Black Women's Roundtable Thursday at 8:00PM -Topic: The Obama-McClurkin Controversy

The NPR appearance is in the can. Y'all tell me what I was thinking during this taping? Can Y'all here it in my voice? Part I ( We were supposed to be talking about Farrakhan saying Black men are going to be extinct). Part II ( We talk about the Obama - Donnie McClurkin controversy)

Black Women's Roundtable

Thursday, October 24, 2007
8:00PM (CST)

Our Guests: Jasmyne Cannick and Terrance from The Republic of T

Call in live: (646) 478-4750

Archived Show

If you want to hear one of our livelier discussions, you can listen to our show " Gina vs Attorneymom" where our guests were Attorneymom from the blog Character Corner and Rev. Coates from the Enough is Enough Coalition. I can assure you that we will not go 2 HOURS!! Archived shows are available on I-tunes.

The White Progressive Blogosphere Takes Aim at the Black Church... It Ain't Pretty!

Y'all know that I am a frequent critic of the Black church, but in preparing for my NPR appearance today which MAY include a discussion on the Obama McClurkin controversy, I have been reading the comments section on many of these White "progressive" blogs. No matter how you feel about the Black church, you need to scroll through the comments sections of some of these blogs:

It makes it hard for a white liberal progressive to feel good about his lifelong commitment to fight against racism. I can not tell you how many white people - straight and gay - feel betrayed now that we see the black community is full of bigots itself. Comment by RJP3

There's hate-mongering and then there's prejudice-mongering...this whole uproar is a perfect example of the latter. Comment by Michael

There has not been a peep from the gay community on Hillary's endorsement by anti-gay black ministers. This is a terrible double standard. Hillary never has had the guts to say the word "gay" in any speech she ever gave to a broad audience; she saves it for fundraisers to gay civil rights group. In Obama's first speech to a national audience, when no one would have demanded that he address the point, he did anyway on his own, because that's where his heart is. He famously said, "We have gay friends in the Red states," trying to get everyone to see the humanity in others. When we start judging candidates by the personal views of people who just get up on stage on sing for them, we've really lost our way Comment by Stan.

These Christian "holier than thou" make me want to up-chuck. They are some of the biggest sinners and ego-driven morons on the planet. I would much rather see people practice their faith than run for repentence after they screw their fellow man, and lately, they have been doing this quite often, figuratively & literally! Repugssuck

Christians who take the bible literally are spiritual terrorists. They should be treated as enemy combatants. AnotherTry

Having just attended a 2 day Camp Obama training that was hosted at HRC's headquarters this past weekend, I find it hard to believe that the Obama campaign would "use" homophobia for political ends. What purpose would it serve? More likely this is poor vetting of an unknown entertainer. xcrunner77 ( calling Donnie McClurkin an "unknown" entertainer)

Hey, so I'm wondering what kind of protests we can plan at Obama campaign stops? They need to be whimsical, bitchy, and embarrassing as hell. All suggestions are welcome. Maybe carry signs saying "I am a man." Joe Aravosis

He'll stand for ANYTHING...except bigotry against brown people. Your Uncle Bastard on Americablog

So if he's got mcgurk, and now marymary, who will he add to the religion tour next? Phred Phelps? Since obama is going down that road, it would only make sense. Rickc on America Blog

Like I said before, I'm sick and tired of blacks crying "Racism" when it suits them, but when someone else (non-black)are put down, blacks are quiet. What gives? I'm no longer a supporter of blacks like I was when I was in college. Let's get real, Obama isn't electable. jerryCA on America Blog

No because it is true. The Black community tends to be homophobic. They tend to be anti-intellectual as well. Blame the first on traditional religion and the second on rap/thug culture. Mike Hunt

I'm not insinuating a damn thing, let me be perfectly clear, some people are being very racists. And not to be accused of playing a race-card, just take a look at a good number of the posts. If race wasn't an issue, why do SOOOOOOO many people keep saying things about how "black people" don't speak up? Or how those "black christians" are so intolerant/inbreed/simple minded/homophobic. But hey, no racism here. tlhwraith on Americablog

I could LIVE with Edwards remarks that he was "Struggling" and "conflicted" even though they are not the IDEAL stance that I would like to see a candidate have. At least he doesnt call us EVIL PEOPLE and start a CRUSADE AGAINST US who are just trying to live our lives the best we can.Donnie McClurkin is to GAYS what David Duke is to African Americans....I wish people could understand this. Sandy on MyDD

