Earlier this week I wrote a blog post on how black youths in Philadelphia encountered discrimination while swimming in a local pool. This story outraged me and others, including the mainstream media who normally discount racism still exist in this great country. Of course those who naively believed this country was in a “post-racial” phase were tremendously shocked that this could still happen since they voted and elected an African American as President of this great country. Members of the African-American Clergy no doubt are going to speak about this blatant discrimination in their services all across this country.
According to the New York Times, it appears that some African American clergy members are also practicing discrimination. It infuriates me that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) “is seeking to remove the president of its Los Angeles chapter in response to his support of same-sex marriage in California.” Rev. Eric P. Lee fought alongside gay groups like the Courage Campaign to oppose the evil Proposition 8 bill.
As Rev. Lee states “any time you deny one group of people the same right that other groups have, that is a clear violation of civil rights”.
What I don’t understand is how Rev. Lee’s belief differs from the SCLC’s mission statement of:
In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is renewing its commitment to bring about the promise of ‘one nation, under God, INDIVISIBLE’ together with the commitment to activate the ‘strength to love’ within the community of humankind.
I guess the difference is that the SCLC condemns discrimination against Blacks, but discriminating against gays is o.k. This must be so, since the SCLC directors summoned Rev. Lee to “Atlanta to explain why he had taken a position on same-sex marriage without the authority of the national board.” When does a person fighting for civil rights justice need their national board to authorize them to fight for the civil rights of all Americans?
The SCLC states on their website that “SCLC challenges all people of good will, of every persuasion, who believe in the principles espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to join us in our mission.” According to the SCLC’s interim president, Byron Clay, the organization publicly took a neutral position on the Prop 8 issue. Seriously, Mr. Clay? Neutral? Do you not remember one of Dr. King’s most infamous quotes:
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
I guess the SCLC doesn’t see that Dr. King’s quote should be the tenet running through their organization and its actions. This is why the SCLC will remain an organization void of a progressive future. A future which has a young and vibrant membership and fights for all Americans facing any form of injustice. If organizations like the SCLC continue with their “some discrimination is acceptable” mentality then they will remain irrelevant as the world passes them.
I challenge the SCLC to fight all injustices occurring in this great country – regardless of a person’s race, color, creed, or sexuality. A beloved community begins and ends with inclusiveness.
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