The Black church has always been a seat of power to fight for justice, to demand freedom, and to help each other make a step up to whatever next level might be desirable. And so it’s no surprise that on August 5, at least 16,000 faith leaders gathered on a virtual call hosted by Black Church PAC.
Black Church PAC was founded in 2017 by more than 20 well-known clergy members from organizations across the country. Their current goal: to strategize on how to ensure Vice President Kamala Harris becomes President Kamala Harris on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
Indeed, faith leaders in all areas of ministry expressed excitement at the prospect of Harris’ presidency and the agenda expected to include all people in this country.
“It’s a historic moment, rather a ‘herstoric’ moment,” said the Right Rev. Leah Daughtry, Black Church PAC founder and presiding prelate of The House of the Lord Churches.
Daughtry is a delegate who pledged her support for Harris. “I cast my ballot last week. It’s something I’ll never forget. This moment is no less historic than voting for Barack Obama. It was actually a ‘God’ moment,” she said.
Joshua DuBois, also a Black Church PAC founding member and CEO of Values Partnerships, challenged the audience with a question. “Would you prefer the church of Matthew 25 or Project 2025,” referencing the Republican manifesto.
Dubois continued, “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. Just a few weeks after the passing of Rev. James Lawson [activist and university professor] who trained preachers and lay leaders to train other preachers and lay leaders. And it was all done in the Black Church.
The excitement was palpable, although digital.
“There’s never been a more important election so sharply defined. We’ve got to seize this moment with an urgent mandate of action,” said the Right Rev. Edgar Vann, the longest tenured pastor in Detroit. “There are millions of unregistered African American voters. We need volunteers so people are up on the issues. When they have a ‘why,’ they don’t have a problem doing the ‘what.’”
Explaining his rationale for supporting Harris, the Right Rev. William J. Barber said of Harris, “She never said ‘I’, only ‘we,’” referencing her first speech as presumptive presidential candidate. “She offered a vision based on her stance on the issues that are important to the people.”
Barber said we have to build coalitions as we’ve always done and win as people, not just as Black people.
Andrea Hailey, of Vote.org said President Biden’s statement and his support of Harris provoked a 700% spike in voter registration, with 83% of registrants 35 and under and with a record number of 18-year-olds registrations. During the two-hour gathering, 400 people checked their voter status, registered and more. The platform offers tools of all kinds to assist in registration, information and motivation for the upcoming election.
The call was full of possibility, miraculous, and prosperous at the same time, with a donation total to the Harris campaign exceeding $500,000.
