Black mothers have historically served as powerful agents of resistance and preservation, standing between their children and systemic oppression while nurturing hope, faith, and dignity; this maternal strength has been essential to Black liberation movements, as exemplified by figures like Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, whose sacrifices and courage enabled generations to continue the fight for justice and equality.
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Saturday Action Rally: Featuring Rev. Al SharptonAdded:
host for this morning's broadcast. Today we will hear reports on what Nan is doing across the country and are joined by various leaders and members of our community that are bringing to you how you can get into the action with Nan.
Now, our keynote speaker today is none other than our president and founder, the Reverend Dr. Al Sharpton.
We welcome all of you who have joined us today live here at Mother Ame Zion Church in Harlem. And we welcome those also watching us via liveream and on our media social platforms and our website at www.nactionnetwork.com.
During this Saturday action rally, we have a segment here called What's on Your Mind. We invite you to email us at nan what's onyour [email protected] or you can call 877-626-4651 and share with us a brief account of what issues are concerning you most that you want the broader community to be aware of. We invite you to email us, call us what's on your mind today. Here are some announcements to keep you in the know for Saturday, May 9th. This Monday, May 11th, at 6:00 p.m., join the National Action Network's Youth Huddle, New York City at 361 West 125th Street, 6th Floor, right here in the Village of Harlem. Free dinner is served and all ages are welcome. Tune in to MS Now's Politics Nation with Al Sharpton every Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 PM Eastern time live on MS Now. The Met Gala.
Reverend Sharpton was once again dressed in his finest as he attended the Confetted Met Gala this past Monday. He hit the red carpet and went to what is often referred to as fashion's biggest night. His metallic gold pinstriped suit was suitable and bold at the same time, making his presence undeniable. He made it a point to emphasize his support for co-chairs Beyonce and Venus Williams and their efforts to promote diversity.
Making a statement with both his style and substance, he showed support for the cause. while calling out others. I wanted to be here, said Reverend Sharpton on the red carpet at the Met Gala. You know, we fought for years.
You've covered it better than anybody for diversity. So, how could I not be here to support Beyonce and Vanessa Williams? I don't care how much money the billionaires have, they can't buy my seat.
Everyone is on Politics Nation. It was yet another action-packed weekend as the slew of guests spoke with Reverend Sharpton on his hit MS Now show Politics Nation to break down all the vital issues of the day. Reverend Sharpton, welcome attorney Abad Kana as they discuss the far-reaching impact of the Supreme Court's latest ruling on Louisiana's voting map. The Voting Rights Act is a hallmark of our democrat government, said Connor. It has been just a calatus for real change and progress towards the equal opportunity for black and brown voters. It has done a lot of work since the 1960s when it was first enacted. That work is not done. So the Supreme Court's decision to essentially defang it out of its most powerful agency and ability to actually create change is devastating. Jonathan Michael Square joined Reverend Sharpton for a segment to discuss the culture and political significance of the Met Gala.
This is inviring in a longstanding debate. Is fashion art? Said Square. And of course the exhibition is arguing that fashion is indeed art. Unfortunately, this year's theme will not be focusing on blackness, but I'm looking forward to seeing all of the black celebrities that will be on the red carpet. Reverend Sharpton also touched on the fact that fashion has never been just about style for black communities. It has always been about identity, resistance, and declaration of dignity.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried was on the show to talk about Florida entering the redistricting battle in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act. What Ron DeSantis did, he went on Fox News Monday morning and unveiled this new map that even the legislators who are charged with the responsibility of drawing maps went on to Fox News, showed a map that was very color-coded, red and blue seats, and also talked about what are registration differences between Republicans and Democrats. That is absolutely unconstitutional in the state of Florida, she said. Reverend Sharpton welcomed Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields to talk about the dangerous fallout of from the Supreme Court's ruling on Louisiana's voting maps.
Representatives Field made clear that elections have already begun, ballots have already been cast, yet state leaders are attempting to halt the process and silence voters. He highlighted the scheme that is currently at play. The Secretary of State here in Louisiana has decided to just toss out ballots, decided to stop an election that has already been in process, said Representative Fields. The Supreme Court never said that the election should not go forward. The security of the state along with the governor decided to halt the election even after sending over a 100,000 ballots to people, many overseas. Many people have already voted in the election. Candidates already qualified in this election. There were just a few of the guests that were on topics that were discussed with Reverend Sharp and tackled over the weekend with the sharp insight and analysis that only he can deliver. Be sure to tune in to MS Now on Saturday and Sunday 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time to catch all of the news, perspectives, and expert voices on Politics Nation with Reverend Sharpton.
Remembering the Godfather of Soul. This week, Reverend Sharpton and National Action Network honored the late great James Brown, whose 93rd birthday would have been on May 3rd. He passed away 19 years ago, but his impact and influence can still be felt around the world. To Reverend Sharpton, the relationship was deeply profound. James Brown was a mentor and father figure who took Reverend Sharpton under his wing when Nan's future founder was only 17 years old.
>> [applause] >> The godfather of soul touched the world with his music and he used his voice, his talents to remind us that we are powerful, that we are strong and that we must remain proud. He rose from poverty to global fame, transformed music itself, and moved millions. He was the hardest working man in show business and is instilled in Reverend Sharpton a work ethic that still resonates today. All of us at National Action Network remember the larger than life persona, sheer talent, and visionary that was James Brown. Rest in peace and power.
[applause] Welcome to all of you who have tuned in and joined us also via liveream at www.naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaactionactionetwork.net and also live on Facebook at nationalaction network. If this is your first time joining us and or if you are not a member of NAN, we welcome you to NAN and invite you to join us today and get into the action today. For more information and to join, you may visit our website, call 877-626-4651 or text the word nan nan to 59769.
Welcome. Let us now welcome NAN change choir soloist Tisha Hunter under the direction of our musical director, Minister Tyrone Richardson.
As I look back over my life and I think [singing] things over, I can truly say that I've been blessed.
I've got a testimony.
As I look back, >> as I look back over my life >> and I think things >> and I think over >> I can truly think >> I can truly think Listen, [music] sometimes I could not see my way through, but the Lord, he brought me out.
RIGHT NOW, I'M FREE AND I'VE GOT THE VICTORY. I've got a testimony.
As I look back, >> As I look back over my life, >> and I think things are >> And I think [music] over [music] the morning, >> listen. Well, sometimes I could not see my way through, but the Lord, he brought me out.
Right now I'm free and I've got the victory. I've got a testimony.
As I look back, >> as I look back over my life >> and I sit down, >> I begin to think over [music] >> the morning. The Lord has been good to me >> since the morning.
>> One day he set me free.
>> Pick me up and turn me around.
>> Place my feet on high.
>> The Lord has been good to me.
>> One day he set me free.
the morning.
>> Pick me up and turn the morning. [screaming] I'm going to trust him.
>> The Lord has been good. [music] He's been so good. He's been so good.
He's been so good. He's been so good.
I'm going to tell somebody [music] how you [screaming] got to trust somebody that I truly >> I said truly that I can truly [music] truly that I love.
>> [music] >> on your mind. Come on, step up and share with us your name and >> what's on your mind.
>> My name is Ernest Waters and I'm from the Bronx.
I want to salute all the mothers in here today and I want to give you a special word.
All right. Happy Mother's Day, auntie, mom, mommy, and big mama, too. We salute every single one of you. I was always amazed at my mother's hair and I think I thank God she was always there. My mother was fair and just disciplining her children was always a must.
I love you night and day. But you will do what I say.
>> I'm your mother. We are on our own, but I am the head of this house and it will be our home. There is nothing going to stop us or turn us around and with God's help, we will reach higher ground. We grow stronger every day and our faith is tested along the way. We come this far by faith. As you can see, Amazing Grace is there for you and me. We never would have made it in any way, but God was there leading us every single day. Mom was strong, and that's a fact. And she would always say, "God's got our back.
Pray and ask God to lead the way. God, guide my footstep every day. Now I'm wise as can be because God and my mom was always there for me.
Always invite God into your home.
And God with God, you are never alone.
