Recently surfaced images of an Oklahoma pastor in blackface have sparked accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity.
However, pastor Sherman Jaquess of Matoaka Baptist Church is defending his actions, arguing that people are simply too easily offended these days.
The shocking images, purportedly from a 2017 church Valentine’s Day event honoring Ray Charles, went viral recently.
Pastor Jaquess says the photos have been completely misunderstood, and that he wasn’t mocking Ray Charles – he was actually honoring him. The pastor is arguing that he’s “not racist at all,” and is standing by his decision to don blackface.
Blackface Blowup
"We have people [who] are offended by a lot of things,” argues Pastor Jaquess in defense of his blackface costume. “It's hard to play Ray Charles if you don't play a black man; it wasn't anything. It was honoring to Ray Charles; we sang the song as best as we could."
You can be the judge on whether Pastor Jaquess is sincere or not, but critics say his justification for using minstrel show style makeup clearly ignores the dark history of blackface and its implications.
The photos went viral after being shared by Tulsa activist Marq Lewis:
Under that post, other users added images of Pastor Jaquess dressed as Pocahontas, complete with brown dress, black braids, and brown makeup on his face.
In response to questions from local news outlets, Jaquess claimed "I don't feel like anything I did was derogatory racially at all,” and says he refuses to apologize for wearing black and brownface. “This church is multiracial,“ argues Jaquess, “it has all different kinds of racial people in it.“
“He Knows Better”
Lewis doesn’t buy the pastor’s arguments, and says that “he knows better” than to dress in blackface.
"You can honor anyone by not putting on blackface, and he is ignoring the historical references and all of the satirical types of caricatures that African Americans have gone through in this country," Lewis says.
"For him to say that's not racist says to me that he is completely out of touch with the reality of what this world and this country has dealt with — it's actually a slap in the face of African Americans and all people of color."
A Bit of a Drag
Adding another wrinkle to the situation, the pastor is facing calls of hypocrisy for his Pocahontas outfit.
Jaquess regularly demonizes drag queens in sermons, arguing that they’re perverts trying to groom children by dressing in women’s clothing.
However, according to Jaquess, his dressing as a woman is completely different, because it was not “sexual” in nature and he did not do a “sexual dance” around children.
In case you missed it, we posted an image of his outfit on our Facebook page:
Meanwhile, Jaquess says the backlash is no laughing matter – he claims to have received death threats since the posts resurfaced, as well as accusations of pedophilia.
"The big thing they're doing now, you can choose to believe it or not, is they're just posting everywhere that I'm a pedophile. Now, I don't know what dressing up like Ray Charles or dressing up like Pocahontas has anything to do with being a pedophile," he said.
Even so, the pastor insists that he won’t back down and won’t apologize.
What do you think? Even if you take the pastor at his word that his use of blackface was a genuine tribute to Ray Charles (as opposed to racist mockery), does that excuse the decision? And what about the Pocahontas outfit?
101 comments
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Larry Mager
Say what One will, The best way, imho, to honor Mr. Charles is to find some fine black singers to sing Mr. Charles' songs OR to dress up in a suit SIMILAR to what Mr. Charles wore in his concerts and NO Blackface and sing His songs. Mr. Charles is indeed worthy of remembrance...just not in blackface
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Rev. Z.D. Caballero
I will draw the wrath of everybody here, but I am the devil's advocate after all, and even him is not pmeased with me. So... there are no such thing as excuses or justifications. There are only reasons why people do the things they do. Further more, the concept of a right, as in constitutional rights, human rights or even so called, inalienable rights are a complete construct made by humans to make other humans conform to their system. All we have are responsibilities, duties, things we must do because they are good. Don't harm others and do what is right for all, NOT because you may go to Heaven, NOT because if you don't do good you may go to Hell, NOT because this or that group will give you a reward and NOT because the law will lock you up if you do wrong. Folks, do what is right because it is right. Period. The good pastor messed up. Period. Us going round and round calling him a racist ain't right either. Sure, controversy has always sold, but humanity's screw ups are not a comodity. They are lessons, and sadly we don't learn at all. Do your duty to yourself and to others, amd let the dead bury their dead.
