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

May 13, 2019

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.


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