Thank you, Mom. I will always love you so and hold on to your principles and teachings wherever I go. Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere. Showing you just how much you, me, and the rest of your children always care. Thank you, Ernest Wley.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
Step up. Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
>> Good morning, Miss Crawford. Happy Mother's Day to you.
>> Happy Mother's Day to all the nan mothers uh in the audience and at home are watching.
My name is Rodney Jones from Queensbridge, New York. Happy Mother's Day, Mom and Marian and Judy, my two sisters that's in heaven. Happy Mother's Day. I'm going to give you a little history of Mother's Day. Mother's Day is a celebration of honoring the mother of the family or individual as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is a celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. It complements similar celebration honoring family members such as father's day, siblings day, and grandparents day. Countries around the world have multi-entury history of a day to celebrate mothers in the United States. The modern version of holiday began in the in the early 20th century at at the initiative of Anna Jarvis. She organized the first Mother's Day service of worship and celebration of Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which serves as the international mother's day shrine today.
It is not directly related to the many traditional celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have existed throughout the world over thousands of years such as the Greek cult to to civil cel the mother died deity Ria the Roman festival of Hararia or the other Christian ecleical mothering Sunday celebrations however in some countries Mother's Day is still synonymous with these older traditions American version of Mother's Day has been criticized for having become too commercialized Jarvis herself who began celebration as a lic and a lurggical observance regretted this commercializ commercialism and expressed that this was never her intention. In response, Constance Adelaide Smith successfully advocated for Mothering Sunday as a commemoration of a broad definition of motherhood in many other parts of the English speaking world.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, no justice, no peace. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
Good morning everyone. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. Giving honor to God who is the head of my life to Reverend Sharpton and my pastor um Dr. Peter Bonady in Brooklyn. Happy Mother's Day, mother. I love you. I'm glad you're still here. We celebrated your 87th birthday on May 4th and I thank God for you. You're really a blessing in my life. Thank you for having me. I'm going to do something a little bit different from the norm today. I just wanted to do to kind of like loosen everyone up a little bit with a little laughter. The Bible talks about laughter is good medicine for the soul. So, this may be funny to some and it may be irritating to others, but either way, I'm going to do what I'm going to do. Amen. So, roll call. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
My name is Paul. Used to be Saul. Had them scales on my eyes. Couldn't see at all. But now I'm saved. Saved by grace.
I wrote a letter to your church. It's on the way. My name is Matthew. Used to do taxes.
Now I'm breaking bread, putting fish in basket. Yum, yum. I'm not your treasure, but I am treasured cuz my blessings coming back beyond measure. My name is John. Clap your who Jesus love. Yes.
sent his son to save us. Came from above.
But like this dove, I'm spread out my wings. Cuz you know who I am. John 3:16.
My name is Peter. I'll cuss you out.
But I'm saved now. So I just shout. But if you ever run up on Jesus when I'm near, best believe that I'm cutting off your ear. Slice. Slice. God bless you.
All right, let's give it up for Evangelista.
Yeah. Right. Good morning. Good morning.
Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
My name is Tony Phill take take care of us.
If you need care, you're not going to get it no more.
We got a new everything. You got people who can't get out the bed by themselves. You got some people who can't even feed themselves.
This is really emergency call out to all this people.
We are meeting on Thursday about 1:00 at Steady Hall.
We need the people. We need all people that take care of people up in nursing home and and they don't have many people that take care of them.
They come out and show them we are people like everybody else that that that have let's get rid of that bill and let's tell them that we are people Yes. Yes. Let's give him a hand. This Thursday, 1:00 p.m. at city hall where he's asking everyone, disabled home care professionals, those that take care of those, please come out. Come out and support. Everybody come out. All right.
And support this. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. Thank you.
>> Yes. Thank you.
Good morning. Step up. Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
>> Uh Dornell Jones, currently residing here in the V Village village of Harlem.
Happy Mother's Day weekend. May is Labor History Month. The National Action Network New York City Chapter Political Action Committee will hold their fourth Saturday monthly meeting right here at the historic Mother Zion Church, 140 West 137th Street in the Village of Harlem in the rear to the left. That's on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. immediately following the rally.
Join us as we gear up for the fight ahead. The purpose of our meeting is a discussion of the Supreme Court's Scholasters decision to gut the voting rights. Peace and blessings.
>> Thank you. Good morning. Step up. Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
>> My name is Freda Gonzalez. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. I'm just here to say I'm grateful to be a members of the great organization that spiritual alert me also with national and international facts. Please continue to pray for my son Joel Porter who in Jacob um Jacobe Medical Center ICU in the Bronx.
He is not responding. In inclusion, I am a strong lady. 1 Corinthian 13:13, hope, faith, and love. These words keep me going. I am sorry that I'm not a donor, but there are other ways. We pray for all those in difficult condition.
>> Yes. Thank you so much. We're praying for your son. We are praying for your son. Good morning. Tell us your name and what's on your mind.
>> My name is Maurice. I'm from Brooklyn.
And what's on my mind? Oh, happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. And what's on my mind is what's been going on in Tennessee recently. So, for those of you who don't know, after this callous decision, they recently gerrymandered away the last black district in Tennessee. So Tennessee is all red now and our representation is decreased despite having overwhelming numbers there that should be representative of of our votes. Right?
So what I want to say is this is a national action network. Right? So when things like this happen, we need to take action nationally. Those of you in Tennessee need to realize that there are some representatives there right now that are going to be up for reelection.
Specifically, Bill Hagerty. We got to make sure that he doesn't win. If you vote this way against our interest, we got to vote you out. Right. And then they got that other person who voted the same way. Marsha Marsha uh what's her name? Marsha what? Marsha Blackburn.
That's right. She's running for governor. We need to make sure that she doesn't win. And last but not least, I want to give a shout out to those two brothers, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, right? For standing 10 toes down.
Now, Reverend Al, one of my favorite quotes from him is that fear and faith don't mix. Boy, them two were fearless right there. You seen Justin in front of those cops? He's like, "If you don't get YOUR HEAD OFF ME, BOY, I I felt proud.
No justice, no peace. It's time for action now."
>> Thank you. Thank you so much. And also, let's let's keep our Tennessee chapter in prayer. There are they are out in Tennessee. They are on the ground. They are working. Um, but let's keep them in prayer because they are going through some very difficult times right now.
Good morning. Tell us your name and what's on your mind. Good morning, Minister Sandra out of the Bronx of New York. This is to the mayor. If he he should have left the transit like you pay on the train and you have your transfer for the bus. They should have left it like that. That's to the MTA owner that owns that train or is running this system. They should have left it just the way it was. Do you have a you pay on the train and got your transfer?
All right, step up. Tell us your name and what's on your mind. Good day everybody and God bless everybody. My name is Sister Reverend Word. I'm from Heaven, born in Harlem. I'm 74 years old and new. I'm a National Action Network lifetime member and I'm a Jesus Christian. Of course, what's on my mind is Bible scriptures.
First of all, every human being has a mother and a father. So happy mother's day to everyone. We have to include the men in this um wishing for happy mother's day because men have motherly tensions also. So my concern is our focus on this jerrymandering. Yes, it's a horrible decision that has been made and of course the some Republicans are taking the action to cheat. But we the voters still have the power. I don't care what color they made a district, we can still turn it blue because we want democracy. So, our vote really still counts. I'm very glad to hear that Reverend Al Sharpton has decided to initiate NAM brigades and I'm willing to participate fully. But either one either way, we have to use our power to vote.
It's no if ends or buts about it. It's something that's very very necessary. We want a democracy. we have to participate. So, God bless you all and please understand the importance of encouraging people to vote. God bless you all and good day.
>> Thank you. Thank you. And thank you to all that contributed to today's what's on your mind. We want to remind you that the viewpoints heard here today are simply those of the contributors and do not reflect National Action Network. We will now have a solo choir coming from the change ensemble under the direction of our musical director, Minister Tyrone Richardson.
When you're lonely and your heart is filled with despair, remember God cares.
And when you're in doubt and you can't find your way out, God will see you through.
>> Seal [singing] you through. Seal you through.
>> Just call.
