because one happens to be an African American, does not necessarily mean that he or she has to automatically vote in the Democratic party, because, I sometimes think that the Democratic party take the black vote for granted. However, I do have a problem with African American ministers who use their pulpits, through indirect socialization, to push the Republican party’s agenda, while their congregations are predominantly poor and are Democrats. My pastor, Dr. Tony Evans, the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, as well as T. D. Jakes, and Eddy Long, just to mention a few, are not Obama fans. These pastors, as well as other popular black ministers across this country, have the right to choose or support any political party or candidate they please. In fact, former president, George W. Bush. has been to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship twice. The most recently being, on Saturday, July 10, 2010, at the “No More Excuses: Men’s Conference”.  As a social scientist, I really do not understand, why my pastor would invite a Republican president, to speak to a largely African American Democratic congregation. If anyone has systematically studied the Republican party’s voting patterns over the last 100 years or so, he or she would notice that the G.O.P. , is not the same Republican party that existed during the Abraham Lincoln era. The Republican party during the Lincoln era, along with its members, were known as the Radical Republicans. They were radical because of the followings:

 (a) They were in opposition to slavery, and, consisted of many great abolitionists;

 (b) They were the party who were victorious in the Civil War, and spreaded into new American territories;

 (c) They were the party of the Reconstruction Act of 1867, and, the Wade-Davis bill;

 (d) They were the party of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, of the U.S. Constitution.

 However, all of this changed, due to the Great Compromise of 1877, which was the overthrow of Radical Reconstruction. The Republican changed from being the Radical Republicans, to the Grand Old Party (G.O.P.) . Unlike, the Radical Republicans, the G.O.P. , are not fond of black folks and other people of color. I have studied their voting patterns for about 25-years or so, and, they usually vote against any measures which would benefit blacks, other people of color, and poor whites. As a whole the G.O.P. , only care about the wealthy, and the hell with everyone else. This is why I wondered why Dr. Tony Evans allowed former president George W. Bush, to speak to his congregation. After all he did not invite former president Bill Clinton, to speak at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and, I doubt very seriously, that he would invite president Barack Obama. The point that I am trying to make here is that, why would a shepherd allow someone to come speak to his sheep, when the individual who is speaking, has both made and still supports public policies, which are in the disinterest of his sheep? To me it is like having Adolf Hitler coming to speak to the Jews, or having a wolf coming to speak to the sheep. Neverhteless, outside of this incident, my pastor, Dr. Tony Evans is a great mimister.

The Bowtie Professor Speaks!

Leave a Reply