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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sucka-Punched By CNN

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AND ESPECIALLY THE GODLY BLACK WOMEN!
"For black women across the country, Michelle Obama is a new role model, a woman who defies stereotypes in a public way they say they haven't seen since the fictional Clair Huxtable of "The Cosby Show." ~ The Canadian Press 11-14-2008

Now, some things take a minute for me to digest. The excerpt above was a precursor to the current trend that we are witnessing as it comes closer to the Presidential Inauguration. A recent CNN story on our soon to be 1st Lady Of America, conferred a "Claire Huxtable" status upon Michelle Obama claiming that she will be one of the premiere educated, and family oriented Black Women in the country. After some research, I found out that both Newsweek, The Boston Herald and the Canadian Press had also conferred this illustrative but "fictitious" status on Mrs. Obama. Why? Look at one excerpt to see:

"Black women are among the least likely to marry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2007 American Community Survey. The same survey found that most blacks are born to unwed mothers. And black men suffer from high drop out, unemployment and incarceration rates"~The Canadian Press 11-14-2008


On Monday Nov. 24th CNN produced a story saying that Michelle Obama will be a positive "Role Model" for Black women of America and will "help" change the image that "many" people have regarding Black women in this country. In fact they said that the perception of Black Women in general is that they are Loud, Overweight, Uneducated, Slothful, Unmarried with Children as The Canadian Press suggests, and a hand full of other items that they claimed was stereotypical of Black women.
Pastor are you serious?
Answer: YEP!

Not only according to them are Black Women slightly off balanced or misplaced but others say, well...you just don't feel good about yourself either:
"Black women across the country say they expect Obama’s dark skin will inspire girls and women to feel better about themselves. Her workout habits may inspire others to get in shape. And the Obamas’ intelligence may stop the teasing that some black children endure for being smart," said Maya Rockeymoore, 37, a political scientist in Washington, D.C. ~ The Boston Herald.com 11/15/2008

REALLY???
I REALLY don't want or intend to steal any of the THUNDA from Michelle Obama, and I am glad that she remains a strong and committed, intelligent black woman. BUT, I began to think, that not only have Black Women been the strength of the Black Community, and The Black Church, but also the strength of the American Community in general for generations. Black women have fed and raised many individuals, executives and otherwise that will remain unmentioned until Jesus comes. Black women have managed and maintained homes, children and grandchildren sometimes all under one roof and haven't compromised themselves to do so. Black Women have played the role of the father when the father was absentee, the teacher when the teacher didn't like their child and failed to educate them, and the councilor when the family was on the brink of mental breakdown from social and financial pressures. Black Women have been the prayer warrior in their homes, neighborhoods and communities, and a voice of godly reason that many youth have learned to trust.
Why is it now that all of the godly, sanctified, and holy women have been overlooked as IF they hadn't really achieved or accomplished much until Michelle came along?

As I said...DON'T GET ME WRONG. I wouldn't, by virtue, tear down any Black woman to exalt another. I can only say that the community is full of wonderful, faithful, loud and soft toned, large and small, GREAT Black Women that have endured the total devastation that has hit our communities and churches. Need I mention, Coretta, Rosa, or Betty S. X?


They have done set examples, educated our children and built our communities for years with little or no recognition and I simply want to stop and say that You don't have to get on Michelle's bandwagon to be considered successful, you can scoot on over so that she can simply get on your bandwagon!
You see I just happen to know that there are godly women that don't believe in abortion and homosexual rights. I just happen to know that there are godly and smart women who never went to Princeton, Yale or Harvard, but can think circles around the best of them...I married a strong black woman and she's put up with me, my failures and successes for over 22 years now and before I take it back, I'll add more to it...God's REALLY been good to me!


Others have noticed this trend carried forward by CNN. Newsweek.com reported this after the "Black In America" show aired

"Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we're all hot-tempered single mothers who can't keep a man and, according to CNN's "Black in America," documentary, those of us who aren't street-walking crack addicts are on the verge of dying from AIDS. As writer Rebecca Walker put it on her Facebook page: "CNN should call me next time they really want to show diversity and meet real black women that nobody seems to talk about.''..."Like Walker, I too know more than my share of black women who have little in common with the black female images I see in the media. My "sistafriends" are mostly college educated, in healthy, productive relationships and have a major aversion to sassy one-liners. They are teachers, doctors and business owners. Of course, there are those of us who never get the chance to pull it together. And we accept and embrace them—but their stories can't and shouldn't be the only ones told."
As I said, I felt "sucka-punched". I was excited and drawn in by promise only to take one right on the chin. The story seemed to say that Black women were invisible until Michelle stepped on the scene. And that's simply NOT the case. In spite of all that we're dealing with God yet has a remnant that HAVEN'T bowed their knee to Baal neither have kissed his foot, and I believe that he is using those women now like never before.

To ALL the Godly women and Black Women in particular...no matter the skin tome, size or shape, I'd rather have a Ruth, Naomi, Esther or Abagail any day than a mere "Claire Huxtable."
Prov. 31:10-31 ~ "10-Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11-The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12-She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13-She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14-She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15-She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16-She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17-She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18-She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19-She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20-She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21-She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22-She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23-Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24-She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25-Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26-She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27-She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28-Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29-Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30-Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31-Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

May God Bless You!