>> Just call on the name [music] of Jesus.
>> Just call the name [music] of God.
Oh, bless his name.
>> When you're lonely >> and your heart is filled with despair, remember God cares.
>> God for you.
And when you're in doubt >> and you can't find your way out, God will seal you through.
>> Just call on the name of Jesus.
>> Just call his name.
[screaming] in his name.
>> When you're lonely and your heart is filled with despair, remember God cares.
>> God cares for you.
And when you're in doubt, I'm a witness. He'll see you out. God will see you through.
>> Seal you through.
>> Just call.
>> Just call on the name of Jesus.
>> Just call the name.
>> [music] >> precious, preious name.
>> Oh, how precious, >> oh, how precious [music] is the name of Jesus.
He'll hear you every time you call. Oh, how precious.
>> Howious is the name of Jesus?
>> He'll pick you up every time you fall.
His name is Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus. Jesus.
>> Oh, how precious, >> how precious is the name of Jesus.
He'll pick you up every time you fall.
Oh, how precious.
In the name of Jesus.
>> He'll heal every [screaming] >> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus. Jesus.
Jesus. I like to call the name of Jesus.
I like to call the name of Jesus. Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Jesus.
Power [screaming] in his name.
In his name, love.
[screaming] Jesus.
>> I love him. I adore him.
>> I want I [screaming] cheated.
Chees.
Hallelujah.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
>> Jesus.
[screaming] >> Precious. Preious is [music] >> the name change ensemble. How many of us call on the name of Jesus?
How many of us know there's no other name but the name of Jesus?
>> Hallelujah. Bless his holy name.
Every Saturday we have an inspirational word coming from one of our leading pastors from across the country. Please welcome to bring an inspirational word to us this morning, Reverend Daniel Blackburn, senior pastor of Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Beacon, New York. Let us greet him with a warm National Action Network welcome.
I am under presence this Mother's Day weekend. We are grateful to our founder and president uh Reverend Al Sharpton for all the work that he has done and continues to do for our people. We are honored uh we give honor to our board chair uh Dr. W. Franklin Richardson as well. We are going to look at Exodus chapter 1 uh beginning at verse 15. Your Bible should read something similar to this.
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shippra and the other Pua, "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him. But if it's a daughter, she may live. The Hebrew wives h the Hebrew midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them. They let the boys live. I just want to talk about mama kept us alive.
My brothers and sisters, we gather in a moment where our nation is loud with division, heavy with anxiety, and aching with uncertainty.
And yet, in the middle of all the noise, God keeps reminding us of a truth that our community has always known. We are still here because somebody prayed for us. Somebody sacrificed for us. Somebody protected us. Somebody stood between us and destruction. We're here because mama kept us alive. The fact of the matter is, many of us didn't survive because systems worked. We're not thriving because society is fair. We didn't make it because opportunities were evenly distributed. We're here because we had a praying mother, a determined grandmother, an exhausted auntie, a church mother, a woman who knew how to stretch groceries, stretch faith, stretch hope, stretch a paycheck, and somehow by the grace of God, stretched us all the way into this room today. As we come to the text, we see one of the darkest moments in the history of the Bible. God's people are living under Egyptian oppression. Pharaoh is nervous because the population of people who don't look like him are multiplying.
This growth is threatening the power structure. Their existence becomes political. Their sons become dangerous simply because they're born.
>> [snorts] >> Isn't it amazing how the devil keeps using the same old tricks? Because there are still people who are uncomfortable with certain children growing up. People threatened by black potential. People that criminalize children but before they even mature. People that fear education, empowerment, and progress.
Pharaoh is threatened. So he issues an executive order. He tells them to kill their boys. But before Moses ever raises a staff, before the Red Sea opens, before liberation ever comes publicly, God starts a quiet revolution through women. Before Moses became a deliverer, a mother became defiant.
The Bible says that the Hebrew midwives feared God more than Pharaoh. I love that because the first act of resistance in the story isn't performed by a king, a prophet, or a general. It is performed by women who decided that death would not have the final word. And my brothers and sisters, that is the story of black motherhood in America. Black women have and continue to stand between their children and destruction. When schools underestimated us, mama kept speaking life. When the streets tried to claim us, mama kept on praying. When racism tried to define us, mama kept reminding us of who we are, it was mama that kept us alive. Some of us were one grandmother's prayer away from destruction, one mother's sacrifice away from prison, one auntie's encouragement away from giving up. You thought she was just cooking food, but she was preserving our future. You thought she was just making sure you went to church, but she was building your spirit. You thought she was just being hard on you, but she saw something inside of you that you couldn't even see inside of yourself.
Chapter 2 says that that there was a woman who when she saw her child, she refuse to surrender him to death.
A and every mother in this room knows what it means to fight fear while trying to raise children with purpose. Raise them while bills are rising. Raise them while social media is shaping identity.
raised them while the world keeps telling them that they are either too much or not enough. Yet somehow mothers keep showing up. Tired but showing up.
Wounded but showing up. Disappointed but showing up. Can we thank God for the women who showed up anyway?
That little baby was was Moses. And and and and his mother hides him for three months. C can you imagine the stress trying to silence a crying baby while soldiers are hunting children? Can can can you imagine trying to nurture life while deaf patrols the neighborhood trying to protect the gift God gave you that that that powerful people want to destroy? And that's why I came to tell somebody this morning, never underestimate what mothers carry silently. The the there are women who are smiling publicly but bleeding privately, functioning while exhausting, helping everybody else while wondering who's going to help them. But I need you TO KNOW THAT GOD SEES EVERY SACRIFICE.
The Bible says that when she can no longer hide him, she puts him in a basket and places him in the river.
Don't move past that be because because Pharaoh tried to throw them in the river to kill them. He he he wanted to use the river as an instrument of death. But but it becomes the very river that God uses for deliverance. The enemy thought the water would destroy him, but God uses the water to transport him. And some of us can testify today that the thing designed to drown you became the very thing God used to develop you. The struggle developed you. The pressure developed you. When the enemy meant it for evil, God turned it into transportation for destiny. A and here's what blesses me, church. She can't control Pharaoh. She can't control Egypt. She can't control the systems around her. But she does what she can with what she has. And that's a word for somebody today. You may not be able to fix everything. But don't underestimate what God can do through faithful people who are willing to do what they can.
Because history is changed by ordinary people who refuse to give in to hopelessness.
Look what God does. Pharaoh's daughter discovers Moses. She she she she's bathing in the river, but but but she sees the basket and and sends one of her slave girls to go get the basket.
That that that's shouting material because God can create compassion in unexpected places. God can open doors in hostile systems. God can make resources come from unlikely people. The very house that ordered death ends up financing Moses's survival. Only God can do something like that. And can I pause and tell somebody this? Never think that God is limited by the situation around you. God knows how to preserve you in hostile environments. Some of us grew up in neighborhoods that should have destroyed us. Some of us survived schools that didn't believe in us. Some of us came through trauma and addiction and violence and abandonment and abuse.
Yet you're here. You're still standing, still praising, still believing, still fighting because mama kept us alive.
I'm I'm I'm almost finished, but I but I want to be clear that this message isn't just for biological mothers. Amen. This is about every woman who motherthered somebody. the the foster mother who took in somebody else's children, the the the the auntie who stepped up, the grandmother who raised kids, the teacher who believed in us, the church mother who fed us, all the mamas who kept us alive.
Now, now, now ultimately, a a amen. Uh this text points to another mother because centuries later, another mother would give birth under oppression.
Another mother would raise a son while government power threatened his life.
Another mother would watch her son become targeted by the state. Another mother would stand there WHILE HER CHILD SUFFERED publicly and her name was Mary.
And while hanging on a cross, Jesus pauses to acknowledge his suffering mother because even in pain, he honored the woman who carried him. They nailed him to a cross. He died one Friday, stayed in the grave all day Saturday, all night Saturday NIGHT. BUT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, he got up with all power in HIS HANDS. AND BECAUSE HE GOT UP, WE KNOW DEATH doesn't get the last word.
Hatred doesn't GET THE LAST WORD.
OPPRESSION DOESN'T GET THE LAST WORD.
