The Horrific Reality
“The unfortunate thing we face, whether we’re talking about individuals or organizations, there’s never been a shortage of black leaders who are willing to sell us down the river, if it’s enough money and political power in it for them.”1 — Stephen Edward Broden
In 1971, when addressing abortion, Jesse Jackson said: “Those advocates of taking life prior to birth do not call it killing or murder; they call it abortion. They further never talk about aborting a baby because that would imply something human. Rather, they talk about aborting the fetus. Fetus sounds less than human and therefore [abortion] can be justified.”2 In a 1973 interview with Jet magazine, Jesse Jackson once said: “Abortion is genocide”3 and in 1975 called for the ban of abortion through a constitutional amendment. The both priceless and definitive Maafa21 DVD clip [which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8AhkxjYqRA] decidedly documents Mr. Jackson’s reversal on abortion.4 The evidence is clear. Over the years black leadership has followed Jesse’s lead and consequently betrayed their own people in the abortion debate. So what now? Is black leadership (i.e., the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP, and the Black Church) a lost cause? Is it too “late in the day” to touch the heart of black America and open her eyes to the death of her own children? If the cause is not lost and if there is still time, what must be done now to reach and reverse the horrific reality of black leadership’s support for abortion?
This is part six (6) of a seven (7) part series examining why black leadership rejects the pro-life movement, is helping to perpetrate the genocide of their own people, and what can be done to reverse this horrific reality.
Reaching and Reversing the Horrific Reality (Yesterday)
“I think the greatest failure in reference to the abortion issue has been black leadership. I’m terribly, terribly, terribly concerned that the Black Church, our black Congressional representatives, and our social organizations, such as the NAACP, have been deathly silent on this issue, and if silence is consent then we have this horrific reality that black leadership is helping to perpetrate the genocide of their own people.”5 — Dr. Levon R. Yuille
The 19th Century Underground Railroad
In the early 19th century, the Underground Railroad, a vast network of individuals and organizations, helped slaves escape to the North. It consisted of both blacks and whites working together. According to one estimate, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850. Harriet Tubman and one of Jill Stanek’s ancestors, Levi Coffin, are an example of black and white working together. During a ten (10) year span Harriet made 19 trips into the South and rescued over 300 slaves. Harriet is quoted as saying: “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” Coffin’s home was the “Grand Central Station” of the Underground Railroad. The 19th century version of the Underground Railroad consisted of individuals and businesses. “Stations” and “depots” were where slaves would rest and were run by “stationmasters.” Those who contributed money or goods were “stockholders.” “Conductors” were responsible for moving fugitives from one station to the next. People who helped slaves find the railroad were “agents” (or “shepherds”). Slaves would obtain a “ticket.” Escaped slaves were referred to as “passengers” or “cargo.” The Big Dipper asterism (whose “bowl” points to the North Star) was known as the “drinkin’ gourd.” The Railroad itself was also known as the “Freedom Train” or “Gospel Train,” which headed toward “heaven” or “the Promised Land.” What I am proposing to reach and reverse the horrific reality of black leadership’s betrayal of us is the creation of a 21st century version of the Underground Railroad.
Reaching and Reversing the Horrific Reality (Today)
“I freed thousands of slaves. I could have freed thousands more, if they had known they were slaves.” — Harriet Tubman (c. 1822 – 10 March 1913), also known as Black Moses, was an African-American abolitionist.
