Each time I listen to conservative pundits express their opinions concerning the nation's healthcare system, employment, and the overall economy I am more and more convinced that scare tactics are being used to create fear in the public.  I am just as convinced that if those who are impacted the most by all of these issues do not speak up and join the conversation, the consequences will be dire.  More to the point, all Americans should know and take part in the discourses that will soon lead to major changes in America.  Moreover, Republicans and Democrats alike are part of the discourse; however, there is a group that has remained conspicuously silent about most of the major issues that will ultimately negatively affect their body the most.  It is the Black Pentecostal Church who is seemingly the only group that apparently does not realize what is at stake and/or have not galvanized around a central issue to ensure their congregants are represented in the political process. 

I am not suggesting that the line between church and state be erased, but these are just a few things the Black Church must consider if it does not join in the dialogue.  Firstly, President Obama is currently trying to pass health reform legislation that will apparently make it possible (and mandatory) for all Americans to buy into and afford healthcare.  In fact, the House will be voting on Sunday and those both for or against are bombarding their representatives with calls and tying up switchboards.  However, those for or against within the organized Black religious community have said very little about what its passing might mean for the larger Black community.  Secondly, it isn't that Black people are not talking about healthcare reform at all, but those that are talking are typically part of the secular community.  Why is it that the President visited several colleges around the country to push his agenda, and town hall meetings have been going on across the country, but I have yet to hear about a church or a group of churches hosting their own meetings with their local representatives to discuss this issue?  Why does this even matter? It matters because the Black church is made up of members suffering from and dying from preventable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS at alarming rates when compared to members of other races.  Will the passing of this bill on Sunday even help those that are in hospitals now, no.  Unfortunately, most of the reform that will take effect will not happen until 2014. 

The third issue here is that initially, the bill received a lukewarm welcome from both Republicans and Democrats.  Recently, Democrat House members like Dennis Kucinich and Dale Kildee, who were adamant in their position to vote against the Health bill have now switched, and plan to vote in favor of it.  Their opposition to the new bill was that it no longer contains a public option along with other issues.  So, now that the bill that will be voted on no longer has a public option, we will continue on with a for profit system.  Again, what does this mean for the millions of poor African Americans who flood the church houses every week, but are not finding in their houses of worship a site that is willing to edify their hearts, souls, and minds?  I dare say that the Black church is not involved in this discussion because it deems this conversation "too political" and thus, something to be ignored.  Don't get me wrong, I believe that most if not all voting age African Americans are talking about healthcare across this country, but where are they getting the information that is most important to them?  It is typically coming from a smattering of talking heads on news programs or radio shows.  My concern is not that Black people be in favor or against healthcare reform, instead I am concerned that Black religious media outlets that have large audiences like the gospel radio stations owned by Radio One and magazines like Gospel Today do not have a consistent forum addressing pertinent legislation for its listeners and readers and Black Churches are not insisting that they do.

In sum, my call is to the media outlet like Praise 104.1 in the DMV owned by a Black woman, Cathy Hughes who regularly uses her commercial time to urge her listening audience to contact their representatives in order to let them know that we are not in support of the radio tax, yet has nothing to say about creating a dialogue and organizing around the healthcare of her listeners.  This may be because her listeners are not demanding her stations do more than just lift up praise.  I, for one, am an intelligent listener who believes that Jesus was concerned about my entire well-being on earth not just my time in the hereafter.  Let us demand more of the announcers by emailing and calling the stations to let them know that we are not mindless drones, but thinkers who want answers and to be taken seriously. 

I am not interested in reading a magazine like Gospel Today that has very little political commentary, critique, or conversation.  I do not care about the multi-million dollar homes of our spiritual leaders, nor am I interested in reading articles, written by journalists who do not hold their subjects accountable.  Why is it that these concerns can only be tackled in the secular, but not in the Body of Christ?  I am in favor of Christian businesses prospering, but I do not financially support institutions that ignore the needs of its poorest and most vulnerable subscribers.  We, who support these institutions, must demand more of them and make it clear to them that we are thinkers and participators in our political economy.  We need more Christian individuals who are sensitive to the needs of African Americans to create other journals and start other stations that represents today's intelligent and politically savvy Black Christian.