VIOLENCE DOESN'T GET THE last word.
RESURRECTION GETS THE LAST WORD. SO TODAY WE HONOR the mothers, the grieving mothers, THE PRAYING MOTHERS, THE EXHAUSTED MOTHERS, THE SPIRITUAL MOTHERS, THE SINGLE MOTHERS, THE MOTHERS WHO BURY CHILDREN, THE MOTHERS STILL FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN, THE MOTHERS WONDERING IF ANYBODY NOTICES THEIR SACRIFICE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW GOD NOTICES. AND IF YOU'RE ALIVE TODAY, IF YOU STILL GOT A PRAISE in your spirit, IF YOU STILL GOT HOPE AFTER EVERYTHING LIFE TRIED TO DO TO YOU, YOU OUGHT TO THANK GOD TODAY. BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN YOUR STORY WAS A WOMAN WHO STOOD IN THE GAP AND SAID, "YOU WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE BECAUSE mama kept us alive.
Amen. Amen.
>> Daniel Blackburn. Let's give him another hand. Praise God. We're going to have our chief operating officer and pastor of this fine church that we are in every Saturday. Mother am Reverend Malcolm Bird to give us some remarks.
Thank you so very much, Nancy Darlene Crawford. And good morning, National Action Network.
Are you not aware that this is the day that the Lord has made? And we will rejoice and be glad in it. I'm fishing for a witness in the house this morning.
We will rejoice.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. I wish Dr. Blackburn would have stayed up here a little longer cuz had he stayed up here a little longer, I might have shouted.
What a magnificent word he blessed us this morning. God bless you, doctor.
This is indeed Mother's Day weekend. And allow me to extend a special welcome to all of you who are here present, all of you who are here watching on this Mother's Day weekend. Welcome to the Saturday Action Rally broadcast. The National Action Network broadcasting live from Mother AM Zion Church.
Mother's Day weekend in Mother Zion.
That's how we do it in the National Action Network.
But we also want to extend a very special welcome and a special official greeting to the members of the AM Zion denomination who since Nan has been here for the Saturday action rally have broadcasted live our Saturday action rally on AMIN TV since we have been here. So this broadcast is not only going out through our nan social media platforms and through Impact TV and WBLS. We are also going all around the world right now on AM Zion TV. So we extend a warm welcome to all of our members and friends of the AM Zion denomination who are watching right now across this God's terrestrial ball. Nan, can we welcome the thousands of people who are watching right now live amme Zion TV. We extend our thanks to our board of bishops, the president of the board of bishops, bishop Eric Leak, our senior bishop, Bishop Daryl Brewster, and of course the bishop of the New York conference, Bishop George D. Krenshaw. Zion is indeed watching.
And there's a reason why Zion is watching. Not just because this broadcast is live here in Mother Ame Zion, but the AM Zion Church is the church of black liberation. We are always in the center of action concerning our people. And if ever there was a church that was a nan church.
Surely the amine church is a nan church.
And what is a nan church, you may ask?
And I'm so honored to tell you. A nan church is a church that doesn't mind putting boots on the ground. A nan church is a church that doesn't mind speaking truth to power. A nan church is a church that isn't bossed or bought. A nan church knows how to stand up and speak out. A nan church understands that the gospel of Jesus is a gospel of liberation. A nan church recognizes IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF YOU REACH YOUR HANDS UP TO GOD IF YOU CAN'T REACH OUT YOUR HAND to help your brothers and sisters. And I'm wonder IF THERE'S SOME PASTORS, MY COLLEAGUES IN MINISTRY WHO ARE WATCHING THIS BROADCAST RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE ASKING YOURSELF, DO I PASTOR A NAN CHURCH? WELL, HERE'S THE QUESTION.
Are you a NAN PASTOR? ARE YOU WILLING to stand up and SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT?
BECAUSE WHAT WE NEED MORE NOW than ever IN BLACK AMERICA ARE NOT ONLY BLACK CHURCHES, BUT BLACK PASTORS WHO ARE UNBOUGHT, WHO ARE UNAFRAID, WHO WERE WILLING TO AGITATE GRAVEL, WHO WILL SPEAK OUT AS LOUD AS THEY PRAISE, DEMANDING VOTING ACCESS, DEMANDING JUSTICE. WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAY? LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN LIKE WATER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE AN EVERFLOWING STREAM. WE NEED MORE NAN CHURCHES. SO IF YOU ARE WATCHING, COME ON, SIGN UP. SIGN UP, BROTHER, SISTER, PASTOR. SIGN UP YOUR CONGREGATIONS BECAUSE I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE NEED MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO.
>> Isn't it amazing how we can have a powerful word coming from Reverend Blackburn? But then we have another powerful word coming from our chief operating officer. Let's give him a hand. Pastor Malcolm Bird. [applause] Let us now welcome the Nan Change Choir under the direction of our musical director, Minister Tyrone Richardson.
>> God is a good God and he's worthy to [music] be praised. God is a good God and he's worthy to be praised.
God is a [music] good God and he's worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a good God and he's worthy to be praised.
>> God is a good God and he >> worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a good God and he's worthy to be praised.
>> God is a good God [music] and he's worthy to be praised. God is God is a good God and he's worthy to be praised.
>> God is a holy God and is >> worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a holy God and worthy to be praised.
>> Oh, God is a holy God.
>> Worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a holy God and worthy to be praised.
God is a mighty God. It is >> worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a mighty God is worthy to be praised.
>> Oh, God is a mighty God.
>> Worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a mighty God worthy to be praised.
>> God is a righteous God and he is >> worthy to be praised. God is is a righteous God to be praised.
>> Oh, God is a rightous God worthy to be.
>> God is >> God is a rightous God worthy to be praised. [music] >> God is a good God and he is >> worthy to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a good God and he's worthy to be praised. Oh, God is a good God and he's ready to be praised.
>> God is >> God is a good God. He's ready to be praised.
>> Oh, he's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Anybody know he's good?
>> He's good.
>> Oh, he's good.
>> He's good.
>> Show up. Show up. Good. [music] >> Woke me up this morning.
>> Started me on my way. He's good.
>> Anybody know he's good?
>> He's good.
>> Anybody know he's good?
>> He's good.
>> Oh, he's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Oh, he's good.
>> He's good.
>> Let me [screaming] He is good.
Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> God is God is >> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Yes. He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Can I get one witness?
>> He's good.
>> Anybody know he's good?
>> On my table.
>> I know that he's able.
>> Oh, he's good.
Let me hear you say.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Let me hear you.
[music] Let me hear you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Oh, he's good.
>> Yeah, he's good.
>> He's good.
>> I know he's good.
>> I know he's good.
>> He's good.
>> Oh, yes. He's good.
>> He's good.
>> Oh, he's good.
Let me hear you say [screaming] >> I got it.
>> Let me hear you say [music] he's good.
>> Yeah, he's good.
Hallelujah.
>> Yeah, God.
>> Salvation and glory.
Honor and power unto the Lord our God.
For the Lord our God, he's mighty.
Yes. The Lord our God is the Lord our God.
He is wonderful.
Hallelujah.
>> Hallelu [music] [singing] and glory.
Honor and power, >> and power to the Lord our [music and singing] God.
>> For the Lord our God, >> Lord our God, is mighty.
>> The Lord our God is important.
The Lord our God is one of the highest It is wonderful [music] to hallelujah.
is praise to you. [music] [music] He is worth to be >> [music] >> The man changed choir under the direction of our musical director, Minister, Tyrone Richardson. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.
Welcome to National Action Network Live on 107.5 WBLS.
Let us now receive our president and founder, the Reverend Dr. Al Sharpton.
>> NO JUSTICE, >> NO PEACE.
>> NO JUSTICE.
>> NO PEACE.
>> NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE.
>> NO JUSTICE.
>> NO PEACE.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> JUSTICE.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> JUSTICE.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> JUSTICE.
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> When do we want it? When do we want it?
>> Shake hands with the person next to you.
Tell them you love them.
Never [music and singing] change.
Troules and trials [music] won't last.
We've gone on our day and it won't be too long. Yes.
