Long is Not the Lone "Wolf in Chic Clothing"

Looking good is black folks’ tradition, even for those without a pot to piss in. If we didn’t feel good about our social circumstances, at least appearance planted a suitable “feel good.” Once slavery’s chains were relaxed and the civil rights era paved equal opportunity’s way, ‘moving on up’ became the new black mantra. Yes, we’ve ascended from the shotgun house to the White House, from the horse-drawn buggy to a Mercedes Benz and from Timex to Rolex; however, conspicuous consumption, albeit impressionable, cannot disguise who we are internally.   

A Huffington Post writer recently christened Atlanta’s mega church CEO, Bishop Eddie Long, as a “wolf in chic clothing.” Although the customized suit and high-wattage diamond swagger shouldn’t deflect the seriousness of the charges brought, Long’s preference for all things ostentatious only added fuel to the sex scandal’s fire. Guilty or innocent, Eddie definitely had the financial means, but he is not the lone “wolf in chic clothing.”

There’s Jamal Bryant, pastor of the 10,000-member Empowerment Church AME in Baltimore and former spiritual advisor to vixen Omarosa on a Donald Trump-branded reality show. Bryant, who is slated to appear on a new series featuring R&B bad boys, K-Ci and JoJo, is also an opulent lifestyle subscriber. Noticeably, the mega church’s rise has installed tailored suits, Bentleys and waterfront McMansions as pastoral norms. Upward mobility aside, Bryant and his wife reportedly divorced following the swirl of rumors that he impregnated a 17-year old girl.   

Granted, we all make mistakes; however, the mere accusation of pastor’s sexual entanglement with youth, male or female, signals something out of Christian kilter. Apparently enamored by the Broadway bonanza of glitz and glamour, some black Christians have been slow to grasp the reality that conspicuous consumption and architectural aesthetics do not make the man. Men like Long and Bryant handily cancel the black Christian’s long-standing romanticized vision of pastor and unless we’re willing to look beyond the superficial, we’ll never uncover what’s real.      

http://mokellyreport.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/ame-exposed-special-report-the-sinister-bryant-ame-connection/

              

The Short of Eddie Long

Whether fueled by the love of money, material goods, food or sex, greed continues to emerge as America’s worst addiction. Wide-mouthed gasps rippled through the black community yesterday when CNN plastered Bishop Eddie Long’s picture in association with same sex allegations. One parishioner said on an ABC camera that it couldn’t be true because Long loves his wife to death. Realistically, what does the love for a woman have to do with the simultaneous lust for a man? Nothing. Absolutely nothing since the down low affliction runs rampant in heterosexual black male circles.

Although Long’s sexuality will naturally come into question and the anti-gay minister, of course, will vehemently deny the charges, the prevailing issue is power. This isn’t the first time that New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Mega pastor has faced scandal – Long was investigated in 2007 by the US Senate for financial impropriety.

None of us are positioned to automatically stamp guilt to Long’s blown-up forehead, but perhaps, presiding over a 25,000 member mega church, tooling around town in a $350,000 Bentley and living it up in a McMansion aren’t enough. Furthermore, the accusers weren’t complaining when the perks were rolling in but now that they’ve stopped, a lawsuit surfaces. American Greed is the new American Dream.   

See related links:  

http://www.metroweekly.com/news/last_word/

http://www.blackvoices.com/black_news/canvas_directory_headlines_features/_a/bishop-eddie-long-biggest-beneficiary-of/20050830143809990001.            

2010 VMA's: Kanye West Goes Far East Indecent

Who cares if the fashion police are perched high on their observation pedestal and ready to rip Lady Gaga, who snatched up several MTV moon men, for her outlandish outfits? What's more memorable, however, is the 2009 Kanye West/Taylor Swift controversy that will not die.

When rap music landed some 30 years ago, with it came the repetitive thud of ignorant lyrics. Suited in red with gold chains dripping from his chest, Kanye West definitely registered an untalented asshole performance last night. Despite glimmers of musical brillance in the past, Mr. Arrogant's creative star seems to be dimming. The song, "Runaway," which closed the multi-venued show, is the latest cog in the apologetic wheel to Taylor Swift. 

A Houston Chronicle writer summed it best: "It played like a celebration of (perhaps his) bad behavior." Indeed, West was bad and I don't mean good. His mother, Donda West, who died from plastic surgery complications in 2007, was likely restless Sunday evening, given the lyrical foulness associated with her son.  After all, West was the former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department.