The 21st Century Underground Railroad
In order to reach those born after 1973, who have never lived in a world without legalized abortion, or heard of the National Black Pro-Life Coalition6 or [were] even aware that there is a war being fought in America for the very survival of minority communities, we must create a 21st century version of the Underground Railroad. This team is made up of individuals and businesses, both black and white, committed to protecting life made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). “Stations” and “depots” would equate to “modern day venues” where purposefully and prayerfully planned projects that reach communities of color are hosted by “stationmasters.” Those who financially back these projects are the “stockholders” of the railroad. “Conductors” are those who are responsible for moving the “passengers” from one step of freedom to the next by way of “educational encounters” designed to effectively reach and reverse the impact of abortion on the industry’s target population—their #1 customer, black America. After all, Harriet said she could have “freed thousands more, if they had known they were slaves.” The “passengers” are those enslaved on Uncle Sam’s proposed 10.3 trillion dollar plantation, a socialistic welfare state crafted to deceive and destroy the poor.7 “Agents” and/or “shepherds” are individuals, business leaders and/or church leaders who work together in their communities, within their sphere of influence, creating an environment that tangibly blesses “passengers” and connects them with “conductors.” If it’s true that we derive our understanding of everything we experience in the now from everything we understood in the past, then it’s evident victory will not come from the White House or the court house, but by way of the church house. Because victory lies within the heart of the Body of Christ, our Big Dipper or “drinkin’ gourd” is the Bible and our “North Star” is the “Bright and Morning Star” of Revelation 22:16.
A “Whole Life” Movement
After thirty-eight (38) years and over fifty-five (55) million lives lost to the evil of abortion,8 it’s time for a new movement, a “whole-life”9 movement to protect all life made in the image of God. Maybe you are a modern day stationmaster? Maybe you are a stockholder? Maybe you are a conductor? Maybe you’re an agent and/or shepherd? One thing is certain. Time is short. My people are perishing.10 So I’m wondering where has God called you to serve on His Underground Railroad and when are you going to answer His call.
Brothers, we really need to talk.
Reference(s):
1. Maafa21 DVD, Many thanks to my good friend Mark Crutcher, president and founder of Life Dynamics Incorporated (http://maafa21.com).
2. How We Respect Life Is the Over-Riding Moral Issue” (http://bit.ly/osRPN2).
3. Jet Magazine: Mar 22, 1973 page 15 (http://bit.ly/rpjoIf).
4. Maafa21 DVD, op.cit.
5. “Blood Money: The business of Abortion,” Directed by my brother in Christ David K. Kyle, August 2009 (http://bit.ly/ebWLEW).
6. National Black Pro-Life Coalition (http://bit.ly/lqIlJO).
7. “Obama to Spend $10.3 Trillion on Welfare: Uncovering the Full Cost of Means-Tested Welfare or Aid to the Poor,” The Heritage Foundation (http://bit.ly/nVQbX7). I highly recommend Star Parker’s definitive work and strategy in her book Uncle Sam’s Plantation (http://bit.ly/p3yAYV).
8. Dennis M. Howard, “Does this number shock you? Wait ’til you see the bill!” Movement for a Better America (http://bit.ly/hFnSa8).
9. The mission of the Whole Life initiative is to promote a respect for the intrinsic dignity of the human person regardless of ability, age, status, ethnicity or sex. Many thanks to my good friend Jason Jones for his Whole Life vision (http://bit.ly/rfmyBu).
10. “Why I Can’t Wait,” Walter B. Hoye II (http://bit.ly/6qdDvO).
Walter B. Hoye II is both president and founder of the Issues4life Foundation http://www.issues4life.org/ and the California Civil Rights Foundation. God used the premature birth (six months, 2.1 pounds) of his son to teach him that the fetus is a person—a living, breathing human being. In 2008, Walter and his wife, Lori, were the recipients of the 4th Annual Walk for Life West Coast’s St. Gianna Molla Award for “courage under fire” in the pro-life movement. He serves as an incredible leader for the cause of the preborn despite the personal costs, and has even been unjustly jailed for his peaceful defense of the preborn on a sidewalk outside an abortion clinic. His “Letter from the Santa Rita Jail” and California Human Rights Amendment appeal for personhood entitled “Why I Can’t Wait” are now classics. Hoye has also written a book entitled, Leadership from the Inside Out.
This article has been reprinted with permission and can be found at http://issues4lifefoundation.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/betrayal-trauma-6-of-7/.
