A Message from Dr. Iva Carruthers (Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastor’s Conference)
January 29, 2008
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. is committed to strengthening the internal capacity of African American congregations to enable them to engage in fruitful and strategic social justice ministries. The SDPC’s mission is to bring about effective and long-term change through education, advocacy and direct action. We have forthrightly addressed a number of issues including, Katrina, HIV/AIDS, healthcare access, end of life care, voter protection education, children’s rights, the prison industrial complex, media concerns and matters of faith.
It is unfortunate that both a misrepresentation of the facts and a zealous rush to judgment without benefit of any dialogue or informed research has resulted in a potential “divide and conquer” situation. Yes, we share the concerns about misogyny and the degrading and disempowering media images and messaging—both blatant and subtle—not just by BET, but in all American media. So yes, I signed the letter and I was not at all deceived.
SDPC has sponsored an African American, interdenominational, faith strategy session on the development of an African American faith owned channel because of the lack of controlling ownership of cable and network systems in the United States by African Americans and the implications that has for programming throughout Africa and the Diaspora. In the context of Katrina and the documented concentration of conservative evangelical Christian positioning in cable, network television, radio and print, the SDPC has been training African American clergy on media, faith and public policy issues for the last two years. The SDPC trustees decided to further our efforts in this area of education and advocacy by specifically engaging in dialogue with BET about its programming and our desire to provide congregational and educational resources on negative programming and its effects on children and families.
We stand by our affirmation of congratulating The BET Honors Award Program. The awardees included one of the most respected religious and music scholars in the world, Dr. Cornel West. The Honorable Maxine Waters, one of the most courageous and astute political advocates for the interest of African Americans and this nation, also received a BET award. Each accepted the honor and Congresswoman Waters made a point in her remarks to connect the dots between public policy that supports fair access to media ownership, positive messaging and freedom of speech. Lastly, vocal artist Jill Scott, who is quoted on the homepage banner of www.whataboutourdaugthers.com, was also acknowledged and participated in the BET Honor Awards program. Are you also discrediting Cornell West, Maxine Waters and Jill Scott as enemies of your cause?
To suggest that the SDPC clergy representatives should be offered up to IRS is ludicrous. And to suggest, well, threaten, that www.whataboutourdaughters.com might use the oft misinformed and undereducated likes of Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly to attack the SDPC, the most progressive group to African American faith leaders committed to global social justice, is beyond a travesty. These talk show hosts and FOX News, specifically, are the very people who have been so invested in framing our messages in many areas that are completely injurious to African American daily reality. A move of this nature only heightens the divisiveness within our community, giving advantage to those who benefit from our differences.
Also, the record should show that your conversations and the context with two Proctor Trustees have been misrepresented on your websites in an effort to benefit your cause. The letter was provided for approval when being asked for signatures. None of us believe that Rev. Romal Tune deceived us. For you to say otherwise is truly unconscionable. We will continue to be in conversation with BET and others as we address these far-reaching issues of the media’s impact on our community. Any partnerships we form, and participating sponsors at any of our conferences have been and will continue to be based on our decision, and in no case, will ever compromise our posture to speak truth on behalf of those we represent. Our allegiance, commitment and integrity is not for sale.
In the next few weeks, The SDPC will celebrate its 5th Anniversary conference to be held Feb 11-14th in New Orleans. We invite all to register who want to work in partnership and work toward positive and strategic steps to identify and address our common concerns. It would be unfortunate if any of us allow these last few days to deter us from what is truly important and truly significant. We have to keep our eye on the prize and not engage in turf wars.
The Rev. Dr. Delman Coates, Rev. DeQuincy Hentz and Rev. Heber Brown, III have all supported SDPC in the past and we have supported them. Rev. Coates advised he was a part of a group about to release a report that thoroughly documents and quantifies the programming content on BET, and I assume other networks. In any case, we welcome any credible educational resource that we can share with our congregational constituents to further African American families’ empowerment to make informed choices and our efforts to continue to speak with an uncompromised and independent voice on matters of public policy and social justice.
Respectfully,
Dr. Iva E. Carruthers
General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc.
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Just this morning I decided to do something i don’t see Black folk doing much anymore, I said ‘Good Morning’ to an older Black man. He was startled, looked away and stepped away from me.
Just seems like we have stopped talking to each other.
Why is it we gotta have winners and losers these days?
I believe that letter was addressed to the “What About Our Daughters” blog people, wasn’t it?
I went to the What about our Daughters site, and am confused by your post here. I didn’t see anything on the What about our Daughters posts that was untrue. You claim that there was a rush to judgment, but then immediately validate the charges being leveled, which are that
a) Clergy signed a letter praising BET, and
b) The Samuel Proctor Conference has taken money from Viacom.
So are you angry because they reacted quickly, or because they have posted your choices in a negative light?
I am deeply disturbed by what looks like a financial alliance with BET. I still await a denial of this charge.
Your fellow clergy everywhere are waiting for clarification on this matter.
