By Wayne Lomax, Lead Pastor of The Fountain Church, Retired
Between now and November, the chatter will be at fever pitch around the 2024 presidential election. As state and local races heat up in the background, the Trump vs Harris run for the presidency will command center stage.
The candidates could not be more different. Trump a former president born June 14, 1946 (78 years old); and Harris the current vice-president, born October 20,1964 (59 years old); differ in almost every possible way. Trump is east coast and Harris is west coast. Trump has a criminal record and Harris is a criminal prosecutor. Trump’s family is teeming with European immigrants and Harris’ family hails from the Caribbean and India. Both candidates were invited to the annual Convention of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), whose membership represents the broadest expression of Black journalist. Vice-President Harris was unable to attend due to other commitments. Former President Trump was present and accounted for. He had the stage to himself and the opportunity to speak to Black America about the merits of the Black Community voting for him. All eyes and ears were attuned and wanted to hear if we were missing something.
As it turned out, he failed to make a convincing case to most of Black America. He named called. He doubled down on the loss of Black jobs to illegal immigrants. He proved that he was the reigning champion as the Prince of Prevarication. It is commonly believed that all serious politicians lie but no one out-lies Donald Trump. He berated the NABJ for the choice of questions and the lack of a prompt starting time. He knighted himself as the best president to the Black American community since Abraham Lincoln while boasting of Black advancement during his administration. He did not change the channel. He was clear.
There was a consequence to President Trump’s presence at the NABJ convention. It created a rift as not a few members felt that it was irresponsible to give the platform to former President Trump. Many members were irate. Roland Martin went in. Karen Attiah, co-chair of the NABJ convention, stepped down after Trump confirmed his attendance. Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. denounced the decision to host the former president and withdrew from a panel participation because the Black media was not represented in the interviewing of the presidential candidate. A rift. Donald Trump wins again.
More important than which candidate wins our vote is loyalty and unity in our ranks. The blessings of a democracy afford us the power to decide and to differ without reprisal. We cannot expect or require agreement on all policies or principles, but can we remain loyal to our community and our community organizations? For our community to win, each of us cannot win individually. Sometimes, the greater good is unity that makes a difference in the long run. We do not have enough political or economic power to make an individual point at the expense of a united presence. Considering our history, achieving this unity is difficult, one might say very close to impossible, but we must make it the highest priority and a test of our corporate character.
At the recent NABJ convention, Donald Trump told the Black community who he is. He had the opportunity to tell a different story in the presence of a captive audience, but he told the same story of Birtherism and MAGAism. He is who he is. What is more important than our position on his presence at the convention is our resolve to remain unified around the issues that are important to us, especially those of us who are most vulnerable. For my money, I thank the NABJ for hosting the former president and I thank those whose dissent was vigorous and forceful. But in the words of Al Green, “Let’s Stay Together.” In the political long game, unity is what really matters; as Kendrick Lamar declares, “They not like us!”
