"God has vindicated the black folk"

[Guest Verbal Kint]

News Link : CNN

Black churchgoers celebrate, give thanks for Obama's win

Story Highlights

• "God has vindicated the black folk," North Carolina minister says
  
• Christian ministers across country ask God to give Obama strength, wisdom
  
• Pastor in Virginia recalls Jim Crow laws, hails Obama's win
  
• Minister at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s church: "Obama ... achieved the unimaginable"
  

Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams prays for President-elect Obama Sunday at Mt. Calvary Word of God Church.

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams opened her sermon Sunday at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church with a prayer of thanks for the election of Barack Obama -- at the risk of her flock getting "more excited over this than you do over the word."

"God has vindicated the black folk," the Grammy-winning gospel singer said as a member of the congregation waved an American flag and another marched among the pews blowing a ram's horn.

"Too long we've been at the bottom of the totem pole, but he has vindicated us, hallelujah," she cried. "I don't know about you, but I don't have nothing to put my head down for, praise God. Because when I look toward Washington, D.C., we got a new family coming in. We got a new family coming in. And you know what? They look like us. Amen, amen. They look like us."

Across the country, from a mostly white church in the Southwest to the pulpit from which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached his message of equality and nonviolent change, Christian clergy members on Sunday asked God to give Obama the wisdom and strength to lead the country out of what many consider a wilderness of despair and gloom.

And on the day King famously called "the most segregated day of the week," they also called for the nation to come together behind the man who will be the first black president.

In his Web message last week, senior pastor Gregg Matte of Houston's 167-year-old First Baptist Church decried a society that has turned to government as its savior.

"Today," he wrote, "Hollywood is our pastor, technology is our Bible, charisma is our value and Barack Obama is our President."

But from the pulpit Sunday, Matte asked the 1,000 or so mostly white faces staring back at him to "lift up President-elect Obama" even if he wasn't their choice on Tuesday.

"Regardless of whether you voted for him or not, he's now our president come January 20," he said. "So we're going to come behind him and pray for him and pray for wisdom, that God will give him wisdom and be able to really speak to his heart."

At a white church in Mississippi, where roughly nine in 10 whites voted for Republican John McCain, the scene was more muted.

The neighborhood around the Alta Woods United Methodist Church in Jackson has seen its demographics shift from white to black in recent decades, and most of the church's members have moved to the suburbs. While Pastor David W. Carroll recognized Obama's election as a "historic shift," he said he was also struck by McCain's patriotism in defeat.

"As the crowd began to boo a little bit ... [McCain] quieted them down and said, 'Now is not my time, but I'm an American first and I will serve the president-elect,'" Carroll said. "In a loss, he showed us still how he could win through his service."

But in black churches from the capital of the Confederacy to the streets of Harlem, New York, it was all about Obama.

At Hungary Road Baptist Church in a working-class suburb of Richmond, Virginia, the two-hour, 40-minute service was part celebration, part history lesson, led by a pastor who had felt the sting of the Jim Crow South. The Rev. J. Rayfield Vines Jr., pastor of the predominantly African-American congregation, paused briefly as he recalled the indignities he endured but did not bow to growing up Suffolk, in southeastern Virginia.

"I was there when you had [to] ride in the back of the bus," Vines said under a simple cross illuminated by eight light bulbs. "I was there when you went to the department store and you couldn't try on the clothes. I was there when they had a colored toilet and a white toilet."

The pastor said he shared his humiliations Sunday to help give those "who had not tasted the bitterness of segregation ... an idea why we all shouted."

"My cup runneth over on Tuesday night," Vines said. "My eyes have seen the glory."

Inside Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church, Obama T-shirts vied with colorful plumed hats as a fashion statement. Church member Sheila Chestnut, 61, wore a rhinestone Obama pin on her suit lapel.

"I am so happy," she said. "I cried so much. I never thought that in this lifetime I would live to see an African-American become president of these United States."

When the Rev. Calvin Butts invited the congregation to stand up "and give God praise for the election," several hundred churchgoers rose as one, lifted their hands in the air and gave a sustained cheer, then chanted, "Yes we can! Yes we can!"

At Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side, less than two miles from Obama's home, jubilant Sunday services were peppered with references to the election and calls to be grateful for his victory.

"We thank the Lord for this second Sunday [in November] after the first Tuesday," Dr. Byron Brazier said to resounding applause and cheers from the mostly black congregation. "This is a wonderful time to be alive."

