Trump rhetoric tests unity among black, white evangelicals

[question everything]

Bishop Richard Howell preaches the word of God to a congregation rarely reflected by the evangelical leaders making headlines. The faithful in his pews are black evangelicals, and many are outraged over the racial rhetoric in Washington and the feeble response from white brethren.

Mr. Trump’s derogatory statements about people of color not only are degrading and dangerous, said Howell, but also are deepening rifts among black and white evangelicals, the latter who overwhelmingly support Trump. “Make America Great Again — what’s that supposed to mean?” asked Howell, pastor of Shiloh Temple International Ministries in north Minneapolis. “We believe it means the president wants to bring back the days of white superiority in this country.

(snip)

Evangelicals were key to Trump’s election in 2016, and white evangelical support has diminished little even as racial tensions rise. Nearly 70% of white evangelicals support the president, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, compared with 12% of black Protestants, the vast majority of whom consider themselves evangelicals. The numbers reveal a deep schism in this broad religious coalition that shares core tenets such as the infallibility of the Bible, a call to spread the Gospel, and the belief in conversion, or to be born again.

Many black and white evangelical leaders have worked for years on racial reconciliation to address the historic wounds caused by white Christians’ justification of slavery, Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and opposition to civil rights legislation. The nation may be entering another pivotal juncture, black pastors say, and they’d like to hear more support from their Christian counterparts. As it is now, the most high-profile evangelicals are Jerry Falwell Jr. and Franklin Graham, both unequivocal supporters of Trump.

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http://www.startribune.com/trump-rhetoric-tests-unity-among-black-white-evangelicals/514802152/

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

1. This headline is misleading

The "unity" between African American/White American Evangelicals has always been a mere surface one at best. White Evangelicals have been harboring racism since slavery. They supported the Klan Raids during the Antebellum period; they housed and sheltered the terrorists that blew up churches and and offices in the turbulent 60s, and White Evangelicals have voted, lockstep, for almost every anti-woman, anti-Black piece of legislation since the Reagan years - often to their own detriment.

Falwell, Jr. and Franklin were spreading their racist rhetoric before Trump; in fact, their rhetoric has been even more vitriolic.

[GulfCoast66]

2. One correction. Antebellum refers to before the war.

The klan started after the war.

Other than that spot on.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

4. Thanks for the correction...

...and to think, I minored in history. I'm not gonna even act like I meant "Post-Antebellum", though. That would be a lie.

[uponit7771]

5. +1,

[Wounded Bear]

3. The level of denial necessary for a Christian to support Trump astounds me...

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

[Mariana]

6. Christians, for the most part

have behaved abominably throughout the history of the faith, whenever they've gained political power. Most of the time they've done it with the enthusiastic support of the majority of their Christian subjects. Why should anyone expect the Christian Trump, and his Christian supporters in the US, to be an exception to this rule?