Economic and Educational Empowerment and the War in Iraq

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The three videos cover the input of major leaders of the Black Church as they discuss their role in addressing the challenges faced by African Americans. The main issues that arise from the discussion by the Black Church panel are the war in Iraq, economic and educational empowerment, and the need to stay true to the heritage and legacy of the Black Church.
The War in Iraq
Given that America was on the verge of going to war in Iraq, it only made sense that one of the main issues the panel discussed was whether or not there was a need for the country to go the war. The panel unequivocally opposed America going to war. In Part 1 of the video, Reverend Charles Adams notes how the American people were misled by the media, which made it difficult for leaders in Black Church to find their prophetic voice and speak against the war. It is also the opinion of Reverend Adams that people were in collusion with the government as they took the money from the government to build churches, which limits their ability to have a prophetic voice to speak against the war. In part 1 also, Bishop Carlton Pearson notes that the Black Church does not have a strong voice to offer its perspective on key issues such as the war. Reverend Al Sharpton notes that the government ought to listen to the Black Church because it is the children of the Black Church that would be on the frontline in the war in Iraq. Therefore, the war in Iraq is a major issue that the panel discussed and they emphasized the need to stand up and speak against it.[The BlackChurch Vault. The Prophetic Voice Of The Black Church: Jamal Bryant, Carlton Pearson, Al Sharpton & Many More... December 27, 2020. https://youtu.be/eJ2VwQaZp9Y (accessed May 2, 2022).]
Economic and Educational Empowerment
Economic and educational empowerment was also a key issue that was covered by the Black Church panel in the videos. Apart from speaking against going to war in Iraq, Reverend Adams takes the time to remind the audience of the empowerment role played by the Church in the late 1800s. He notes that during the period, the Black Church developed educational institutions where the government failed to do so. Reverent Adams also points out that the Black Church worked to set up programs for the empowerment and liberation of Black people. It is the opinion of Reverent Adams that the Black Church should go back to empowering African Americans economically and in education. Reverent Jamal-Harrison Bryant also asserts that Black Church should focus on the economic development of Black people by teaching them how to save, invest, and read the stock markets.
In Part 2, Bishop Noel Jones also notes that the Black Church should stop teaching quick fixes but enlighten congregants on how to go after opportunities. In part 3, Dr. James Cone emphasizes that leaders must come together to solve the problems of Black people. In essence, the Black Church panel supported the empowerment of black people on many fronts.[The BlackChurch Vault . Bishop Noel Jones & Dr. Jeremiah Wright - Uneducated Preachers, Prosperity Gospel & Mega-Churches. October 22, 2020. https://youtu.be/-rzmmqFcb6Q (accessed May 2, 2022).] [godi...