Rev. Sekou to Black Clergy: 'Don't Pimp This'

Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou is a member of the African American Ministers Leadership Council, a project of People For the American Way Foundation.

TRANSCRIPT:

Two, there is a problem with the text and the church and sexuality. Theres a I often tell queer folk, Don't come in here with the gay marriage thing. Grandmomma will understand teen pregnancy cause she may have been one. She understands that. There is some problems with that, and I am the in the fraternity of preaching. So I know where a lot of preachers were last night.

And so another question for us is the dual lives around sex and sexuality that clergy lead. Right? So what happens in the church - we get up and talk bad about the minister of music. Subtextually, were running a homophobic line.

A pastor can knock somebody up in the church, get up preach the next Sunday and folks be shouting all over the place about it. That there is a contradiction on sex and sexuality inside the Black church, in which heterosexual preachers are able to engage in all kinds of sexual exploitation of their members that we don't say a word, and its an uneven critique of it.

And for the preachers in this room, you potential preachers, particularly the straight, Black men, do not get up on the pulpit doing that strongman stuff. The strong, Black man. "I love my wife." "I took my wife on a vacation." "I bought my wife a car." Because you do three things

One, I probably know where you were last night. So you're lying, and don't pimp this. Theres too much stuff in the world to pimp. Don't pimp this. This is a holy and honorable calling. Do not pimp it. You set yourself up as a strong man, and you demonize the everyday brother in the pulpit, in the congregation. Everyday brother like he never gonna be you. Hes never gonna be in front of a crowd, people swooning around him. Hes never gonna be able to buy a car. I don't care what folk tell him. He aint never going to be able to buy no fancy car for his wife, take her on no fancy vacation.

And three, you are using women one of two ways. Either you're sleeping with them which a significant amount of you are, or you're sleeping with her psychically. She do extra stuff for you. She gets your little robe on Sundays, gets your car. She get you cleaned up, cook your pie that you like every Sunday.

And I'm saying don't pimp this. Don't pimp this. Its too much around. Do something else because what happens then is that then I believe the argument about homosexuality becomes a glyph a sign and a symbol of our silence so you can go ahead and continue to do your own thing.

And I'm not sitting here as some moral example. If they said I did it, I probably did. And I'm not sitting here like I'm all holy and pure and righteous. If there were consenting adults involved my publicist is having a fit now and I probably did it.

So I'm not sitting there with some self righteous attitude. I'm just saying leave Jamal Jenkins on the organ alone as long as you running women. To me, the most significant conversation that we can have in the Black Church is not only about homosexuality and homophobia, but its also about sexual proclivities of clergy.

Category:

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• Osagyefo
• Uhuru
• Sekou

[javacoder411]

I didn't know that a preacher was allowed to say the word "fucking".

[theseeker2k5]

Hello,

My name is Anthony Coleman and I am 18 years old. I really want to become a preacher and start my own church. I was watching your video when you were preaching on the streets and I was wondering if you did that often? and if you did, I was wondering if I could join you in spreading the Good News? God bless you.

[Sepia1789]

If you want me and other people to see your point of view you can't hand me a Queen and tell me it's a Spade. If discrimination is horrible, regardless of who is tossing it around, say it, but don't add something irrevelant to the argument to justify your point.

I can't say why people are comfortable using violence than same sex couples, except an intolerance of people who they think are "different." The fact that they feel that way about you and others is their problem not yours.

[Sepia1789]

The fact that anyone suffers discrimination comes from the same frame of mind which is superiority. The fact that you're gay and I'm a straight multiracial female are two completely different subjects.

So, by your definition of me being racial minority I should walk hand and with homosexual rights, because I know discrimination based on my color? Do you realize how insulting and fallacious that sounds?

[Sepia1789]

Most of what you said makes a lot more sense than before, however, why should it be black people, out of all the people of color in this country who are discriminated against, be the one obligated to support homosexuals? Is the discrimination you face as a homosexual male the problem of black people or close minded people in general?

Asians, Natives, and Latinos know what it's like to be discriminated against, but why did you urn this into a race issue? Gay is not a race issue.

[neenerpuss]

I am not blaming black people. I drew a conclusion that black people should recognize discrimination, themselves having been discriminated against also often having "scripture" used to justify it. I can also tell you I have had a black and a hispanic BF before I settled down. I have seen first hand discimination on race too. I am saying ALL of it is bad! But why do many feel more comfortable with violence than same sex couples?

[Sepia1789]

AIDS is rampant in the gay community period, not just black men doing it. You are a racist and you've made it obvious. And because you are just that you have no reason to point the finger at others for being prejudice when you are clearly cut from the same mold.

If you're so colorblind, you wouldn't need to use race or color to justify your perspective.

[Sepia1789]

You've taken everything I've said out of context. I said quit blaming black people for these problems, because this is not a race argument. I see you got real jumpy when I mentioned racism in the gay community among white male gays. I know gays come in all colors, silly ass and so does bigotry and discrimination! That was my point so stop placing the blame on black people, when that's not the problem!

My brother and cousin are black gay males, so don't preach that bullshit to me.

[neenerpuss]

You think Im a Bigot because I dont believe you should discriminate? Gays come in EVERY color. We are the most diverse minority. Being gay is not a "white" male thing. Black men are spreading AIDS at an alarming rate...because people like you dont think gays are black. Its called "down low"! The thing with gays...we really dont see color because there are black gays, red gays, yellow gays, and purple gays...we come in all colors, all shapes, all sized, and all degrees of gayness.

[neenerpuss]

So what you are saying discrimination against us is acceptable, but discrimination against you is not???

I think you are blind to the "frame of minds" that discriminate against you. Discimination is Discrimination...it knows no bounds!

MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW!