Evil Comes Back to Church

Last night evil calmly walked into historic Emanuel AME church in Charleston South Carolina, during Bible study, mingled and spoke with church members for about an hour, allegedly explained that he was going to kill the members because of perceived wrongs committed by African Americans against whites . News reports indicate that the members tried to talk him out of killing them but he allegedly said he had to do it. He then proceeded to gun down 6 women and three males. As if that act wasn't hateful enough, news reports indicate the killer, a 21 year old white male, told one of the women that he wasn't going to kill her because he wanted her to be sure to tell everyone what he did there. Pure Evil!


Sadly this is not the first time evil has visited Emanuel AME. Denmark Vesey, an American hero unknown by most people, who brought his freedom in 1799 for a price of $600, but could not afford to buy the freedom of his wife and children, joined the newly formed AME Church in 1817. The church was a place where free blacks and slaves worshipped together. Vesey began preaching to a small group in his home during the week. White authorities constantly monitored the church, disrupted services and arrested members. This angered Vesey and he began to teach from the Old Testament, teaching members that they were the New Israelites ,the chosen people whose enslavement would be punished by death. Vesey plans didn't just include saving souls. In 1822 ,perhaps motivated by his inability to gain freedom for his wife and children, Vesey and other leaders of his church began plotting a rebellion to free all of the slaves in and around Charleston. The plan involving over 4000 free backs and slaves, included seizing the city's arsenals and guard houses, killing the Governor, setting fire to the city and killing every white man they saw. The day chosen for the revolt was July 14. In June however one of the leaders of the rebellion leaked the plot to authorities. Officials began arresting leaders including Vesey who was arrested on June 22nd. The leaders were brought to trial and despite the threat of execution, refused to reveal their followers. On July 2nd 1822 almost exactly 193 years to today, Denmark Vesey was hung and eventually 35 people were executed. In the aftermath of the Vesey rebellion the church was burned--the same church that evil visited last night. Following the executions blacks in Charleston continued to honor Vesey's revolutionary Old Testament theology in secret. For abolitionists such as David Walker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe, Vesey became a symbol of resistance and an inspiration in their writings. Authorities in Charleston redoubled their efforts to convert slaves to New Testament Christianity especially the words of St. Paul "Servants obey your masters". This sequence of events eventually led to the Civil War that freed the slaves.


I am not sure what we should learn from last night's tragedy or if we should learn anything at all. The news reports, mayor and police chief of Charleston have called it a hate crime. Perhaps the gunman is deranged and has no agenda other than satisfying the demands of unholy demons in his mind, which given the other possibilities is the least disturbing scenario. Perhaps he really is just purely evil. What other explanation could there be? All I know for sure is that after almost 200 years, Evil walked back into Mother Emanuel Church, an historic place where Denmark Vesey and others gathered to pray and planned to rebel against their captors and killed 9 people that were there to pray and study the Bible.


This historic church has been burned, its members executed and last night Evil came back to murder 9 more of its members. Yet Mother Emanuel AME still stands. It will continue to stand as the perfect symbol for African American resilience, hope, perseverance, courage, determination and pride. Let's pray for those that were murdered and support their families. Perhaps one day we will understand the purpose of their deaths and why they were chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice just as we now understand the sacrifices of Denmark Vesey and our ancestors and what they did here 192 years ago.

copyright 2015 Michael S. Nixon

An Open Letter to Tom Brady

May 15, 2015

Dear Tom, as I write this letter I understand that you have assembled a dream team of legal experts that will file an appeal of the suspension you recently received from the NFL. Perhaps you should add a PR /crisis manager expert to your team. I recommend Olivia Pope. Admittedly she is a fictional character from a popular TV show but still she seems pretty good at what she does. Besides she refers to herself as a gladiator in a suit so it sounds like she might know a little about football too.  As a crisis management  expert she would review your case but ultimately advise you to withdraw your appeal. I think that would be excellent advice Tom. I am sure that you are aware that in the court of public opinion where NFL fans are the judge and jury you have been found guilty of the offenses and the consensus is that your 4 game suspension is more than fair. I understand that you have a reputation as a fierce competitor which is what helps to make you an outstanding QB. I am sure that like most athletes you abhor losing. Well Tom the play you've called is not going to work, call an audible! I hope you realize that if you win your appeal, you will actually lose in the long run. If this is about your legacy as some say Tom you will do further damage to it by continuing this appeals process. At some point Tom you must realize that every situation you encounter in life is not a competition nor is it a zero sum game where there is a clear winner and a clear loser. Although I am not Olivia Pope I do get paid for my PR counsel. Were I advising you, I would recommend that your best course of action  would be to hold a press conference today, where you would admit that you lied, apologize to the fans, your teammates, the ballboys, Ted Wells the NFL, and whomever you deem appropriate and withdraw your appeal. America will forgive you  because they really want to and you are still a likable guy.  However if you continue down this road with your appeal, which you might win considering that Roger Goodell,  a great friend of your team owner is going to make the final decision, you will paint yourself as a petulant, arrogant villain in the eyes of fans and the general public. So ask yourself Tom, which is worse, humbling yourself , being contrite, admitting you cheated and being forgiven or proceeding with an appeal that if you win might get you back on the field a couple of games sooner but will more than likely tarnish your image and legacy forever? At some point should you continue down this bumpy road, the sentiment will become ,to borrow a quote from the McCarthy hearings, "At long last sir have you no sense of decency?" Let it go Tom. End it today. Any argument about the penalty being too stiff or questions about proportionality are preposterous Tom, we are talking about the integrity of the game. If the Chicago Little League baseball team, a group of teens,  can accept its punishment for allegedly cheating, a punishment by the way that is way more severe than yours, ---being stripped of their title--you as an adult and professional athlete can certainly accept yours. As that football guru, Jon Gruden, often states, let's not make this too complicated Tom, you cheated, you were caught and now you are paying the price. Tom in every crisis there is an opportunity and this is your opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. Embrace it! Throw your self on the mercy of the court of public opinion and do it today. I know that there is little to no chance that you will ever read this letter but I hope you will. If not I hope that someone in your inner circle will express this point of view to you. I think it would be very helpful. All the best to Giselle, your kids and you. 

Sincerely,

Michael Nixon