11 comments:

  1. Now, someone will invariably be offended at the appearance of Dr. Betty Shabaaz....

    Let's get it right. Dr. Shabaaz did much to educate and promote the stability of our communities for a number of years. It is for that reason that I as a Christian honor her memory and service. We are better for the work that she did here on Earth.

    We know the gospel truth...that doesn't change, that's why we must be about our FATHER'S business.

    God bless.

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  2. Pastor Burnett, I'm going to send you an "offering" for this post!

    You just took all of my thoughts concerning this whole election, black role model thing and summed it all in this post. While I too am not taking anything away from Michelle Obama and adore her sense of style and grace, I in no way feel that NOW black women deserve their just due because of Michelle Obama.

    I don't even need to say anything else because again, you've the nail squarely on the head...all I can say is "well said Pastor Burnett, well said!"

    From a Black Woman that has been and continues to be a role model in her family, marriage, job, church, community etc...EVERYDAY!

    Kudos to all my other other Strong, Beautiful, GOD-FEARING Black Sisters!

    Sister Pat

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  3. Sister Pat,

    Thank you, God bless, and your response was the encouragement I needed regarding this issue.

    Keep up the GOOD work! God bless.

    Pastor Burnett

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  4. I read your recent article regarding other GODLY, Sanctified and Holy Women of GOD being overlooked and the seemingly need to feel that only Michelle's bandwagon is going somewhere:...

    Well, I admire the OBAMA's very much being a daughter of the South and raised during the season of busing to bring about racial equality in the undergraduate schools. Additionally, I am a daughter of a traditionally black college having achieved my bachelor degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and continued to acquired other degrees... including a Masters in Theology and an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible Institute...

    However, with all that said... the WORLD has never given us credit for anything beyond the Aunt Jemima... imagery until Claire Huxtabel... (other then feeling sorry for us due to the Civil Rights Battle)

    But they were not threaten by CLAIRE because she was fictitious... Cosby was some black comedian who lived in fantasy-ville... while we in the BLACK community saw the positive imagery and began to "think" but not enough to really do and make changes in our communities and homes... high rate of illegitimate and unwanted pregnancies continued, drug abuse, gangs, crime... poverty... drop out rates... no real significant change that impacted our communities enough to get the attention of WHITE Main Stream Media (MSM)....

    BUT NOW!... "BLACK" is no longer something to look down on... no longer disdained... no longer fictitious... ITS... a REAL -- HIGHLY VISABLE -- RESPECTED -- KNOWLEAGLE --- IMPACTFUL -- IMAGERY that no matter what they DO they can not destroy or pull down...

    MICHELLE is not some black woman with nothing going for her but a bunch of babies, uneducated, depending on her man to hand her some money... MSM and White America don't know what to do with that... so they come up with these foolish statements trying to appear as though they have somehow arrived to the conclusion that just maybe there is more to US (the Black Community) than they ever thought could be and surely ever would be...

    In desperation, to try to get a hold of their loss for words... they make these insulting statements because they never really looked at US before. THEY always saw us in the supporting roles, like Condi Rice and Colin Powell... See, then they felt they had done something...as if to suggest that bigotry was a 'thing' of the past... they felt like they had earned their stripes... to say that they were not prejudice... but The REAL Truth is NOW right in their faces and they are not handling it well.

    Claire was someone that they didn't believe was possible to really BE... (a leading role, a Lady with her head on her shoulder able to really run her home, be a wife, mom and a PROFESSIONAL!) --

    And NOW in the FLESH! There is a real woman in the personage of the FIRST Lady of the United States of America, an AFRICAN AMERICAN who did not get pregnant out of wedlock, who is not the victim of domestic violence, whose brother is not in jail or on crack but a loving, supportive wife, mother, Lawyer, professional with her own business & influence. What a phenomenal example of DIGNITY with CLASS while yet, Intelligent, Educated and able to hold her own...?

    THEY JUST NEVER REALLY LOOKED BEFORE AT WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM...!!

    Its no secret why CNN decided to do the "BLACK in America" series just at the end of the primaries... there again, their perception and imagery w-a-a-s and still is through the eyes of Poverty, crime, drugs, illiteracy, and babies out of wedlock, single moms on welfare... That's what they looked for and that is the majority of what they showed... Sure, there were a few 'tokens' as it were... but generally AMERICA is not READY for US to be EQUAL with them...

    NOW, they have to deal with it cuz WE are no longer cleaning the White HOUSE but Running the WHITE HOUSE and LEADING this Nation with Honesty, Respect and Integrity...

    God Bless you!
    May the Lord God of your Fathers make you one thousand times more numerous than you R

    Prophetess, Dr. Regina R. Lindsay

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  5. Phrophetess can GO!!!

    Aiight Now!

    This is the part that we ant to see actualized:

    "...Running the WHITE HOUSE and LEADING this Nation with Honesty, Respect and Integrity."

