Christian Community Networking

  Ramon Roane

The black man has endured brutal treatment since our captivity until this very day. Until 1866 with the abolition of slavery, black men was considered 3/5 of a man. He has been treated by whites with little respect even in front of his own family. He had to take to lowest of jobs to support his family, while trying to keep his dignity. I am not only speaking from my love of history, but even of my own experience. I along with 16 other black men have been subjected to racism by a large industrial company, named Nucor Steel. We have been fighting for our civil rights and those that come behind us since 1999. Today the Supreme Court will decide whether to allow the company to appeal the lower court ruling for class certification. I solicit for your prayers for justice.

Since Barack Obama was elected some would like to think that the black man have finally arrived, I would beg to differ. Some have anointed him as savior of our race and that is yet to be seen. We still have a long way to go, before we can truly say that we have equality in this country. My suggestion is to start by making the Voting Rights Acts permanent, instead of being renewed every 25 years. What a statement that would make. My point is that the black man has a long way to go for true equality in this country.

It is very important for you to know the history of the black man, because this can explain some of his behavior. I would never try to excuse the black man for not fulfilling his role in the home or society, but understand what may have caused him to make the choices he makes. What if you told your son that he would never amount to nothing and you told him this every day? What if his environment backs this up? What if for 357 years or 14 generations he heard this? What kind of man would you expect?

The black man not only has been disrespected among whites, but even his own race as well. I never understood why the Urban League said that the black woman is the backbone of the black family. Where does this leave the black man? It seems that we want to lift up the black woman at the demise of the black man. How is this encouraging us?

The church has been preaching to itching ears and not truth for years! This maybe why that only 15% of black single men attend church regularly. They have little examples in the home and in the church. When Senior Pastor Amanda Brown of I’m Climbing Up the Rough Side of Baptist Church tells the men of the church that she is leading a men’s retreat to instruct them on how to be a man and husband. Then we wonder why the men are leaving the church, it is no wonder. Just as we need fathers/husbands in the home, we desperately need them on our pulpits.

Fathers brings stability to the family, he is the head of the family just as Christ is the head of the church. Where would the body of the family be without the head? It is said that 63% of black children born are to unwed mothers. The bible does not allow for the women to assume the role of the husband/father, nor the husband to assume the role of the wife/mother. There should be equal respect for both roles in the family, and no role is more important than the other. I have great respect for the role of the wife/mother has it relates to the scripture.

Our churches must teach our sons the Gospel of Christ in its simplicity. Instead of preaching those feel good, wealth building, wop and holla sermons, teach the Gospel. Teach the truth of God’s word. I know you may lose members, but that will be okay because they were not there for the word anyway. Jesus gave you a charge and it is found in Gospel according to John;

John 21:15-17

15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Churches the family is hungry, feed them the Gospel!

Stay tuned to Part 3 ( Women )