Change will come. Change will come.
Change will come.
>> Starting with you.
>> Your change will come.
>> Your change will come with you.
>> Your change will come.
Your change will come.
>> Never give up and never [music] give in.
A change will come. Keep down with him.
Troules and trials won't last [music] on our side. Nothing but bright.
[music] A better day is coming and it won't be too long. Yes. Change will come. Change will come. Change will [music] come.
Your day >> will come. [music] >> Will come.
>> Your day is going to come.
>> Your day >> will come.
>> Your change [screaming] >> your change.
>> Your change will come.
>> Will come.
>> Your change.
>> Your change is going to come.
>> Change will >> change will come.
Change.
>> Tomorrow we celebrate all over the western world, Mother's Day.
>> And I think about two mothers that I was blessed to see, know, and get to work with in my life. There was one mother that on December 1st, 1955, got on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and took a seat in the front.
>> It was against the law for black folks to sit in the front of the bus. A lot of y'all that be running around talking about what have we got done in 40 years?
We couldn't sit in the front of a bus >> in my lifetime.
and they told her to move to the back and uh it was against the law where she was sitting. She would not move. Now, some people rewrite history and say, "Well, she was tired. Her legs was hurt." No, she was the secretary to the local NAACP chapter and they had planned that they were going to test the segregation laws. So she sat there and as I got to be around her, I was in the room one day, someone asked her, "Well, why did you have the nerve to sit there and be arrested? You could have been killed. They could have lynched you."
She said, "All I could think about was the killing and lynching that had just happened."
And uh because of what they did to imit the mothers >> that took the seat for us >> that had been lynched and abused.
But that mother Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks, I was honored to be one of the speakers at her funeral. Rosa Parks lived long enough to where presidents had to honor her. They laid a body at stake in the US capital. If you stand up for something or take a seat for something, YOUR CHANGE WILL COME.
>> YOUR CHANGE, >> your change will come.
>> Will your change >> your will.
>> Your change is going to come.
>> Change will >> change will come. Change will come.
Change will >> I knew another mother that was able to stand the pain of losing her husband.
Got a call one evening, April 4th, 1968.
And they told her her husband had been killed on the balcony of a black motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
She had to take her four children and raise them. as the world went around saluting him but not honoring him. The difference between saluting somebody and honoring them.
>> Salute means that you give them all kind of glory. Honor means you do what it is that they stood for.
A lot of folks that would go to Dr. King's memorials wouldn't go the day before to a Dr. King rally.
>> My god.
>> I grew up in Operation Bread Basket, which was the economic armor king. The year he was killed. I became youth director in New York, appointed by Re Jones and Reverend Jesse Jackson. And it was not popular in New York >> to be with Dr. King. But the day after he got killed, everybody was a King thing. and she had to go through people that would not follow and honor what he said, use his name to raise money for themselves and not deal with the movement. But she kept fighting >> and she said, "You know, one thing I want to see is I want to get a national holiday for him." They said was unheard of. Only national holidays are for presidents. Only national holidays are for people that have been elected to the highest office in the land. But that mother, Ketta Scott King, took them four kids and went all over this country.
And before we know it, everybody was saying, "We need a King holiday." James Brown took me with him to the White House. First time I went to White House, me with Reagan and them trying to lobby for a holiday. Stevie Wonder made a song.
>> And because of that mother of four little children, a widow mother. Because of her, every second Monday in the United States, the post office is closed, the banks are closed, the federal offices are closed to honor a black man who broke the walls of segregation because of a black mother named Ketta Scott King. If you don't give up, if you don't give out, if you don't let someone cancel your dreams, your change will come. Your change >> will come.
>> Will come.
>> Your change >> is going to come.
>> Just keep saying your change.
>> Oh yes, it will.
>> Will your change >> change is going to come.
>> Change will come.
>> Change will come.
>> Oh will change will come.
>> Your change >> your change >> will come.
>> will come. Your change is going to come.
>> Don't you give up. Your >> change.
>> Hang on in there.
>> Go on through it.
>> Your change is going to [screaming] change.
>> Your change will come.
>> Will come.
>> Your change.
>> Your change is going to come.
>> Change will come.
>> Change will come. Change will come.
Change will come.
Your change will come.
Your change will come.
National Action Network Change Choir.
Give them a big hand.
Give them a big hand.
Certainly, we're happy to be with you.
Another Saturday morning for the Saturday action rally for you that are here live at Mother Ame Zion Church, 137 Street, Linux Avenue in Harlem, a historic church, church of Sojourer Truth, and Church of Frederick Douglas and Church of Madame CJ Walker. And we are honored that in our transition period that they open up this great church and let us have the Saturday rallies.
We're happy to be with you another Saturday to give our report on where the action is. And uh certainly we give first of all let's thank our great inspirational speaker today Reverend Daniel Blackburn.
Reverend Bird Blackburn is the senior pastor of the Star Bethlehem Baptist Church up in Beacon, New York. Didn't he give us a word this morning?
And then of course our musical director, Minister Tyrone Richardson and the band. Get a band some Chris Garland, Raymond and Guy Jenkins and Malcolm Seal.
And Malcolm got his shades on. He likes to I I got you. No problem.
I got you. I'm I I you know I I was around entertainment most of my life so I'm used to folk playing with shades.
Now when Tony come in with shades I get a little nervous.
Ain't no telling what Tony might have been doing to put on some shade.
You wasn't here last week so you know you going to get it this week.
You can sit in the back all you want. I couldn't see back there.
Let me uh also thank all of you listening on WBLS 107.5 in New York. You that are watching on impact television as well as you that are watching on nationalaction.net or on YouTube or on the AM Zion channel. We're on everything.
>> That's right. and the AM Zion chapter.
And we give our report on all of this every week. And certainly we are honored because of we heard a word of announcement of that from our COO uh and the pastor of this historic church. Give them up for Reverend Malcolm Bird. Give it up Reverend Bird.
He's our chief operating officer and our pastor of this church. And let let me say this in in and I I'm going to deal with other a lot of issues today, but uh the acquisition of the National Action Network headquarters uh that is going to we probably be in it in about two to three weeks. They are now as I'm speaking uh they're over there working on it. We did the plumbing. We did all we need to do because it was a firehouse. Of course, Judge Faison preserved it so well. Not a lot had to be done. Just some stuff here and there. And then we just re redoing some of the spaces. We had the rallies and have learning rooms and other places in there. But it was a firehouse built in the 1800s. So, it's sturdy. The structure is sturdy. And uh the one that helped to negotiate our purchase of that was our COO, Reverend Burger.
We had worked for about a year and a half on another building that we were going to uh lease with the option to buy 99 year lease. And uh the story is so people know I you know I tell everything. That's why Dominique and Ashley don't tell me nothing because I tell it on the broadcast.
The story is that uh Dominique called me one night and said uh Dad George Gresian been trying I mean George I'm going to get to George Gresian. We lost George Gresian this week. A dear labor leader, one of the great labor leaders of our time died yesterday.
And uh uh we certainly as we get details we'll give it to you. But uh Dominique Collins said George Fison who's been trying to reach and I've known George for 40 years. One of the great choreographers, artists uh brought the whiz to uh Broadway, Stephanie Mills in the 70s. And I called him and he said, "Rev," he says, "I turn 80. I'm ready to do some other creative things. Do you know anyone that could buy the uh Faison Firehouse? He said, uh, you know, a lot of people talking but nobody coming through. I said, well, what are you looking for? He said, well, we posted at 8 million. I'll take six. He said, "Uh, and and if we can work out something with somebody, I just don't want to sell to developers."
>> Cuz the story that people don't tell is that yes, developers have in many ways gentrified our community, but in many ways we are selling to them.
Everybody didn't have the determination of George Faison to say, "I want to do something else, but I don't want them to have this landmark in the community."
>> So, I said, "Well, let me let me call a few people." And I thought about it and I called Malcolm Bird and I said, "Ro around look at the firehouse. See what kind of shape is in." He said, "All right." He didn't even know what I was thinking about. He came back and said, "It looks sturdy." And I said, and this was a Saturday after the rally. I said, "Get George and tell him to come over here." He got George and we met right in the back. And I said, "You said you'd sell it for 6 million, a million down and and go forward." He said, "Yeah." He said, "You got somebody?" I said, "Yeah, me. National Action Network."
