We are our brother’s keeper. By remembering that, we can wipe out racism, hate in America

Whenever my church, The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness), meets for our annual celebrations of Pentecost in the spring, and Holy Convocation in the fall, my 96-year-old godmother pastor Ethel Brown from the Vero Beach congregation is often asked to say the opening prayer.

Usually, as in the tradition of speakers in the Pentecostal church, she tends to be a little long-winded, always ending her prayer with, “… God bless America.” Because her prayers are soul-stirring and Spirit-filled, we overlook their length, and let the words sink into our very soul.

Maybe she has always prayed this way. But I never really noticed her ending prayer for America until recently, when like a flashing sign in my head, her prayer hit home, letting me know that now, perhaps more ever, we need to pray for our country.

While I, like other faithful Christians, always include the “… leaders of our community, state, country and the world…” in our prayers, it is just something about the heartfelt way my godmother always ends her talks with the Lord with a prayer for our country, that made me want to take more time to pray for our country.

As I watch the news about the chaos in Haiti, and the intentional killing of the sick and even children by violent gangs, and hear of the wars in Gaza and the Ukraine, and the mistreatment of the hostages, I realize that with all our problems in America, we are yet blessed. But our blessing is nothing to gloat about. America is not blessed because we are so good; America is blessed because God has stayed the hand of our enemies through His grace and mercy.

Wars are raging somewhere in nearly every area of the world. People are dying, not only from war-inflicted wounds, but from starvation and the security of a safe place.

As a nation, we are blessed to wake up each morning to birds chirping in the trees, and to the swooshing sounds of traffic on nearby highways as free people make their way to their daily jobs. That is a far cry from the sounds of bursting bombs or whistling missiles.

We are blessed because we can still shop at the local grocery store and find the shelves filled with whatever we need. I, like most of you, don’t take these blessings for granted. We realize that we are blessed beyond measure, and so, we are humbly thankful.

Yet, while we celebrate these blessings, we are not unaware of the ugly sickness that still seeks to tear us apart. It is the sickness of strife and greed and hatred, of racism and bullying and division. This sickness has produced gun violence, ugly political wars, antisemitism, and a seemingly endless stream of homeless and depressed people who wander our city streets. They carry their makeshift homes (tents) on their backs while pushing all their worldly goods in abandoned grocery carts.

They don’t have the luxury of walking into their kitchen, opening their refrigerator and making a meal for themselves. No, If they are to eat today, many of them must panhandle, or stand in long soup lines for their daily meal.

America is in dire need of prayer. But prayer alone won ‘t work. The Holy Bible tells us plainly what we need to do to turn things around:

“… If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14/King James Version

This verse of scripture was written more than 5,000 years ago to the Israelites. Yet, it is just as relevant to us today as it was back then, to the entire world. We, all of us, are God’s people. He created us all, and therefore we are His children. He has given us proper instructions on how to turn things around — to make the bad, better.

I believe that we our brothers and sisters’ keeper. Therefore, what hurts my brothers and sisters — no matter where they are in the world — hurts me, too. If we remember this, then gradually, but surely, we can wipe out hate and racism. We will be able to speak the truth in our heart and stop upholding wrongdoers. We will remember and cherish our history and seek ways to preserve, and not destroy it.

I know this seems like a tall order. It is. But, working together, I believe we can do it.

God bless America.

Booker T. alums to be honored

Congratulations to the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association’s 2023-2024 Living Legends.

This year’s honorees will include Rhythm and Blues singer Sam Moore, of the class of 1955. He will be honored in the Cultural Arts category.

The other seven honorees are Keon Williams, class of 2004, Entrepreneurship; Dr. Rosa Simmons, class of 1966, Education; Benjamin McNamee, class of 2009, Community Service; Jewyl Johnson Wilson, class of 1958, Entrepreneurship; Coach Tim Harris Jr., class of 2004, Sports; John Williams, class of 1946, Philanthropy, and Sherea Randle, class of 2004, Law Enforcement.

A special Legends Award will be presented to Nancy Dawkins, 100, who will be honored as the oldest former teacher at Booker T. Washington.

The honorees will be recognized at 6 p.m. April 13 at the annual Orange and Black Gala, in the Royal Poinciana Ballroom of the DoubleTree By Hilton hotel, 7111 NW Second Ave.

This is always a great event, that brings together people who attended BTW as far back as the 1930s and 1940s. I am a 1956 graduate and was honored as a legend in 2005. A few years later, I shared the stage with my friend and fellow legend, Maude Newbold (class of 1958) as presenters.

Tickets are $90 each and must be purchased by March 30 by calling Lebbie Lee to RSVP. For information, call 443-904-5267 or 305-900-7884.