CIVIL WAR ONGOING

The Civil War ended almost 150 years ago. The slaves were freed. Persons of color were held to be equal to their white brothers and sisters.

 

Sounded good in theory. Black people continue to be treated poorly, however.

 

In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson was instrumental in the Civil Rights Law being passed. The law was all encompassing. Abuse of blacks was supposedly at an end.

 

2008 saw the election of our first black President. Many thought Obama's election symbolized the race problem had been put to rest. It had not. I suspect the reason many today dislike Obama is because of his color.

 

Something occurred in Crystal Springs, Mississippi recently which supports my premise the Civil War is still with us.

 

Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson reside in Crystal Springs. Both are black. They attend the First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs. They are not formal members. However, they  attend the Church on a regular basis.

 

First Baptist Church is predominately white.

 

Charles and Te'Andrea wanted to get married. They visited the Pastor of what they considered their Church. The marriage date was July 21, 2012. The Pastor booked the Church for them for that date. He also made arrangements for the Church portion of the ceremony. Charles and Te'Andrea sent out invitations inviting friends to their wedding at the First Baptist Church.

 

The day before the wedding, the Pastor spoke with Charles and Te'Andrea. He told them they could not be married in the First Baptist Church the next day. He blamed the congregation. He told Charles and Te'Andrea that the congregation had decided blacks could not be married in the First Baptist church. No blacks. The Pastor further stated that the congregation had told him that if he did marry Charles and Te'Andea In the Church, he would be voted out. A nice way of saying fired. Apparently Baptist ministers serve at the will of the congregation.

 

Would you believe it? in 2012! In a House of God. By people of faith.

 

I have said for years that we continue to fight the Civil War. Blacks have come a long way. A trip they should not have had to make in the first place.

 

The problem of race relations festers. It will not go away.

 

A shame.

 

A shame on the predominately white congregation of the First Baptist Church. A shame on the Pastor who did not stand and do the right thing.. A shame on the South generally that never  forgets nor wants to move on. A shame on us all that the issue of race relations is still with us.