>> That's right.
And we went we went Malcolm Bird and attorney Jennifer Jones Austin, our vice chair, negotiated finance company, got the finance up. That's why I'm asking y'all $500 uh each all over the country. And people are sending it in to help pay off the mortgage. I don't I it's not enough that we in put a million down. It's that I want to pay off that mortgage now.
So as long as there is a Harlem, there will be a house of justice that we own.
>> And y'all that are watching and and or listening that have not made a pledge or have not sent it in, you can go to www.naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaactionactionnetwork.net right now and you can do it online or you can pledge online. Now, in these times that we're living in, we need no one needs to have to explain to you why you need a National Action Network.
>> Everything that you had when you were born is being removed each step by step.
and they doing it in your face.
They're not even being subtle about it.
>> And if we do not have those that will stand up and that are strategic, a lot of people are make some stand up but are not strategic. So they're guided by their emotion rather than a strategic plan >> where they don't get results end up fighting each other rather than gaining what needs to be done. That's why you need independent organizations like NA and you need to support them.
>> That's right.
>> People spend $500 on foolishness. Yeah, >> you should be able to say, "You know what? I put $500 in keeping that going, and we uh uh uh we going to do it with or without you, but you ought to want to be in the number."
Talking about the timing, uh we saw this week the assault on voting rights and the move to redraw district lines to disenfranchise us happening one time after another. I'm I'm going to deal with it this evening and tomorrow on Politics Nation. They've they've uh done this in after Mississippi. I'm having Congressman Benny Thompson, the only black congressman in Mississippi. They trying to break up his district. I'm having Congressman Jim Clyurn on.
They're trying to break up his district in in uh South Carolina. They did it in Tennessee.
I'm going to have Justin Pearson on. The young uh brother state senator was running for Congress in that district.
They only one black majority district in Tennessee and they voted to break that up. I'm have Justin on. And ironically, the district was the congressman was white. The blacks voted for a white who they trusted. I'm gonna have him on.
>> I'm going to have all of this. I'm going to have CBC on. We need to start educating folks so we could fight back.
[applause] >> Yes, sir.
And then yesterday the court, Supreme Court of Virginia came back and overthrew the election that the people in Virginia had voted to keep the district uh the district lines where they were fair and equitable. Now the Supreme Court in Virginia has said the vote was against state constitution. So from Virginia to Alabama to Louisiana and Florida, all of them are fighting. This is a plan to take back the collective power of our vote.
>> And if we don't stand up now, the Voting Rights Act will die in our lifetime.
>> And there various people moving. There's a move into the the 16th I think in Alabama at the uh state house. Uh I talked to Martin Luther King III and Andrea King. We may just have to go and do Washington this year on August 28th.
We need a national march.
My s >> we are planning meeting this week to see if we going to do this August 28th. But I'm telling y'all now, I'm pushing for that cuz we need to come out by the tens of thousands right there in the Capitol where the Supreme Court and all of them are and say that we are not going back.
>> Yeah.
Now, I'm for whatever everybody else does, but I also think we need a national pull everybody together and then go right into the midterms in these districts. No matter how they draw their lines, we need to end whatever line you in. Come out and bring people out and bring them out in numbers that you can't have.
The fact of the matter is over half of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus are elected from districts that are not mostly black, which means they can still vote if we come out there and work. So what I've announced and structuring is nan voter brigades. I'm working with our regional directors under Reverend Devaston, our field director, that we will in each of our chapter cities and other cities form a brigade. What is a brigade, Reverend? It is where you sign up and agree to put in a certain amount of time that you going to knock on a certain amount of doors or go to a certain amount of churches or certain amount of bingo halls, a certain amount of fraternity meetings and sign people up. one that to register them if they're not. And second, if they are registered that we going to call pool, we going to come out and vote together. Real simple.
Real simple.
I'm a member of the brigade. My job is I'm going to get 10 people in my town and I'm going to stay in touch with them and bring them all the way to vote. They talking about are they going to put ice at in front of some voting uh stations around the country. Well, all we got to do is have enough brigades.
We ain't going out there with no vines, nothing. We going to help people go vote. I I I grew up in the hood. There some things if you bring enough presents, you can melt ice.
>> My Lord, Reverend, Reverend.
Yes, sir.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> I'm in the melt ice business.
So, we laying out that structure. I'm going to put up online this week where people can sign up. And I'm going on this 23 city tour to get me some ice melters signed up.
Also, what we are doing, we are uh bringing in a whole component to deal with our young people and older people on this AI question. I saw where Randy Weine Garden and the American Federation of Teachers made all the AI companies put up money to teach teachers about AI.
So I said, "Well, we need to get them to let us go in our neighborhoods and teach AI." I ain't supporting a lot of what AI companies do, but they need to support us. Y'all run around, your kids are on AI creating stuff and you don't even know what it is.
>> That's right.
>> True.
>> You can't survive. Now, half y'all in here on AI and don't even know it.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we going to initiate that. I got one company that said they'll work with us.
I'm going to try to get them all and we going to deal with all that. Don't think that anything going on in the world is beyond us.
>> Anything in the world needs to have to deal with us.
>> Like Monday night, they had the uh Met Galla. folk be dying to get in the Met Gala and they invited me the last three years because I fought Andre uh Leon Tally was on me years ago that you got to fight to make sure that we're representing the fashion industry. They were not getting the contracts and all.
I went met with Anna Winter and we started getting some of them in and they therefore would have some of us at the Met Galla and they got angry this week and they were right about Jeff Bezos who wouldn't deal with the uh unions and we support the unions. In fact, we had him speak at the Saturday rally. We had him speak at our convention. I support Chris, but I also say that because we fought, they had two black women co-chairing the gather, Beyonce and Venus Williams. And I wasn't going to leave them out there by themselves.
>> That's right.
>> Cuz if I said, "Well, I'm not going."
They'll say, "Oh, Al Sharpton's boycotting y'all." So, I got on I got all dressed up. I was >> fly.
You definitely fixed me up. I was fly.
We walked up there on the red car. They said, "Why are you here?" I'm here because of Venus. I'm here because of Beyonce. I'm here because of Andre Leont. And I do disagree with Bezos. I don't They ain't got enough money to make me not stand up for my people.
>> That's right.
Yes, sir. I'm with the union, but I'm also going to stand up and make sure this is the fashion capital of the world and we ain't in it.
>> That's right. That's right.
>> And that's what Andre and this ain't no new thing.
>> This is something that Andre died fighting about.
>> And everything just like everybody dealing with the Knicks. Everybody got Nick fever. Well, I want to know not only uh who's on the team, I want to know who's in the front office.
>> I want to know who's doing the business, who's getting the contracts, you got to remember sports, entertainment, fashion, all that is business.
James Brown used to say to me all the time, "The problem we got, Reverend, is that blacks are in the show and not in the show business."
>> Do you know that it was not until the 80s that blacks even own the Apollo?
Showcase of black talent. Everybody you could think of from Sammy Davis to James Brown to Retha Franklin everybody hit that stage but we didn't own the stage.
And the same thing in the fashion industry, same thing in media. One of the things we did in this organization with the Madison Avenue Initiative Department was deal with advertising and black media. Look now they have all but erased black media.
Why it ain't that the black media owners are incompetent is they can't get the advertising. That's why I'm on the AI companies. That's why I'm telling companies they got to support the Essence Music Festival. If you going to sell your stuff in our community, you going to do business and advertise in our community. Right.
>> When I was growing up, we had more black media then than we got now.
Gwen Car say sure do give a hand tow car in the house.
Let me tell you something. We had I'm talking about in the 70s and 80s. We had Ebony. We had Right on magazine. We had Black Stars.
>> We had Jet Magazine every week. We had Sepia. Now you ain't got none of that.
>> THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT HAPPENED?
What happened is us cuz we started drifting away from those that would tell us the truth.
And we need to support. That's why I'm getting in this. We need to support and force people to deal with making sure they advertise with us so we will have our own voice.
>> Yes, sir.
>> So rather than be running up hoping somebody will tell your story, you can tell your own story.
>> That's why I love Kathy Hughes. Kathy used to be on W in Washington. She ended up buying it and ended up buying other stations.
And she's the one that called me 20 years ago and said, "Ral, I want to start a talk network." I said, "Okay."
She said, "Will you do three hours a day?" I've been doing three hours Monday to Friday for Kathy in 40 stations all over the country, keeping it real with Al Shan because of a black woman >> that never let them shut her down.
and now her son Alfred Ligins runs it.
We don't look at the fact that we have lost black media, black banks, and we are so into something else that we are ignoring that part of the movement of civil rights, Dr. King's last mission was economic equality >> and not economic equality in terms of getting a job. Economic equality in terms of ownership, in terms of investment, terms of media, entertainment. You got all of these entertainers that are talking rubber on the street, but you don't own the street.
>> My lord. My lord.
And you got all management of other communities.
Most of these hardcore, I'm bad, I'm rough, don't mess with me rappers are managed by other folks.
>> That's right.
>> And that's why they got them out there talking against the folks that would open the doors for and then they would get busted. They put it all over their social medias that they own and make them images of disgrace cuz they celebrate make money bringing them up and they celebrate making money tearing them down >> and you sitting at home on the computer or in your laptop just getting hits. whole thing is how many hits you got.
How many people following you on Instagram and you on Instagram talking about everything other than what you order.
>> But this is what I wore today.
>> This is how I comb my hair.
>> I got 1,000 people watch me comb my hair.
True.
>> That's 10,000 people ain't got nothing to do with their life.
>> And I'm not against social media. I am against us not using it properly.
Are you on Instagram talking about what the Supreme Court did in Virginia about our right to vote yesterday?
Are you on social media talking about what they did in Tennessee without right to vote in Alabama and what they trying to do in Mississippi?
That's why I'm saying get all of these social media and these techn technology companies and make them accountable so we can tell our story and organize our people because that's where they are. Your children don't read newspapers. They read this.
>> They walking down the street. They whole life is in a cell phone and they go by what is there. So you say you see the news. No, they pull up the news they want. And if you don't HAVE THE RIGHT SIGHT, YOU GOING TO GET the wrong news.
So, I'm learning how to use social media. That's why I'm going to do this whole thing with AI. I got almost two million people on Instagram. Folk, we run around talk about who sharp to talk for. You got 10,000 people. I got two million. That's who I'm talking to.
>> And I ain't on there posing to be chosen.
>> I give a message. I do some stuff from the gym every morning with a message.
>> And I'm not on there talking about use this exercise. I'm on there talking about what you need to be doing. I'm trying to get you up. People talk about Red M. I see you in the gym 5:00 in the morning talking, giving us a little message. Yeah. I'm trying to get you up.
>> How many time you got to be late to work to understand you sleeping too long?
>> Wow.
Wow.
Well, I need my rest. Well, go to bed early.
>> You ain't staying up doing nothing. Know how >> I see people all the time. What's happening? Nothing. That's about right.
If somebody asks you what's happening and you say nothing, you ought to be shaming yourself.
>> What's happening, Tony?
>> I told you, don't miss a sad day. I double up on you.
>> Tomorrow is Mother's Day.
And Mother's Day is special in our community because that mothers played a central dominant role in all of our lives.
It was more difficult to be a black mother in the United States than any mother in recorded history, in my opinion.
Cuz she had to raise children that were named after slave masters.
Raise children whose fathers had been emasculated.
and that she had to deal with the tensions and trauma of her husband and children's father at the same time deal with her own trauma.
It takes a woman of real spiritual power to be a successful mother in the black community. My God, my God, >> you realize that every one of us have been through some trauma in life.
>> Reason I'm so patient with a lot of people. People be saying, "Well, man, that guy's a little awful or this that."
We all been traumatized.
And whether you admit it or not, we all are reacting to things that happened to us that we never got over and in many cases won't admit it to ourselves.
>> But our mothers understood our trauma and loved us through our healing.
>> Yeah.
>> Without ever telling us that we were sick.
My mother raised me and my sister after my father left when I was 10 and never said a bad word about my father.
She nourished us through our hurt.
Whatever. Never telling us we were in pain. A lot of things that y'all do, you're doing because of pain that you will not even admit to yourself. Jesus.
Some of y'all sitting here right now done had your dreams crushed >> and heartbroken and we tried to ignore what we've been through rather than treated so we can get through better.
>> My mother taught us that we could be whatever we want to be.
>> Lady asked me yesterday in the Mother's Day interview said, "What was the best thing your mother did for you?" I said, "Well," I said, "My mother looked out for us. Daddy left. Mama scrub floors. I was a boy preacher. She would scrub flaws. I have a little suit to wear to preach.
I'm started when I was four, seven, eight years old. I'm on the road." She encouraged me. I said, "But you know, I think the most significant thing that my mother did for me is she never said no."
Said, "What do you mean?" I said when I was three and a half and [snorts] they brought my sister and I this with daddy was still home to wash the temple and I said I wanted to preach.
My father said boy going in the room. My mother said go ahead.
>> Never said no. I used to line up my sister's dolls and preach to her. I preached my first sermons was to my sister's dolls.
And then they let me preach at the junior ushers anniversary and I've been preaching public ever since. But I started preaching to my sister's dolls.
They were didn't give much offering but they was pretty good congregation.
They didn't say amen blackburn but they would sat there and took my sermon. My mother didn't mock me.
>> Yeah.
>> My mother said, "If that's what God is doing with him, let's see what God would do."
>> And that's why even when she lost the house cuz daddy left, lost the Cadillac, SHE NEVER SAID NO.
when I became enticed with civil rights and people at that time in the church world were saying you shouldn't mix the two.
She stood by me came right up here around the corner Abia and met Adam Clayton pile. I was about 11 years old.
I had a mother, a mother that is a good mother is a nurturer >> and doesn't try to force you but tries to push you in the direction that God has already given you.
>> SO WHY I celebrate Mother's Day is I had a good mother.
>> My Lord, >> I had a mother that inspired me and encouraged me.
And you, I don't care where you are listening or watching, YOU OUGHT TO THANK GOD.
>> THANK GOD >> THAT he brought you through the womb of somebody that understood you better than you understood yourself. Happy Mother's Day to our mothers.
I tell the story Blackburn when I say that our mothers knew us better than we know ourselves. I tell the story often preach around the country about the untold story of Mary.
>> Yeah.
>> The mother of Jesus.
They do the seven last words. Burden them have it here at this historic church.
And I used to do the seven last words.
Everybody, you know, they take seven preachers >> and everybody get a word >> and everybody try to out preach the other one.
>> Everybody be rehearsing all year >> to get their word here.
But you know Nancy, give a hand. Nancy darling prophet. I didn't give her a hand.
You know Nancy, there was one word in the seven last words that always bothered me and that is where they get to that word where they said that Jesus looked down and said, "Behold our mother." Yes.
>> And the Bible said that when they looked down and said, "Behold thy mother," that they took her and she left.
>> So bird all the time that I would do seven last words. I never wanted that word cuz I never liked that word.
>> It bothered me >> till one day I had enough nerve. I I guess I had a a epiphany that just gave me too much nerve. Christian and I sat down and I decided I was going to send a psychic email to Mary.
>> And I wrote out, "Dear Mary, you re this what I do.
>> I just want to get this off my chest. I read and have heard it preached how at the crucifixion that they said, "Mother, behold our son, >> my God."
>> And that they took you and you left.
And I never could understand how could you leave when they were crucifying your son.
>> He had healed the sick.
>> Yeah.
>> He had raised the dead. Yeah.
>> He fed the masses with couple of fishes and a few loaves of bread. He had NEVER COMMITTED A CRIME. YET he was tried >> and sentenced to death.
>> Even the pilot didn't want to kill him.
They sent him back.
