I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We have been reading this quote all wrong. We have always been led to believe that MLK, Jr. meant his “four little children” to stand for all the little children of every color. Over the last few years, we have had many examples of black segregationists or separatists. The Savannah Mayoral race event permitting “black press only” is just the latest example.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019, an event for the mayoral race was held at Bolton Street Baptist Church which is located, without irony, on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Savannah. Four signs, two each, reading “No Audio or Video Recording!” and “No Media (t.v., radio, etc.) Black Press Only!” The event was organized by Reverend Clarence Teddy Williams. The following is a description of Clarence Teddy Williams by Clarence Teddy Williams in Savannah Now from 2015:

The Trigon Group is managed by The Rev. Dr. Clarence “Teddy” Williams. Pastor Williams is the Senior Pastor of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church not the First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. He is also the Moderator of The Berean Missionary Baptist Association, an alliance of 40 churches representing 20,000 members. He is correct in stating that Pastor Moderator Williams is a charismatic and politically active member of the clergy.

This charismatic and politically active clergyman must have read a different Bible and practice a different faith than I was raised in. “We all are covered by the same Christ, we are all one in Christ.”, Galatians 3:26-28. The Houston Chronicle reported that Reverend Williams declined to discuss the entry policy. Online Athens filed this report:

With signs stating “Black press only” on the doors of the church where the meeting was held, white reporters were barred from entry, while black reporters for at least two television stations were permitted inside.

So the television reporters rule was flexible, but the black press only was not flexible. I have to ask why it’s always only black and white? What if an Asian reporter had tried to get in? Would he/she been turned away also. Of course, none of the candidates would talk about this racist policy:

“It’s not my meeting,” Johnson said. “I was asked to come and give a statement, so I came and I gave a statement. What I said in there, I’ll say out here.”

Louis Wilson, who said he is going to run for mayor again after an unsuccessful run in 2015, also spoke during the meeting about his priorities. Afterwards, Wilson also declined to discuss the press restriction.

“I didn’t plan the meeting so I can’t comment on that part,” he said. “I came to say what I had to say.”

The Gay Republican filed this video:

I get so confused. As the racial lines get less clear, the racial divisions seem to be going up exponentially. By that I mean, so many of my friends have interracial marriages and children of mixed race. And yet, the racial hatred seems to be climbing, ala Jussie Smollett and the outright hatred he exhibits. I cannot forget to mention that other unapologetic racist Representative Ilhan Omar. Another important quote for us to remember from Abraham Lincoln:

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Savannah, Georgia used to be a gentle, graceful place. Now, it is a hotbed of hatred and racism. They can proclaim inclusion but they only include those of the same skin color. So sad, so regressive and so un-Christian.

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