Obama spoke at Apostolic on Father's Day in his first address to a congregation after leaving his longtime church, Trinity United Church of Christ, following inflammatory remarks there by his former longtime pastor and others.

Perhaps nowhere was the weight of history more palpable Sunday than in Atlanta, Georgia, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, from whose pulpit King spread his message of inclusion and across from which he lies entombed.

When the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock tried to put into words what it meant for Obama to win Virginia, where the first American slaves landed nearly 400 years ago, his words were drowned out by the applause and cheers from a capacity crowd whose faces captured the entire spectrum of the human rainbow.

"Barack Obama stood against the fierce tide of history and achieved the unimaginable," he said. "But he did not get here by himself. Give God some credit. He is the Lord."

But while he told the congregation that it was a time for celebration, he also reminded them it was "a serious time."

"We still have a whole lot of work to do," he said. "You have two little girls who will grow up in the White House. Around the corner, you have two little girls who will grow up in a crack house."

Among those in attendance was the slain civil rights leader's sister, Christine King Farris. She was reminded of her brother's prescience.

"As he predicted the night before he left us, 'I may not be with you, but as a people we will reach the promised land,"' she said stoically. "That promised land was realized Tuesday. Yes, it is our promised land."

Edited November 10, 2008 by Verbal Kint

[NuTcAsE]

Makes my a** wanna chew tobacco....

Edited November 10, 2008 by NuTcAsE

[Guest Verbal Kint]

When Obama gets voted out, in 4 years for being a failure (and assuming someone who isn't black takes his place), I just want to see someone go public with exactly what they just said...

"Because when I look toward Washington, D.C., we got a new family coming in. We got a new family coming in. And you know what? They look like us. Amen, amen. They look like us."

I wonder what would happen.

[Guest canynracer]

Guys...this is GOOOD news....now they have NO excuses, and they can no longer say "Whites owe them something"

this is cool, no more need for the NAACP, or Jesse, Sharpton, or other radicals...

we are straight...

[Guest Verbal Kint]

If only that were true.

[Guest Valkyrie]

If only that were true.

+1

[Fivestring63]

I wonder if all the black and hispanic folk are finally glad to be Americans? Do you think they will git rid of African-American, Hispanic-American, and just be Americans now?? HMM. I bet they don't.

[Guest FNandGlock]

How can they be Christian's and be for this man he is Pro Choice. agrees to kill baby's , gives the fags ok to marry how can these God loving people vote and stand behind him. My Bible says PRO LIFE ! and gays are not premitted. They voted because he is black and thats it. I believe in equal rights for equal efforts and would have voted for condalissa Right in a heart beat but Obama got in because they voted on race only. +1 on the we owe them nothing now!!! Some say he is the Messiah well the eastern sky never split folks go back and re read the bible and then maybe you will have BUYER REMORSE about voting for this guy !!!

[BrasilNuts]

"Christian clergy members on Sunday asked God to give Obama the wisdom and strength to lead the country out of what many consider a wilderness of despair and gloom."

These people have no idea what it is like to live in a country that is a "wilderness of despair and gloom."

We had a guest speaker at my church today... I got up and left half way through.

[Smith]

Guys...this is GOOOD news....now they have NO excuses, and they can no longer say "Whites owe them something"

this is cool, no more need for the NAACP, or Jesse, Sharpton, or other radicals...

we are straight...

No, when he is voted out they will say that racism is still alive and well and that is the only reason he's leaving. Any resistance he gets will be called "race based". His failure will be because the "white man" was working against him. This narrative that has been on going for years will now be on the national stage. The racial divide did not narrow, it just became the Grand Canyon.

[Almond27]

Well like my pastor said this morning only person runs this Country that I know of and it is not some guy named Obama. God didn't vindicate black people because he loves all people the same from the get go some people show their stupidity in so many ways.

[Guest nraforlife]

I got your vindication right here...

[Guest Ghostrider]

The racial divide did not narrow, it just became the Grand Canyon.

+1 CWII is just around the corner... and I fear that all US citizens will lose in this one, as the chinese & russians are just waiting for a chance.

[Guest justaman30]

No, when he is voted out they will say that racism is still alive and well and that is the only reason he's leaving. Any resistance he gets will be called "race based". His failure will be because the "white man" was working against him. This narrative that has been on going for years will now be on the national stage. The racial divide did not narrow, it just became the Grand Canyon.

Thats exactly right. Before long it will be an open crime to be white.