    Their views (michelle's views in this case)and what she endorses will be the best indicator of this. Let's continue to pray.

    God bless.

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  6. Happy Thanksgiving, Supt. Burnett. Great article and I agree 100% with you and Prophetess, Dr. Regina R. Lindsay. Well said!

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  7. AMAN, Sister Regina



    sister Pat

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  8. Pastor Burnett: Of course, I agree with the Prophetess. For me it is the image of Michelle, in particular, she looks black! We don't have to guess what she is i.e. light, bright and almost white that successful black men tend to chose, or just marry the white women (marry who you love, but I think you know what I am saying) and there is a laundry list of examples. It sends a message (in my opinion) to the successful black man, that it is okay to have to marry a "black woman" and that she will have your back. Also, let's not forget that now we have two young black girls that are growing up with a father/mother in the white house and that possibilities are endless. I am sure we now have little black girls looking up to them which is a positive image.

    The examples you gave of Godly women are women Coretta and Betty, husband murdered (still the image of suffering black women that makes it despite of without a husband, they were never able to recover and move on with their lives. Merlie Evers seems to have overcome this. Their children also seem to be stuck in the past.

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  9. Praise the LORD!

    Pastor Burnett, I pray that you and your family had a blessed thanksgiving weekend.

    Where has CNN been???????

    This proves that the Mainstream Media and the powers that be...as well as Main Stream Christians(whites) DO NOT KNOW real black Christians...male or female. I would dare to say bold that they do not know JESUS' little ones! Then they do not know HIM! And truly, I am convinced that the Mainstream/majority REFUSE to know real sincere, saved, family valued black folks on the other side of town. Yeah, Michelle, LORD willing(IT IS NOT FINAL YET FOLKS-Another discussion--there are court battles going on about Barack's birth certificate***Another discussion) will be in the white house as the first Black First Lady. That's great! Wondeful! Ask yourself the question--Who promoted the Obamas? Who set them up? It was the mainstream, majority and media elites...not us--the true black christians! The WORLD SYSTEM elevated Barack and Michelle Obama...not GOD!

    You see the Mainstream, Media elites do not want to acknowledge or give credit to Black Christian America. Michelle Obama and millions more black American women and women of African descent like her are the fruit of the big mommas, madeas, and countless other black women that self-sacrificed and cried out to the LORD to save and bless their offspring! Those prayers were sent up years ago in cotton fields, and out here in MD/VA..tobacco fields and countless other plantations, on bended knees!

    Until the USA Mainstream and majority faces its past and gets true spiritual healing and deliverance from repentance and confession and spiritual restoration towards black folks in this country, Barack and Michelle Obama cannot heal that process--that is TOO MUCH a burden to put on them and for white America to think that this absolves them of their past sins and guilt...they will be sadly mistaken.

    I am not a black liberation theologian, but I must say what I know is the truth about this whole election and this process. Amen.

    Last thing, I do not support Barack regarding key issues that are important to me as a servant of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, but I pray that the LORD turns his heart to righteousness and I pray for his protection and protection for his wife and children. I pray GOD raises up sincere pastors that will have open access to minister to Barack and Michelle the TRUE GOSPEL of the LORD JESUS CHRIST before it is too late! See Proverbs 21:1: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Amen.
    Saints, not sound like a cliche, but we better PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Watch and Pray without ceasing!

    Pastor,
    have you noticed the grim look on Barack face as if he knows he is a marked man? LORD HELP US and KEEP us in JESUS NAME! We do not need another JFK crisis or any assasination attempt! Not now LORD! Give us more time LORD JESUS CHRIST for YOUR NAME's SAKE! Amen!

    Be Blessed!

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  10. EnochWalked,

    God bless you also my friend. I have noticed that the President Elect is aging already dealing with what needs to be dealt with and he hasn't even taken office yet...so yes, he needs our prayers.

    Now there are some who would say that we're praying for the devil or anti-Christ, but I really and sincerely don't think so. I look at it like this, at least the President elect has told us what he believes and stands for and wants to promote. I can deal with that as I see he's off base in some areas, but as I've said consistently, Reagan and Bush were off base also.

    So far as the racial items, y'all are some radicals on this board (LOL-LOL-LOL) and I know you don't mean to offend anyone but it is what it is...all I can say is THANK GOD FOR JESUS!

    I thank God that I've got some good, beautiful and saved white friends and ministry associates. Even contributors to this board who are in it for Jesus all the way and all I can do is pray for them as they pray for me, help them when I can and be glad to meet them when we all get to heaven and sing shout and dance around that throne!

    Anyway, in spite of all our issues, I'm proud of the women who have stood and positioned themselves to teach this generation of sistah's. We all must function within the capacity that God has called us.

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  11. JJBrock,

    Is that a new picture?

    Ooh and by the way, whatchu doing listenin' to "holy-hip hop"?(LOL)

    I've got a post comin' up soon...so don't think I'm targeting you, y'u-know I'd never do that...I just had to mess with ya for a minute.(LOL) God bless.

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