What's interesting to me is that McClurkin is very famous to anyone who listens to black radio. Yet the blogsophere seems to be totally ignorant of him, so that he can be turned into an anti-gay symbol by gay bloggers. An American Idol singer was accused of being anti-gay for singing a Mary Mary song, so this seems to be a standard tactic. JohnDE on MyDD

A gay co-worker of mine in Chicago had his throat cut for no other reason than getting caught walking down the street in "Boys Town". A child of mine is gay.
I ain't gay myself, but when people encourage bigotry against gays -- there are plenty out here doing it including a shocking number of black religious figures--- and when supposed black leaders passively countenance it, I feel it viscerally.
It's safe to bash gays, to exclude and discriminate against them. Among much of the black church it's the accepted norm. Barack hasn't shown guts anywhere else. If he wound not stand up to Bush or powerful interests, why should we expect him to stand up for the unpopular, for the gay. Why? Bruce Dixon on Jack & Jill Politics

Wow, the Lord works in "Mysterious" ways. These folk might be able to accomplish a task that all the prayer's of Mama's prayer circle have been unable to do up to this point, defend the Black church against a wholesale assault.

We need to think about doing that t-shirt thing to highlight folks silence on Dunbar Village too. I like that showing up at campaign stops idea. We can print up T-shirts that say "Obama - Clinton - Edwards Don't Care About Black Women and Girls"

We'll be talking about this on the WAOD Podcast. Thursday at 8:00PM CST. Jasmyne Cannick and Terrance from Republic of T have agreed to come on.

Blackseagoat, have a little faith in me. In case you haven't figured out, I ain't a fan of sanctimonious church folk, but how do we have any kind of dialog if folks refuse to talk to each other? I'm not gon' invite folks on my podcast and then let folks be nasty to them and if folks try, they know that they will be hit with the big ole MUTE button.

UPDATE: COURTESY OF PAM'S HOUSE BLEND
Obama has added an openly gay minister to the lineup at the concert

In response to an uproar from gay activists, Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign on Thursday added a gay minister to the lineup for its Obama's campaign invited Rev. Andy Sidden, a South Carolina pastor who is openly gay, to appear on Sunday in Columbia. Obama discussed Sidden's inclusion Thursday with Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, which supports gay rights.weekend gospel tour. SOURCE

Donnie McClurkin Responds - I'm on NPR Tomorrow-

I told y'all about Earl Ofari Hutchinson's attack on Barack Obama for holding a concert where Donnie McClurkin was scheduled to performed. Well several "progressive" blogs have been hosting some pretty heated discussions on this issue. Donnie McClurkin has finally spoken on the issue:

"I believe in his stance. I believe in his platform and his agenda. So when they asked me if I would be a part of it, there was no problem," said McClurkin, who has performed at both parties' conventions and identifies himself as a Democrat. "We don't have to agree on everything, but we do have to agree on the main thing: that there needs to be change and I believe he is the candidate to bring it."

For years, McClurkin has talked from the pulpit about how he was raped by a male family member as a child. It was that act, he has said, that sent him into living as a gay man for the better part of 20 years. He now says he is straight and that his ministry is open to those who say they no longer want to live as a gay person. What he doesn't do, he says, is crusade against homosexuality.

"There's never been a statement made by me about curing homosexuality. People are using that in order to incite anger and to twist my whole platform on it. There's no crusade for curing it or to convert everyone. This is just for those who come to me and ask for change." SOURCE

We will probably be talking about this on NPR's News & Notes Black Bloggers Roundtable tomorrow ( check you local listings.)

I have also invited African American bloggers who happen to be gay and lesbian to appear on the podcast on Thursday (8 PM CST). I've been reading their take on all of this and they offer a different perspective. I think this issue merits a more discussion. I hope you will join us and call in to participate in a civil and mature manner ( looking at YOU KNOW WHO!). These folks are kind enough to come on, don't call in with any foolishness!

Church Folks Getting a Threshing! Juanita Bynum, Donnie McClurkin, and Obama.. OH MY!

OH it a rough and tumble time for those with TBN ministries. They can't seem to catch a break. Juanita Bynum and Donnie McClurkin are taking some beatings on blogs. The Donnie McClurkin and Obama story should register on y'alls radars around Thursday or so, But I thought I would give y'all a heads up.