>> AND THE CROWD, THAT'S WHY Y'ALL WILL BE LISTENING to the crowds. Y'all listen to the MAGA crowds. THE CROWDS SAID, "LET THE KILLER GO."
>> YEAH.
>> AND KILL JESUS. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WHY WASN'T YOU PROTESTING?
>> Why wasn't you KICKING AND SCREAMING?
>> WHAT KIND OF MOTHER watches a child being crucified for no reason?
>> How could you leave?
>> And I signed my name, Reverend Al. And I was I felt better >> after getting it off my chest.
Blackburn. YEAH.
>> BUT TO MY SURPRISE, >> about two or three days later, >> my Lord, >> I got a psychic email back from Mary.
>> My Lord, >> it's my mother's day message.
>> Yeah.
>> Mary said, "Dear Reverend App, >> I usually down through these centuries don't answer questions.
>> People have tried to dress me and my son various ways, and I rarely ever answer.
But because you were so poignant, >> I decided I would send a message back.
>> She said, "Yes, it is true. My son fed the hungry."
>> Yeah.
>> Yes, it is true that my son clothed the naked.
>> Yes, it is true that he gave Barameus his eyes back.
>> My Lord, >> yes, it is true he met the woman at the well >> and turned her life around.
>> Yes, it is true that he made those that were unhold.
Yeah.
>> And it is true he never committed a crime.
>> AND THEY TRIED HIM >> WITHOUT a lawyer.
>> Indicted him without charges.
>> My God.
>> GAVE A KANGAROO COURT and laid him >> on a cross that he had to carry himself.
>> Yes, sir.
>> They made him carry his own cross.
>> Put him between two thieves. And yes, THEY DID SAY, "WOMAN, behold thy son."
And it is true that I did leave >> as he was dripping blood on a rugged cross. But you don't understand everybody at Calvary that day >> had a different reaction.
>> The soldiers was waiting on them to die.
>> The Pharisees was gloating in their victory. They got the so-called king of the Jews.
>> My God.
>> The disciples was hiding.
>> The spectators was watching. My Lord, >> ONE OF THE THIEVES TRIED TO COP let you step down and save yourself and save us.
>> SHE SAID, "BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE >> THAT WAS AT CALVARY that morning."
TISHA, >> THAT WAS ALSO in Bethlehem 33 years beforeh >> AND I CONCEIVED HIM without knowing a a man.
>> I KNEW GOD PUT HIM IN MY WOMB. YEAH.
>> AND THE REASON I COULD LEAVE THE CRUCIFIXION >> IS I HAD TO GO HOME AND get ready for the resurrection.
>> I KNEW who he was.
>> AND WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, >> EVEN WHEN THEY NAIL YOU DOWN, >> THAT AIN'T THE END OF THE STORY. GOD WILL MAKE A WAY SOMEHOW.
>> YEAH. YEAH.
>> I come to tell you, I'm not scared of Trump. my mind >> because my mother confirmed who I am.
>> YEAH.
>> AND NO WEAPON.
>> NO WEAPON.
>> I DON'T CARE WHAT COURT YOU GOT IN VIRGINIA. NO WEAPON.
>> NO WEAPON.
>> I DON'T CARE HOW YOU STACK THE SENATE IN ALABAMA. NO WEAPON.
>> NO WEAPON.
>> I don't care what you do in THE SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON. NO WEAPON.
>> NO WEAPON.
>> NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER. THE GOD [screaming] I SERVE >> THAT HAD HIS SON GO TO CALVARY IS STILL ON THE THRONE. GOD WILL >> GOD WILL GOD WILL MAKE A WAY. IF WE STAND UP, HE'LL HOLD US UP.
>> YES, he will. Yes, he will. Yes, he will.
>> Oh Lord, my God and awesome. I do wonder.
>> Yes, sir.
How great thou are >> when I in awesome wonder.
Consider [singing and music] all the worlds thy hands have made.
[singing] I see the stars.
I hear the rolling thunder.
Thy power through out the universe display.
then sings my soul, my savior [singing] God to thee.
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee.
How great thou art.
How great thou art.
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation and [singing] take me home.
What joy shall fill my heart?
Then I shall bow in humble adoration and z proclaim.
My God, how great thou art.
This sings my soul, [screaming] my savior God to thee.
How great thou are.
How great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee.
How great thou are.
How great thou are.
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee.
How great thou are, how great thou are.
and saints my soul, Lord, [screaming] my Savior, God to thee.
How great thou are.
How great [screaming] thou are.
Everybody's singing.
Everybody singing.
Everybody singing.
Everybody sing it.
Sing it like you mean it.
Sing it like you mean it.
Everybody singing singing like you mean it singing.
>> Yeah.
I'm open the doors of the movement.
There may be someone here today that sees us on television, hears the radio, maybe even came to a rally or two, but never join National Action Network. If you're here today and not a member, just come right down to me and let us sign you up right now and be a part of this justice family. Just come on right down to me. Everybody singing. Come on.
Everybody sing.
Everybody singing.
Yeah.
Sing it like you mean it.
Sing it like you mean it.
Sing it like you mean it.
One last time, y'all.
One last time, y'all.
One last time, y'all.
Yeah. [music] All right. I'mma raise our offering and let you go. I need everybody to give.
You that are watching us on live stream on nationalaction.net or any of our platforms or Facebook, YouTube, they got us up on everything.
You can give by going right to nationalaction.net.
If you have your $500 pledge or on it, you can give online right now. If you give it real quick, I'll call your name while everybody's listening. And we want everybody to give to the best of the ability. You that are in the house, if you want to pay on your pledge, you can.
Or you can give in our weekly offering.
I need about 10 people about 10 that give $100 or more to come quickly. I need 10 that give $100 or more for the building fund. Russell Julie and Cesa Yates $500 for the building fundian $100.
>> Guardians $100.
Attorney Smel $100.
All right. Attorney Smelum for the building fund. $1,000.
$1,000 for the billing fund.
>> Lois Minweather, go way back with me.
Giving her $500 for the billing fund. Lois Minweather $100.
>> Choir $100.
Brother Clark, one of our better members, $100.
>> LCJ Robinson, $500 for the building fund.
>> Stevens, $100.
>> Steven Banks, $100.
>> Winston Gilchrist, just had a birthday.
$100.
>> Brother Eric, $100.
All right, give me some 50s. 50 50 >> $500.
>> Patricia Francis $500 for the building fund. Patricia Francis50s 50s.
>> Don Jones $50. David $50. Number two today got his brother Cleveland $50.
Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
Mike Harris Harris.
>> M Harris $50. All right. Now, come on.
Come on. Minister Carolyn is coming.
>> $50. All right. Now, everybody, whatever you have, $1, $5, $10, whatever you have, everybody give them some marching music.
Everybody. All right.
[music] [music] Everybody. Everybody.
>> [music] [music] >> All right.
All right.
Let us get ready to go.
We're going to stand and sing our song.
Shake hands with everyone. And before we do that, we have all of you that were born in May.
We're going to do a Come on. Come on.
Let's do happy birthday for our May folk. Come on. Come on. Come on.
Happy birthday to you. Kathy is the number one.
Yeah. Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
One more time. Happy birthday.
Yeah. Happy birthday.
Happy birthday. [music] Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
All right.
All right.
Give them a hand. All the May birthday.
>> Brother Arthur.
All right.
Give him a cupcake, too.
All right. That's wonderful. All our May birth. Oh, Jay Jay, your birthday in May. May 25th.
>> May 25th. All right.
>> All right. Give the maze a good hand.
Big hand. Big hand.
[applause] All right. After we dismiss, I'm going to give a a rose to everyone for Mother's Day. And if your mother is still alive, I'll give you a red rose.
If she's passed, a white rose. Everybody come and get a Mother's Day rose from me. All right, let us sing our song dismiss and then I will do the roses.
Amen.
And thank grace how sweet the sound that s like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now, >> repeat after me. We're an African people.
robbed of our names, our language, our families, our selfrespect.
But we shall rise, never to fall again.
Up you mighty race. We can accomplish what we will. No justice, no peace, no justice, no peace, no justice, no [music] peace. Shake hands with the one you next to. Shake my hand before you leave.
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