[ukerduker]

I find this whole arguement amusing. We talk of white and black. Sorry for all you darker skinned folk, but you were not the most discriminated against. I would ask all darker skinned folk to step aside for the native americans. These people were more persecuted throughout the years. They are still living on reservations. They have been given many breaks over the years, but still haven't achieved as much as the blacks. IMO, they have faced more and received less. Amazing how we can look past this to put more emphisis on slaves and current blacks, when they suffered unimaginable torment throughout the years.

As for the African-American or Hispanic American, I throw my BS flag. As someone mentioned earlier, we are all AMERICAN. If you feel the need to isolate or segregate your ethnic group, do us all a favor and PLEASE MOVE!!!

[Guest voigts]

I find it very disturbing that the pastor of the church that Obama attended for almost 20 years is a blatant, outspoken black supremacist. It doesn't matter what color you are, you can be completely prejudiced. I live in a mixed race neighborhood with whites, blacks, and latinos. I have some black neighbors that are great people. They are hard working, friendly, and we have frequent over the fence conversations. I have one family of black people who are as sorry as the day is long. There are blacks that walk through that are also very nice and friendly. There are other black folks that walk through who won't even turn to look my way when I say hello. They completely ignore my presence. Prejudice can work both ways. As far as I am concerned, we are all pink underneath.

Churches thanking God for Obama and praising him to high heaven is a shame given his moral positions. God is no respector of persons.

[Guest Astra900]

[ame]

[/ame]

[Guest sling]

As someone mentioned earlier, we are all AMERICAN. If you feel the need to isolate or segregate your ethnic group, do us all a favor and PLEASE MOVE!!!

Both you and everyone on this board knows that that isnt how it works. Every race has its niche and that niche is made by their own. Blacks hang with black grounds. Whites generally stay around whites. Hispanics... well... you see where i'm going with this.

Ethnic group seperation just happens. It not just in the United States. Its everywhere.

Telling someone that they can move just because they dont share the same idealology as you is pretty silly.

[towerclimber37]

Both you and everyone on this board knows that that isnt how it works. Every race has its niche and that niche is made by their own. Blacks hang with black grounds. Whites generally stay around whites. Hispanics... well... you see where i'm going with this.

Ethnic group seperation just happens. It not just in the United States. Its everywhere.

Telling someone that they can move just because they dont share the same idealology as you is pretty silly.

I agree. for some reason most folks just don't care to be around people of a different race. I never understood that, I never cared about that. some folks that I consider family aren't the same color as I am. heck, they're not even conservatives. Still, they're welcome at my house any time they care to come and can stay as long as they like. If we get aggrivated, we talk it out and come to some mutual understanding..or we agree to disagree and let it go at that.

We all still have a long way to go when it comes to being racially integrated...I mean that as a human race.

Edited November 22, 2008 by towerclimber37

[greenego]

Many blacks believe whites get some kind of "special" breaks. Prior to the 60s I am sure the "breaks" was discrimination. I had a black guy tell me that he was going to start a business. He wanted me to get him all the benefits that the white people got when they started a business. I told blacks got the same benefits as whites. He didn't believe me and never came back. What is going to happen when Obama's supports wake up and realize he is not going to do any more for them than that old white guy would have done?

[Guest voigts]

I'd like to know where my "special" breaks for white people are, because they sure aren't being reflected in my paycheck or bank account.

[ukerduker]

Both you and everyone on this board knows that that isnt how it works. Every race has its niche and that niche is made by their own. Blacks hang with black grounds. Whites generally stay around whites. Hispanics... well... you see where i'm going with this.

Ethnic group seperation just happens. It not just in the United States. Its everywhere.

Telling someone that they can move just because they dont share the same idealology as you is pretty silly.

The nice thing about this country is I am permitted to have an opinion. Black,white, hispanic, who gives a F#ck?? We are a single nation. my point was simply to say we are all Americans. People can retain there heritage and traditions, but when you feel or express points that want to place your ethinic group ahead of others, you can take that crap shove it. We as a country are strenthened by diversity. I recognize small elements will make ridiculous statements and persecute other ethnic groups. If people feel a need to excessively promote or gain advantage simply with a ethnic gripe, feel free to export yourself from our beloved country.

Sling, I know how this country works. I recognize your right to voice your opinion. I have defended this right for many years. BUT, regardless of how business is currently conducted, it does not make it right. Does Obama's accomplishment mean Affirmative Action will be eliminated? (Doubt it) Will the people's choice solve all the current issues? (unlikely) My statement about moving out of the country was a statement that I know NO ONE would do. People like this country, but prefer to bitch rather than do anything. With this mentality, I can see BHO trying to employ his solicist agenda.