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Rev Ned
Amen!
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Rev Mark D
You know, I think before answering this one I am just going to sit back with a Bud Light, suck on my tongue, ponder about whether since the Supreme Court Justice did it, it must be okay because the Senate confirmed him after it came to light, realizing that the one just after this Justice was confirmed after a Folsom case was made that he sexually assaulted a peer while an adult, well another was confirmed after it came to light that he had a long record of sexual harassment, after which he took on the quiet millions of dollars worth of gifts and benefits and money from a billionaire, all while somehow conveniently not thinking to declare them after he had "judiciously" remembered to declare such gifts in the past, and think about it. So maybe this pastor is right and we have no right to take offense at anything really, that's just how it is on God's green earth.
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Rev. Donut
Some people just have to be offended and whine and cry and reticule. That's how they try to make themselves relevant.
Its no different than a B lack Elvis or some guy from India playing an American Cowboy.
Don't sweat it Rev.
You did nothing to be ashamed of.
Let them be offended. Its their personal issue not yours. Haters are gonna hate and they will eventually die angry.
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William D. Anderson
“So as you've done unto the least of these, so have you done also unto me.” Upon our transition from this earth, if you can abide with this man’s transactions then press forward. But if you cannot, might I suggest one might repent now. furthermore, if one does not feel conflicted in this regard again, I might suggest re-examining ones relationship with Christ and the unabridged Word of God as mentioned above.
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Nicholas Peter Christopher
I support this pastor because he specifically states there is nothing sexual or racist about his costumes. While I realize that black face can be offensive, the world has changed in fact men can now dress like women and be deemed not racist or offensive. Can’t have it both ways
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James Riggle-Johnson
Saying people are too sensitive to justify wearing blackface is sickening. This is exactly why we need to teach these things in school. The history of blackface is insulting to the black community as it was a way to make fun of them. If we don’t learn from history then we repeat the mistakes of the past.
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Charlene Davis
I'm Native American and black we aren't a costume. He should be removed. If you didn't know Pocahontas was a 12-year-old indigenous American girl that was put into slavery raped and beaten she was forced to marry her slave owner and bear his children. Something like that is not a costume and it's not something to be made fun of it is very disrespectful to the confederated tribes. Remember what you do in this life determines where your soul goes.
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Marion Wolfe
Loads of people, but especially Christian conservatives, love to pretend that racism as a whole consists of, "saying the n-word" and nothing else, so they'll excuse some of the worst, most savage behavior and give themselves a free pass because they think they've found a little racism loophole.
Take some time today to browse through these comments and see if you can find the ones who have this mindset.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Anyone who sees nothing wrong with what the so-called preacher did is nothing less than he....a racist. Wanna know why?
Google Ray Charles, click on images. Then google racist stereotype blackface and click on images. Into which search results does the "preacher's" portrayal fall?
Any image I can find of Ray Charles shows him to always be well groomed, short, neat hair cut and his skin tone what I might describe as a medium brown. I refer you back to the ahole preacher's 'honoring' of Mr. Charles.
Fat, white, 'religious' racist/bigot
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Rev Ned
You also need to see "Bambi" again, paying attention to what Thumper's mother said.
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Rev. Jim Sutton
Dressing up to entertain has been going on for millennia. Were people offended when Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon did it ("Some Like It Hot" 1959; and get your mind blown by the ending scene in the speedboat between Jack Lemmon and Joe E. Brown). Or how about Milton Berle, Flip Wilson, Peter Scolari, Tom Hanks, Tim Curry, or Tyler Perry? And let's not forget the Wayans brothers in whiteface in 2004's "White Chicks." And who says people don't dress up as a favorite performer to honor them when performing 'like' them? If that was the case, then all these "tribute personas and bands" wouldn't draw in nearly the crowds that they do. Give me a break! I agree with the pastor, today's world has become overly sensitized; and, as John Cleese had said about the complainers, "They wait for the thrill of being offended." And there are idiots out there claiming "Cultural Appropriation" and calling out people for dressing up as Navi (from the movie "Avatar") for Halloween. (And some of those idiots have called out the movie's producers and directors for not using people of [blue] color. Can you believe it?)
We're people offended AT THE TIME the pastor dressed up? Doesn't sound like it. As he said, his costumes were for entertainment and educational purposes. NOT to groom children. No one was stuffing money down his costume and he wasn't performing sexually nor lap dancing on children.
Some people may not like it, but his costuming for entertainment & educational purposes is protected by the First Amendment. In other words, get a grip and focus on Real evils (being offended is not a Real evil. As Ricky Gervais said, "Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.").
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Tiffany Roberts
I am confused, this is suppose to be a man of god, blantantly ignoring the historical horribleness of pretending to be another race for amusement or any reason. So it appears as if Pastor Sherman has a difficult time making good judgement calls as it seems dressing up like other races is pretty common place here. Who would want a ministral clown for a pastor? Who would want a man who has such little respect for himself or others guiding people? Seems like he is simply making a mockery of everything aound him. Maybe a racist circus is a better fit then pastor.
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Kathleen Anne OBrien
Should NOT be a pastor at all. Lacks any sense of Christianity.
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Clay Serenbetz
I agree with Marq Lewis. Dressing to impersonate Pochantis is drag and the pastor has demonized drag. So, the pastor is a hypocrite. Blackface is culturally insensitive and belies the pastor's claim that he is not racist. The pastor suffers from an affliction called "unconscious racism" and such racism is at epidemic proportions in this country. Anyone who says he's not racist is more likely than not to harbor unconscious racism.
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Cheryl Murray
Finally a voice of reason. He was mocking Black people. Ray Charles never wore an afro. His skin was brown not tar black. And he wore nice suits or tuxedos, not that shiny stuff the pastor had on. But then again, this brought him a lot of attention. And they say all press is good press.
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Rev. Z.D. Caballero
I will draw the wrath of everybody here, but I am the devil's advocate after all, and even him is not pmeased with me. So... there are no such thing as excuses or justifications. There are only reasons why people do the things they do. Further more, the concept of a right, as in constitutional rights, human rights or even so called, inalienable rights are a complete construct made by humans to make other humans conform to their system. All we have are responsibilities, duties, things we must do because they are good. Don't harm others and do what is right for all, NOT because you may go to Heaven, NOT because if you don't do good you may go to Hell, NOT because this or that group will give you a reward and NOT because the law will lock you up if you do wrong. Folks, do what is right because it is right. Period. The good pastor messed up. Period. Us going round and round calling him a racist ain't right either. Sure, controversy has always sold, but humanity's screw ups are not a comodity. They are lessons, and sadly we don't learn at all. Do your duty to yourself and to others, amd let the dead bury their dead.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Z.D. Caballero Everyone is into labeling and name calling these days which is non-productive. No one has ever one an argument by yelling.
But in the case of this pastor we could and should forgive him for this one incident if he learned from it. But it appears he didn't. And like so many Christians continues to insult others with his Christian values and ideals which only offends.
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Marcella M Russell
I have nothing to say on this one. I don't like to be bother with things that are of no importantance. It doesn't matter these days what people say or what they call you once they don't call you to later. The only one I have serious concerns about calling me is. I WANT TO HEAR AND RECONIZE THE CALL OF MY LORD JESUS CHRIST.
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John Ekers
I think you have to remember that as clergy we represent Christ in our world. And I don’t think our Christ would wear blackface or brown face. Not many of us , myself included, have worn clothes representing the wise men or Joseph or other men of the Bible.
And I might even joke about my dress when I robe up. But. But. Blackface. Brown face. Makeup. He is, in my opinion, just wrong.-
Rev. Donut
So all those churches that have Christmas plays in their basement, or on the sidewalk, all gussied up in robes and crowns and so forth, pretending to be someone they are not, they got it all wrong?
In todays times, I think he (JC) would wear face paint (white, because he could not have been light skinned & blond where he and his posse roamed around) if he thought he could get a point across. I think JC was a lot more mellow than many give him credit for.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Marcella M Russell God is answering your call. God has answered you.
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John P Maher
Mr. WHITE PASTOR, YOU ARE NOT BLACK, SO OFCOURSE YOUR NOT OFFENDED and PERHAPs MANY BLACKs ARE NOT EITHER, YOU CHOSE to BLACKFACE SO SUFFER YOUR SINs BROTHER !
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Rev Ned
What about the Wayans bros "White Chicks"?
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Nicholas J Page
Why is he even a pastor if you honour people then don't dress in black face or anyone.My cousin is Arabic and I would not. Do that to his face.I have standards Also around my block we have multi racial neighbours all friendly and I have too much respect for them to offend them. Minister Nick Page UK
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Merlin
Depends on intention.
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Humanism Clergy Linda
Oh yes he was totally wrong! How would he feel if it was the other way around? This type of action by him is not acceptable we aren't in 1890 when it was accepted.
He needs to change careers as well. Not showing the love of Christ in his actions.
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K. Doc Patterson
A disgrace to the cloth. Racism at its finest. If you know it’s wrong and you do it…you are a fool.
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Timothy Allen Foss
It was suppose to be AL Joelson if you will remember AL dune this all the time, no one said a word. But now all of the sudden someone else does it and it's wrong. Why is that? I however do not think he overstepped his bounds he was having fun call it what you want but I disagree. Bottom line!!!!
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
What I do not understand is this constant need to paint themselves as other people amongst some whites.
Why the need to literally put on another human?
It’s gross.
As a child I dressed up as Jem…my mother nor I didn’t feel a need to coat my skin in a sarcastic chalk white substance to make my costume “authentic”…and miracle of all miracles, people STILL knew exactly who I was?!?
I just don’t get this incessant need to be derogatory towards others because they look different.
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Thomas A. Follis
Really sad that in America, one is no longer entitled to one’s opinion. Nor, can you just have a disagreement with someone. Somebody is going to get their feelings hurt and whimper like a bunch of long lost sheep and call in some 3rd party crybaby to moderate. THATS JUST MY OPINION.
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Ralph A. Lawrence
Everyone has said it already. But I will just say that this pastor was very unenlightened if he thought he could override a view that has been discredited for a long time. He should have known better.
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Lisbeth Kieran Bushey
Absolutely 100% racist. Everyone knows blackface is racist and dressing as caricatures of Indigenous people is racist. This is also highly hypocritical of him as he is a bigot who hates drag - he says it’s different because he wasn’t being sexual, which actually isn’t different at all because most drag isn’t sexual. The fact he felt like he had to say he “did not do a “sexual dance” around children.” is really disturbing and should make parents wary of leaving their kids alone with him around and makes me wonder what’s on his hard drive. All of this is why people are leaving Christianity in droves. There’s far fewer pedophiles at a drag show than in the church (seems like one or two are caught a day).
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Rev Mark D
Yes but it's different in Oklahoma.
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Najah P Tamargo
Minister Najah Tamargo
WOW! There is a LOT to unpack on this one. The first thing I'd like to address is the whole "drag queen" issue. There is a simple solution to that one. If you do not want your children to see it, DO NOT TAKE THEM. Pretty easy, right? My hair dresser was a drag queen and he is one of the sweetest and kindest people I know. And the whole issue of drag queens being "pedophiles" is simply untrue and RIDICULOUS!!! I have known many many members of the LGBTQ+ community and they DISPISE child molesters. If they got a hold of one, they would do worse than any "normal" person would do. And by the way, my hair dresser has been cutting my son's hair since he was 2. He has never worn dresses and attempted to make my son do the same. So there is that! Now, as far as the blackface and Pocahontas issues go.....I think he needs to sit down and have a very long discussion with his congregation. If they feel it is wrong and offensive, he may want to re-think his actions. After all, he is there to help guide and counsel them.....not OFFEND them and make them uncomfortable. Agreed that people are a bit over sensitive these days....but it is the world we live in and there is no point in adding fuel to the fire. Our job is to try and put the fires out thru love, kindness, acceptance and understanding.
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Alexander Arends
People are demonized for offending "someone" even when the offender does so without any malicious intent. Yes, this pastor could have been more sensitive but the rest of us can also be a bit more tolerant. I believe this pastor seems not only dumb, but he is also a terrible imitator. Ray Charles would not have approved
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Daniel Gray
I dont know what the fuss is all about. Numerous times I have watched Whites dress in Native American dress and put on "warpaint" and it was broadcast on national TV in baseball games and football games and so on. And yet I never once saw anyone from the Native American community do as much whining and crying as this. Where were these self proclaimed activists when Ted Danson (former boyfriend of Whoopie Goldberg) got dressed up in blackface and Whoopie never said a word of about it. Where were these self claimed activists when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also dressed in blackface? Or Hollywood actors like Colton Haynes, Fred Armisen, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Singer Sia, Madonna, Elton John, Joy Behar, Luann de Lesseps, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Gigi Hadid, Vogue magazine, Kim Kardashian West, Kylie Jenner, Jason Aldean, Joni Mitchell, New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Julianne Hough, Sarah Silverman, Tom Hanks just to name a few.
While I can see how this might offend someone, its no different then a Black person calling someone a racial name and thats just as offensive. people need to calm down, the world is not going to just agree with you all the time so why get yourself worked up into a lather? Or go after one person when you have let all of the above go through and do the same thing you are seemingly upset about, and yet said nothing about it.
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Colleen McAllister
Pastor's are held to a higher standard. He is supposedly representing God. His behavior was inappropriate for one of his calling.
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Daniel Gray
Suppose to, yes. But not many of them do. Take for instance, where is the outrage when Louis Farrakhan goes on National TV and calls Whites "devils" and Jews "pigs", the people complaining about this are very strangely silent when this happens. My whole point is that you cant go after one person for doing something that upsets you and not go after all of them for doing something just as bad.
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
You as most like you do, are comparing apples/oranges.
You’ve now shifted the conversation to name calling.
Does Farrakhan dress up as a Jewish or white person?
Does Farrakhan paint his skin white or chalky to be derogatory towards whites or Jewish skin coloring?
Does Farrakhan put on exaggerated, goofy ssa looking wigs to mock whites or Jewish people?
No. I’ve NEVER seen Farrakhan as anything other than Farrakhan.
Additionally, whites globally have a storied history of painting themselves and dressing themselves as their perceived enemy to further denigrate those peoples.
Show me other people that do this AS A WHOLE.
I’ll wait….
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Maximillian Martin
You said "And yet I never once saw anyone from the Native American community do as much whining and crying as this." First off, you think native people weren't offended by the mascot issue?? You're out of your damn mind!! The difference is that we take direct action against people like that. Apparently if you think we've never had issues with this kind of thing, you've never heard of A.I.M.!!! I hope they show up and raise all kinds of hell with this lowlife. Maybe a joint effort wit the Black Panthers would put the proper fear into him so that he NEVER does that again!!!!
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Daniel Gray
Yes I have heard of A.I.M but you seemingly are trying to use them incorrectly. They were the ones that protested against the US Government taking the land that was given to them by legal treaty, they were not going around protesting about people wearing War Bonnets and shaking fake tomahawks and making fun of the way we used to dance (and most still do). And if A.I.M still exists (which I doubt as they have been very silent for the last 20 years or so) and the Black Panthers EVER tried to go to this church every one of them could and would be arrested for inciting a riot. So why you went off on a tangent, is known only to you
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Maximillian Martin
A.I.M. didn't protest the mascot issue?? You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Vernon Bellecourt regularly had A.I.M. members protesting at various sports teams events. I was a part of A.I.M. security myself and provided protection for Charlene Teaters at the University of Illinois during a protest against their mascot. She was getting death threats from people who wanted to keep it. So don't try to lie about them!! And, to add to that, A.I.M. is absolutely still active. I know more than enough members.
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Daniel Gray
Sure you do. And Vernon Bellecourt and his grand total of 10 followers protested in Minnesota and not on national TV but LOCAL channels. So excuse me if I laugh at your statement and also forgive me if I remind you that he DIED WELL OVER SIXTEEN YEARS AGO so he cant be part of your protests as you are implying.
Again you neglect to say that A.I.M broke apart in 1993 and they claim a national membership of less then 200 people. And at no time since 1998 have they ever been noticed or even acknowledged for any protest since their last one was at Wounded Knee..
Seemingly you dont know as much about them as you think you do.
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Tiffany Roberts
Yuck your awful
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Rev Ned
You’re?
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Philip Joseph Ryan
The faux outrage is concocted to support black race activism that conspires to antagonise white people. No other races get so hysterical, or are so thin skinned.
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Michael Hunt
That's a racist stereotype if I've ever heard one. If any one race is "thin skinned" it's white people who throw a fit if a school tries to teach African American/Black history courses.
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
Possibly because no other race was:
1) Literally HUNG from trees and burned alive or had their genitalia cut off while being hung.
2.) Had their babies carved out of their stomachs while being hung SIMPLY because their skin is different.
3.) Had their successful neighborhoods and towns BOMBED by the government and poor whites jealous of their success even though whites caused the need for the internal trade by ostracizing them simply because their skin is different.
4.) Been ostracized and targeted by government think tanks for decades to ensure they’d have no economic base to support themselves.
5.) You’re a complete POS…we know where you’re going once that flesh suit decides it’s had enough.
Thin skinned…don’t make me fg laugh.
If anything we’re the toughest amongst us.
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Thomas P. Davis
Don't forget Al Jolson.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
How any politicians (who’ve taken science courses in secular universities) pretend to be Christians — because of the need to pander to those who deny the science of evolution — and even go to church regularly — and pretend to be Christians — just to trick evangelist Christian voter’s, into voting for them.
Tricking Christians, into voting for really non-Christians, has far worse consequences than the use of blackface.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
first time I think you didn't start out with how you're a fake bishop
so, how is tricking x tians into voting for non-x-tians bad? you realize of course that science is real and religion is not, right? it's delusional to believe in any religion, to believe in sky goDs. it's actually a clear sign of a mental illness.
so is claiming to be a bishop
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@William Dusenberry We know there are many including criminals. If you want to see how easily Christians can be tricked and duped, take a look at "Trial by Media" that's on Netfix. Specifically "King Richard". https://www.netflix.com/title/80198329 Well worth watching.
Richard Scrushy former CEO of HealthSouth mounts an outlandish defense targeting Christians, and even resorted to co-hosting a religious talk show to avoid going to prison on charges of fraud and money laundering, The ironic part of the story is the Christians he defrauded out of millions of dollars are the ones he "tricked" again into acquitting him of all charges. Just goes to show you how easy it is to trick Christians. You can get them to believe in anything. Including there's a God.
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David Cox
Comment removed by user.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Christianity in this country has degraded to the point where pastors are having to entertain people to get them to come to church. Christians Pastors are under the false belief the more outrageous their "act is" more people will attend. In reality stunts like this just make people hate Christians and religion even more. As church attendance continues to decline, pastors are turning to more and more atrocious behavior. This is just more proof God is DEAD in America.
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Joe Stutler
That's how mythologies work.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
And they are working.
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Thomas P. Davis
Part of the problem is that pastors today are not like the apostles in the early church. Paul continued his tent making to pay the bills. Our pastors are normally paid by the church they attend. The more people the bigger their salary. They are also settled to their own building where the apostles went out to spread the word, we keep the light that we are to share with the world in our little building (under a basket) and preach to the choir, Oh less I forget the choir doesn't do any better at sharing the light either and since a percentage of church goers don't attend to worship God but come to be entertained, that is what we give them, so they don't leave.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Thomas P. Davis Christianity is all about entrainment and making tax free money. The God stuff is dead and so last century.
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Thomas P. Davis
Depends what Christians you are referring to. The bible talks about the ones that you are referring to as Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. or Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. God is still alive but as we get closer to the end, he is allowing satan full control so that the universe that is watching can decide who is correct and which side they want to be on.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Thomas P. Davis Not sure what to make of a bunch of disjointed Bible quotes. Are you trying to say God is weak or on life supports and is letting the devil take control? What about the part in the Bible that tells us God is all powerful and almighty. That conducts what you saying.
