The Los Angeles Sentinel asked Southern California faith leaders to share what they’re thankful for during a year that has been particularly hard on communities of color. The article quoted both the Rev. Mark Whitlock and the Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard.
Here are two excerpts with their quotes:
From a political viewpoint, Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, declared, “We are thankful for eight years of great leadership, presidential leadership from Barack and Michelle Obama. They are the reflection of Christian leadership in turbulent times. We are also thankful for true Christian leaders called to monitor, challenge, criticize, and condemn the oppressive, racist political oligarchies elected on November 8, 2016.”
Repeating the words of recording artist, Kendrick Lamar, Pastor Najuma Smith-Pollard of Word of Encouragement Community Church, maintained, “We gone be alright! We are not short of resources and resistance fuel to weather the storms that appear to be on the horizon. We have been ‘here’ before! And, what we possess most to be thankful for is a heritage and inheritance that informs us in the 21st century.”