Its hard to take money from someone you are going to be against and really be against them. That is slick double talk. You have to make a choice. I know from personal choice. Once I had control of a gym in West Baltimore back in the early 90’s. I use to let so-call Brothers come and play basketball for a dollar and also rent the gym out at times for basketball use. My major supporters were the four biggest crack dealers (ONE OF THE DEALERS EVEN BROUGHT IN COLLEGE TALENT SCOUTS TO HELP PLAYERS GET INTO COLLEGE) in Edmondson Village. Yet my after school program and summer camp program was about teaching our children about the dangers of drugs and a life of crime, and about being positive African Americans. Yet I had this group of criminals using the gym for a few dirty dollars. I also learned that there is something about Rap, Basketball and Drugs that mix like a smooth mix drink and will get you drunk if you are not careful. That lasted for about 9 months, eventually I couldn’t live with the contradiction anymore and closed the gym so I wouldn’t have to deal with it. We have to make choices, we can’t serve two masters. We need money to run our programs, but we need to be very careful where we get it from. It’s hard to take money from the devil and then attack the devil. Because the devil will tell the whole world that you are in bed with them. I’ve been married for 21 years and tell Brothers all the time if you get in bed with another woman somebody is going to tell your wife so don’t do it if you want your marriage to stay pure, if you don’t give a _____ about your wife and what people will say then do what ever. The Samuel Proctor Conference will have to answer to the people and ultimately to GOD. Then ask themselves was the few dirty dollars worth it all. That is what I had to do with the basketball situation. The few dirty dollars was not worth it!
Peace & Blessings
THINK BEFORE WE ACT
PS
I forgot to add that THE BET AWARD does not mean a thing! Remember The NAACP gave R. Kelly an IMAGE AWARD right after he did his thing with the 14 year old girl. People could have told BET that their award was not worth anything until BET changes their image!
This is cool! more than debate but is not a debate. Remember "Moses" whom GOD in HIS own power gave the law, pass on divorcement because of hardness of the people heart as our savior JESUS made it clear to us when HE came to HIS own and HIS own receive HIM not. SDPC has done nothing wrong! the world hate the truth and like lies. Tell me Sitawi, Rev sheila how many of you pay your tithe accordingly? IF you all did do exactly what our create has ordain us they wouldn't have gone for that. besides this, now you know that you can accused some of doing wrong or right but remember to judge not. Tell me why do you fornicate and commit adultery? Haven't our LORD told us not to fornicate, kill, tatoo, but you have encourage and blind our youth to date as many as they can: is that not fornicating? SDPC needs no clarification and need not o answer people. Ye heprocrates why do you see the mote in thy brother eye but see not the mote in thine eye. The LORD our GOD has given us a Basic instruction Before Living this Earth but you are doing your own will and have turn it upset down. See what is happen to you, even the world. Why have you pass a law that male should lay with male?
Remember the LORD our GOD said if you shall not abide in HIS law, covenant, then this what HE shall do unto you, what HE shall do unto your enemies, HE shall turn them unto you.and HE shall rain not, you shall hear a sound of leaf and ran but no one chance you. For the sake of our savior JESUS, HE rains but remember there is JUDGMENT awaiting for us. Repent and teach rightly! Let the blood of JESUS our savior be of a great value.
When you come to the light, shrine that you will be see, for no one lighted a candle and put under a bed or hides it but put it on a candle stick that it shines on anybody that comes in.
Armstrong Yaw Appiah
Ghana
This is cool! more than debate but is not a debate. Remember "Moses" whom GOD in HIS own power gave the law, pass on divorcement because of hardness of the people heart as our savior JESUS made it clear to us when HE came to HIS own and HIS own receive HIM not. SDPC has done nothing wrong! the world hate the truth and like lies. Tell me Sitawi, Rev sheila how many of you pay your tithe accordingly? IF you all did do exactly what our create has ordain us they wouldn't have gone for that. besides this, now you know that you can accused some of doing wrong or right but remember to judge not. Tell me why do you fornicate and commit adultery? Haven't our LORD told us not to fornicate, kill, tatoo, but you have encourage and blind our youth to date as many as they can: is that not fornicating? SDPC needs no clarification and need not o answer people. Ye heprocrates why do you see the mote in thy brother eye but see not the mote in thine eye. The LORD our GOD has given us a Basic instruction Before Living this Earth but you are doing your own will and have turn it upset down. See what is happen to you, even the world. Why have you pass a law that male should lay with male?
Remember the LORD our GOD said if you shall not abide in HIS law, covenant, then this what HE shall do unto you, what HE shall do unto your enemies, HE shall turn them unto you.and HE shall rain not, you shall hear a sound of leaf and ran but no one chance you. For the sake of our savior JESUS, HE rains but remember there is JUDGMENT awaiting for us. Repent and teach rightly! Let the blood of JESUS our savior be of a great value.
When you come to the light, shrine that you will be see, for no one lighted a candle and put under a bed or hides it but put it on a candle stick that it shines on anybody that comes in.
Armstrong Yaw Appiah
Ghana