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Thomas P. Davis
Well like you, I too am not sure what you are saying either. I never implied that God was weak or on life support. I replied to the generalization about what Christians are. Just because some wear the title does not necessarily mean that they are. Others are as newborn babes and are growing up to full stature. The bible does say that He is the author and finisher of our faith. That is what sanctification is all about. each day our characters should become more and more like His. As far as letting the devil take control, read the story of Job. He permitted him to do what he did. At some time, these angels will be released Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. Then the watching universe will see what sin can really do. Not sure what this means "That conducts what you saying."
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Thomas P. Davis Again I'm not sure what you are trying to say or what point you are tying to make.
The reason you think it contradicts what I'm saying is because the words were written nearly 2,000 years ago. We know a lot more about our world today then when the Bible was written. We know the Bible is filled with mistakes about our world starting from the first versus in Genesis.
We also know the stories in the Bible were stolen from other much older religions.
Tell me, if God did all of these things, why is it God doing much right now? Is God on life support or is God Dead? Or more likely never existed? , • 10,000 years ago, God creates the universe, man and woman. • 5000 years ago, God parts the Red Sea. • 2000 years ago, virgin birth and resurrection. • 200 years ago, heals the sick, less frequently as medicine advances. • 20 years ago, God speaks to televangelists, usually to tell them to ask for money. • 2 years ago, Jesus appears on a slice of toast. • 2 days ago, God causes a slight breeze.
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Rev Ned
The profession of shaman has many advantages. It offers high status with a safe livelihood free of work in the dreary, sweaty sense. In most societies it offers legal privileges and immunities not granted to other men. But it is hard to see how a man who has been given a mandate from on High to spread tidings of joy to all mankind can be seriously interested in taking up a collection to pay his salary; it causes one to suspect that the shaman is on the moral level of any other con man. But it is a lovely work if you can stomach it.
Robert Heinlein in Time Enough for Love, Notebook of Lasurus Long.
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Shirley Ann Friar
Again, what is the occasion? What are the scriptural references, interpretations, applications for the occasion? What are you communicating to God in heaven that brings the message of evangelism and discipleship?
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Shirley Ann Friar
Again, what is the occasion? What are the scriptural references, interpretations, applications for the occasion? What are you communicating to God in heaven that brings the message of evangelism and discipleship?
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David A. Edenfield
I think he is correct we overreact to every little thing we will get past the past if we move forward and let are differences go and put it down and let love show us the way that’s what Jesus did!
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Steven Ferrell
He is correct. Everyone is way to sensitive anymore. People now days, especially younger ones could never have survived shows like All in the Family or The Jefferson’s.
When did we become so sensitive that we can’t laugh at ourselves or each other?
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Thomas Goodrich
Bait of Satan, it talks about how offence will be prevalent in this generation....wow! It is, everyone is offended by everything! Grow up people, there is more trying things to worry about instead of some guy wearing makeup, but...the Indian pic is rather violent, you don't take pics of you in a dress and someone pointing a gun at your head
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JaZe
🤔 🙄 😑 😴
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Rev Ned
This makes me think. If black actors portraying traditionally white characters is OK, shouldn’t an all white cast of Porgy and Bess or Raison in the Sun also be OK? If picking your gender is OK, shouldn’t picking your ethnicity also be OK?
Maybe, just maybe, it was wrong to vilify Rachel Dolezal.
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
No, no, you’re not thinking.
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Rev Ned
I beg to differ. Picking your sex or ethnicity should be as OK as picking your hair color or getting a tattoo. Other people’s choices do not scare or intimidate me and, also, are none of my business.
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Rev Ned
They also do me no harm.
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Trenice Gunning
It's looks like they were playing dress up
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Rev Ned
Isn't that supposed to turn people "gay"?
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Douglas Robert Spindler
The extent Christians will go to make a buck in the name of God and Jesus should not surprise anyone. Tent revivals have been around for a hundred years or more. But with so many people turning away from Christianity and realizing religion is just a scam Christians have to push the envelope. Black face pastors, nuns turned strippers, Christian women stripping for God (and money), rock bands replacing the choir, and pastors running Ponzi schemes to bring in millions. And then you have Joel Olsten and team stealing $600,000 only to find some of the money stashed in his office walls. And let's not forget the priests who bless the scammers who call us daily to scam us out of our hard earned money.