It is going to be a rough week for Obama. Some folks are in an uproar about the fact that Obama has a gospel tour featuring Donnie McClurkin. Jack and Jill Politics and Eurweb have more. What these people don't understand is that a whole lot of the folks on that tour beyond Donnie McClurkin share his views, so under their standards, no presidential candidate EVER should have a gospel artist in their line up. . Notice none of these folks were up in arms when McClurkin sang at the 1992 Democratic convention. I'll have more later in the evening, but I wanted to put that on y'alls radar. This is going to be interesting because what I 've been reading the comments on other blogs and they say that they have no idea who Donnie is and then proceed to savage him. What they don't understand is that the relationship between a gospel artist and their fans is MUCH deeper than say that between Britney Spears and her fans. Donnie might come down with a case of strep throat right before the tour, but Obama can no more repudiate Donnie McClurkin than he would repudiate MLK. I wonder how many of these "progressive bloggers" have devoted a single SENTENCE to Obama's stance on the Dunbar Village gang rape. Or for that matter Clinton, Edwards or Richardson's stance on Dunbar Village since they all know about it and have not said a word. Obama office said he would be issuing a statement on August 7, 2007... I'm still waiting.

Now on to the THRESHING FLOOR...
The views expressed in this post are in no way intended to be actual spiritual advice or an interpretation of the Bible, but merely Gina pulling some explanations out of the air after about a half dozen folks asked what a "Threshing Floor" was. I feel like I'm in Sunday school class. Mama, call me correct any of my explanations as you are a Black belt Bible Scholar and me...not so much ( okay well sort of when it suits me).
I loathe anything that might attract church folk to this blog, but many people have asked what the heck a "Threshing Floor" is. So I will offer MY explanation which of course some folk will take as an invitation to proselytize on this blog which will tick off other folks and then I'll have to weigh in and say "settle down" and then a second wave of sanctimonious know-it-alls will come along an say I got it all wrong and God called them last night and told them exactly what a "threshing floor" is and they will insist on leaving a tome on the etymology of "Threshing Floor" in the comments and then people will talk about how the "threshing floor' changed their lives and now everybody needs a threshing floor too. In other words, I'm providing MY explanation, I won't let y'all turn this blog into a Sunday school class.

Well there is a literal definition, but then like all symbols, there are probably a half dozen or more spiritual meanings. I am not a religious scholar, only a churchologist so theologians ( those brave enough to openly comment on this blog) please weigh in. I did however dust off my official Bedside Baptist Illustrated Cliff Note's Bible and have dug deep for my readers who did not have to sit through bible study, BTU, starlight band, prayer meeting, youth meeting, angel choir rehearsal, junior usher board practice, bible drill practice not to be confused with drill team practice, oh yeah and Sunday school.

Literal Meaning

Threshing floors and wheat and corn etc. pop up a lot in the Bible. For example the one that pops up in my mind just off the top of my head is the story of Ruth and Boaz. Wheat played a big role in that story. Have you ever heard the phrase "separate the wheat from the chaff?" Well in the olden days, that would happen on the threshing floor. You would beat or "thresh" the grain to separate the usable part from the unusable. The wind would blow and the lighter, unusable portion of the wheat would float away. Not only that, but the place where you would do it tended to be communal, flat, and God liked telling folks throughout the bible to hang out or carry out certain tasks involving a threshing floor. So folks attach some meaning that the threshing floor is somehow "special or sacred."

Spiritual Meaning ( Depending on who you are talking to)

Just imagine your self a wheat plant and the "threshing floor" is where you would go to separate the unusable part of you from the usable. Or purify you, separate the substance from the fluff. Or say that man kind is a wheat plant and the Universe "threshes" us all to separate the usable from the unusable. John the Baptist talked about Jesus coming after him and basically separating the wheat from the chaff.... the chaff get burned. (Matthew 3:12)I told y'all wheat pops up a lot in the Bible.

Juanita Bynum' $200,000 Threshing Floor

For Juanita Bynum, the threshing floor apparently is the place where the Lord Almighty can reach her on her cosmic cell phone with the fewest dropped calls. Apparently she needs this threshing floor or God's going to put her on call waiting. Its kind of like a prayer closet, only bigger.... and more expensive. Think of it as kind of a meditation room. She even wrote a book called the threshing floor.

Well y'all remember Juanita was supposed to become the new face of domestic violence? Well pretty soon after her initial publicity blitz following the incident with her husband, Bishop Tommy "The Hit Man" Weeks. Prophetess Bynum began to appear to capitalize on her increased visibility. For example, she put up an ad on her website proclaiming that 40 million folks had visited that month. Well of course they did, she was all over the news for being allegedly attacked by her husband. Then this video popped up where Juanita basically asked fro $200,000 to build a new "threshing floor" because she had to move from the house where her old floor was located see it for yourself(this was right after the incident with the husband):


Here is one of the most popular responses to Juanita Bynum courtesy of Character Corner: