Update: 100 Pastors Against NYC Council’s Proposed Ban On Real Fur From Harlem To Hollis

One-hundred pastors representing thousands of congregants from Harlem to Hollis today released a letter expressing vehement opposition to the New York City Council’s proposed ban on real fur.

“Fur has given black people standing, fortitude and strength in the face of bigotry, injustice and intolerance throughout history…” said Harlem’s Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green, Senior Pastor of Mount Neboh Baptist Church. “In today’s churches, many women and some men wear fur. Many do not. It is their choice whether to wear fur, as it should be. But for people who do not know the history, tradition, and sacrifices made by communities to decide that we no longer have the right to buy fur while other communities can continue to buy it seems unjust, unequal and wrongheaded.”

Read the full letter here:

We find it troubling that activists and government leaders would deny the rights of citizens to buy fur in urban cities like Los Angeles and New York while still permitting citizens in Beverly Hills, Westchester and Long Island to enjoy that right. No urban city should be treated less fairly than its wealthier suburban neighbors on any issue.

With respect to fur this is an issue that has been a part of African American tradition, history and experience. Throughout history, many African Americans have worn fur to symbolize something truly special. When New York City made history and swore in David Dinkins as New York’s first black mayor, First Lady Joyce Dinkins stood beside him wearing a mink coat. It was no coincidence that she wore a mink that day. We have worn mink as an equalizing factor against racism. Malcolm X always wore his famous black fur hat while challenging a pernicious status quo for our people. Black movie stars and singers wore minks so that their stardom could shine bright while racism try to dull its beacon elsewhere. And, when an African American opera singer was denied the right to sing nearly 100 years ago in Constitutional Hall in Washington DC, she sang instead in a mink coat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to give her the dignity that racists thought they had taken away from her previously.

Fur has given black people standing, fortitude and strength in the face of bigotry, injustice, and intolerance throughout history, and sometimes it was the only wealth anyone ever had as well. In today’s churches, many women (and some men) wear fur. Many do not. It is their choice whether to wear fur, as it should be. But for people who do not know the history, tradition, and sacrifices made by communities to decide that we no longer have the right to buy fur while other communities can continue to buy it seems unjust, unequal and wrongheaded.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Johnnie M. Green, Jr.

Supporting Pastors from Harlem to Hollis:

1. Blessed Trinity Baptist – Pastor Edward Oliver
2. Eastward Baptist – Pastor Sean P. Gardner
3. First Union Baptist – Pastor James Wilson
4. First Calvary Baptist – Pastor Keith Bolden
5. First Sharon – Pastor Daryl Ware
6. Friendship Baptist – Pastor James Kilgore
7. Lagree Baptist – Pastor Emeritus, W. Williams
8. Loyal Baptist – Pastor Samuel Trusty
9. MT. Pleasant Baptist – Pastor Williams
10. MT. Zion Baptist – Pastor Peter Wilson
11. Second Canaan – Pastor Wesley Wilson
12. St. Paul – Pastor Dwyane Battle
13. Amity Baptist – Pastor Jeffery Thompson
14. Bethany Baptist – Pastor Craig Scott Brown
15. First Baptist – Pastor Patrick Young
16. Free Will Baptist – Pastor Roland Simpkins
17. Mount Horeb Baptist – Pastor Gilbert Picket
18. Rising Star Baptist – Pastor Norman Scott
19. Shiloh Baptist – Pastor Herman Washington
20. Salem Baptist – Pastor David Brunswick
21. New Mount Zion – Pastor Carl Washington
22. Macedonia Baptist – Pastor Isaac Graham
23. St. Matthews Baptist – Pastor Lisa Jenkins
24. Ft. Mott Baptist – Pastor James Duckett
25. St. Luke Baptist – Pastor Johnnie G. McCann
26. Bethlehem Baptist – Pastor Larry Camp
27. Cornerstone Baptist – Pastor Lawrence Aker
28. Evening Star Bap – Pastor Washington Lundy
29. Hebron Baptist – Pastor Timothy Taylor
30. Bethany Baptist – Pastor Adolphus Lacey
31. Livingstone Baptist – Pastor Lemuel Mobley
32. Mount Ollie – Pastor Rodney McFarland
33. True Vine – Pastor Willard Finerson
34. West Baptist – Pastor Alvin Bennett
35. Bethel Baptist – Pastor Robert Morris
36. Christ Fellowship – Pastor David Kelly
37. Calvary Baptist – Pastor Victor Hall
38. New Jerusalem Worship Center – Pastor Calvin Rice
39. Christian Universal – Pastor Curtis Rumph
40. Friendship Baptist – Pastor Ernest Barnett
41. Mt. Moriah Baptist – Pastor Clifton Durham
42. Greater Bright Light – Pastor Zella’s
43. Greater Free Gift- Pastor William Whitaker
44. Liberty Baptist Church – Pastor Curlee Windham
45. Friendship Baptist – Pastor Craig Gaddy
46. Mount Carmel Baptist – Pastor V. Simons Turner
47. Mount Lebanon Baptist – Pastor Shaun Lee
48. New Canaan Baptist – Pastor Richard Lawson
49. St. Anthony Baptist – Pastor Duane Cooper
50. Timothy Baptist – Pastor Odell Davis
51. United Community Baptist – Pastor Connie Mobley
52. Antioch Baptist – Pastor Phillip Elliott
53. Community Baptist – Pastor Donald Butler
54. Emanuel Baptist – Pastor Ralph Taylor
55. First Baptist – Pastor Dwyane Sleet
56. First Baptist – Pastor Winfred Pippen
57. Greater Second Baptist – Pastor Eric Mallette
58. Holy Trinity Baptist – Pastor Vernon Shelton
59. Living Hope – Pastor Patricia Rickenbacker
60. Macedonia Baptist – Pastor Evan Grey
61. Mount Olive – Pastor Edward Corley
62. Second Baptist – Pastor Preston Drinks
63. St. Albans Baptist – Pastor Curtis Harding
64. St. John Baptist – James D. William
65. Union Baptist – Pastor Sedgwick Easley
66. Evergreen Baptist – Pastor Larry Washington
67. Faith Baptist -Pastor Joe Brown
68. Fellowship Baptist Pastor Mary Sharpe
69. Hollywood Baptist Pastor Andy Lester
70. Mt. Calvary Baptist Pastor Jesse Lyons
71. Mt. Sinai Baptist Pastor Arthur Mackey Jr.
72. Baptist Temple – Pastor Shepherd Lee
73. Bethany Baptist – Pastor Chad Foster
74. Burke Avenue – Pastor Norman Colman
75. Charity Baptist – Pastor Reginald William
76. Corinth Baptist – Pastor Betty Spencer
77. Memorial Baptist – Pastor Rene Gardner
78. Ebenezer Baptist- Pastor Calvin Gibson
79. Mt. Hebron Baptist – Pastor Wayne Williams
80. Gethsemane Baptist – Pastor Terence Robinson
81. Goodwill Baptist – Pastor B T Sears
82. Greater File Baptist – Pastor Geraldine Harris
83. Greater Tabernacle – Pastor Jeffery Crenshaw
84. First Baptist Harlem – Pastor John Davis MPAC 3
85. New Springfield Baptist – Pastor Patricia Morris
86. New Zion Pilgrim – Pastor Glory Wynn
87. Paradise Baptist – Pastor Lee Arrington
88. Southern Baptist – Pastor Keith Robinson
89. Solomon Temple – Pastor Eugene Rodgers
90. Trinity Baptist – Pastor Naomi Lloyd
91. Union Grove Baptist – Pastor Fred Crawford
92. Jehovah Jirah Baptist – Pastor Craig Johnson
93. Unity Tabernacle Baptist – Pastor Edward Mulraine
94. White Rock Baptist – Pastor Robert William
95. Bethel Baptist – Pastor Edward Williamson
96. Co-op City Baptist – Pastor Sheldon Williams
97. Greater Central – Pastor Frank Hawkins
98. New Hope Baptist – Pastor John Gilmore
99. Mt. Calvary Baptist – Pastor Charles Daniels
100. Calvary Baptist – Pastor Greg Merriweather

Note: The names in bold have been removed from the list.

Find more conversation regarding the No Fur Ban.