Appears to sell religion these days to get people interested in religion you need sex, drugs and rock-and-roll.
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Sharon Messier
He should not apologize
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
You should not be breathing…yet, here you are.😂
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Rev Ned
You also need to see Disney’s Bambi. Pay close attention to what Thumper’s mother said.
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Eileen Perkins
OMG get a life!
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George Perkins Jamison
If you're worried about and talking about this,and not God ? You need to take a deep breath and spend more time on your knees with GOD. No one knows what is in the mind and heart of another person. Spending your time in other people's business having an opinion about everything that other people do that is not your way of doing things it's called being nosy gossiping and all the things that a true Christian doesn't do.. casting the first stone as it would be. .
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
Yes, yes, we can see clearly what’s in his racist ssa mind.
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Brittany Ruffin
Both acts were wildly offensive and I can't believe that it was innocent in any way. And I'm disappointed because he is fully aware of the history behind blackface and was fully aware of the reaction he would receive but decided to do it anyway. I'm disgusted
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Wilberta M. Berry
This pastor was being very racist and offensive in the name of Jesus or God. If he had wanted to "honor" Ray Charles or any other Black celebrity entertainer or academic he could have honored them in deeds and action. The same way you honor Jesus in your deeds and action. Painting your face Black does not specify the particular person you are " honoring". He's a liar and racist.
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William D. Anderson
Please do not disrespect the office of pastor with that of a hireling. The office of a pastor holds critical constructs that embodies the true heart of Christ and reveals the Father to the lost. These attributes seem to be void in this individual thus derives toxicity unto himself that does not need to be ascribed with the position of pastor. Call him what he is, like Jesus did the Pharisees.
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Rev. Michelle Love
What I see in these pictures are a cry for help. He is clearly not dressed as Ray Charles because his skin was not that dark nor did he ever wear his hair in that manner. Regarding the Pocahontas picture, I see a man dressed as a minority woman that is being threatened by two other men with physical violence and murder. These actions alone show that he is not the best person to be leading a congregation and I am wondering if he is deliberately trying to make a public show of that fact. To double down and refuse to apologize for acts that were clearly meant to be divisive, I believe that he was trying to get fired from his position. I do not know what lead him to become a man of the cloth but I would venture to say that it may be easier for some to be fired for cause than to step down from what was supposed to be a life's calling because he had a change of heart.
I think this pastor has overstepped. Certainly by now everyone knows that blackface has always been offensive. Also you don't dress up as someone to honor them. Certainly not in exaggerated costume. As to Pocahontas that is not only denigrating but disrespectful. This man needs counseling.
And yet people do it all the time on St Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo or the Day of the Dead. So where is the fuss over that?
Comparing Black Face to dressing up as a leprechaun (a fictional legendary character) or painting themselves up as skeletons (the dead) is new low of ignorant false equivalencies for you Gray. Well Done on scraping a hole in that barrel. I guess someone has to do it.
Same can be said about what I posted and blackface. Or do you consider dressing up in mexican costumes not a form of racism and cultural insensitivity.?
Still trolling from your mummy's basement, Daniel Gray?
nobody needs to know what you do and where you post from
D. A. L. You need to see Bambi again. Pay attention to what Thumper’s mother said.
Daniel, haven't seen much blackface or Pochahontas on St. Paddys....
No but you do see a lot of fake Irish though or people playing at being Irish, so whats the difference?
I must have missed those courses in seminary. It’s not HIS church. If he wanted to do a rendition of Ray Charles, he could have done it at a church talent night.
Sure, we can debate the ‘role’ of a pastor in small rural churches. It’s so much easier to ‘perform’ a church service than to be God centered, inspirational and prayerful and thoughtful in the service of worship. Easy to alienate worshippers who gather to praise God, bring ‘joys and concerns’ to a community of believers.
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If we stopped doing all that is Offensive to people we would do NOTHING. God is offensive to some so is the thought of religion all together. I feel this Pastor is right
If you think that, then you are a racist, plain and simple.
Agree. And you’re right
I don't blame the congregation feel that way. As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our purpose is to honor our Savior. Nothing else, and nobody else.