James 2:24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Quickword: The Vaule of A Blessed People
Governor Ron DeSantis' (Republican-Florida) rejected a new advanced placement course in African American studies from being taught on high school campuses. He argues that the course violates state law and “lacks educational value”. Being righteous literally means to be right, especially in a moral way. Religious people often talk about being righteous. In their view, the righteous person not only does the right thing for other people but also follows the laws of their religion. James the half- brother of Jesus highlights to us in this text that persons should be viewed , assessed or respected based on what they do and not based on their self-proclaimed righteousness. I truly believe any person, administration or policy that takes actions to deny the study of 400 plus years of history of a people who have contributed greatly to a nation to include its national defense is anything but righteous. There are over 3.2 million African Americans in Florida and nearly 50 million in the United States. The caucasity to disparage a race of people by even remotely thinking our History has no educational value is beyond ignorance but highlights one's flawed character and false sense of superiority. The silence from our brothers and sisters who are of a different hue, evangelicals, politicians both liberal and conservative on this action is heard loud and clear. I don't have a major platform, but I in every way possible am going to highlight the History of African Americans because without a doubt the contributions by so many not only need to be studied but recognized, celebrated and rewarded. I'll start with African- American First in Business and Lobor retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/101-firsts-african-american/
Landowners: Anthony and Mary Johnson, 1640.
Black-owned insurance company: The African Insurance
Black Labor Union: American League of Colored
Black-owned Bank: True Reformers Bank, 1889.
Black-owned resort: Highland Beach, Maryland, 1893.
Millionaire: Robert Abbott, founder of the Chicago Defender in 1905.
Automobile manufacturing company: C.R. Patterson & Sons, 1915.
Record Company: Black Swan Records, 1921.
Black-owned Youth Camp: Camp Atwater, 1921.
Black-owned metropolitan newspaper: Robert Maynard and the
Billionaire: Robert Johnson, 2001, owner of Black Entertainment Television.
My beloved brothers and sisters, we are people who have gone through too much and overcome things that would have destroyed most. Our history and contributions will not be written out or white-washed out of history for political expediency and the short sighted views of a few in power who speak from an unrighteousness viewpoint. The Psalmist reminds us in Psalms 139:14 (I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well). We are a valued and blessed people and we are Children of the Almighty God!
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