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"The Election games begin"
“The Need for a Co‑Signer: How the Black Vote Is Brokered, Borrowed, and Exploited in the South”
©TalkBlackArkansas.com
February 7, 2026
Every election season in the American South — and nowhere more predictably than in Pulaski County, Arkansas — a familiar ritual unfolds. It is polished, practiced, and deeply political. It is the Southern tradition of pimping the Black vote: the calculated use of Black presence, Black credibility, and Black sacred spaces to legitimize candidates who have not earned the trust of the people they seek to influence.
The choreography is always the same.
A white political candidate, often with no sustained relationship to Black neighborhoods, suddenly appears on a Sunday morning. They do not come alone. They arrive with a Black escort — a pastor, a local official, or a recognizable figure whose name carries weight. This escort serves as the validator, the co‑signer, the one whose presence signals to the congregation that the visitor is a “friend.”
The candidate is ushered down the aisle, introduced warmly, and seated in a place of honor. The congregation is asked to applaud. The pastor offers a blessing. Smiles are exchanged. Photos are taken. And for a brief moment, the candidate is wrapped in the moral authority of the Black church — an authority earned through generations of struggle, sacrifice, and service.
But beneath the smiles and handshakes lies a harder truth:
This ritual is not about relationship. It is about access.
It is not about partnership. It is about proximity.
It is not about shared struggle. It is about borrowed legitimacy.
The Black church becomes a backdrop.
The congregation becomes a prop.
The pastor becomes a political accessory.
And the Black vote becomes a commodity to be traded, not a constituency to be respected.
This practice is not new. It is rooted in a long Southern tradition in which Black political power is acknowledged only when it is needed — and ignored once it has served its purpose. What makes it especially painful in Pulaski County is that it happens in communities where the needs are urgent, the disparities are real, and the stakes are high. Yet the engagement is shallow, episodic, and transactional.
And so the question that Black congregations whisper — but rarely ask aloud — must finally be spoken:
When will we see them again?
When will we see them after the election?
When will we see them when the schools are struggling?
When will we see them when the neighborhoods need investment?
When will we see them when violence rises, when families hurt, when policy decisions cut deep?
When will we see them when there are no cameras, no ballots, and no political advantage to be gained?
And to the clergy who open their pulpits for these ritualized visits, another question must be asked with equal clarity and courage:
As a Black preacher, what will you now tell your congregation?
Will you tell them that the visit was a covenant or a convenience?
Will you tell them that the candidate came to serve or simply to be seen?
Will you tell them that your endorsement was earned, or that your presence was used?
Will you tell them that the church was honored — or that the church was handled?
Because if the only time a candidate enters a Black church is during election season, escorted by a Black co‑signer who trades credibility for access, then the visit is not ministry — it is marketing.
The problem is not that candidates visit Black churches.
The problem is why they visit, when they visit, and what they fail to do once they leave.
A candidate who has not:
- walked the neighborhoods,
- listened to the elders,
- met with the youth,
- supported the schools,
- invested in the community,
- or shown up when there was no election on the line
…has not earned the right to stand in the pulpit and claim friendship.
And the Black leaders who escort these candidates into sacred spaces must confront a difficult truth:
When we lend our credibility to someone who has not earned it, we are not helping our people — we are helping them use our people.
The Black vote is powerful. It is strategic. It is decisive. But it is not for sale, and it should never be brokered by those who treat it as a bargaining chip.
The time has come for a new standard — one rooted in accountability, transparency, and genuine relationship. Candidates who want the support of Black communities must show up before they need us, not only when they need our votes. They must demonstrate commitment, not convenience. They must earn trust, not borrow it.
Because the Black vote is not a prop.
The Black church is not a backdrop.
And the people of Pulaski County are not a political accessory.
They deserve better. And we must demand better.
opinions
Racism Causes Severe Brain Damage and the Lack of A Moral Compass
By Deborah Springer Suttlar
February 7, 2025
Oh, say can we see white lies? A white lie is defined as a lie that is harmless or trivial. The white lies I speak of are the lies which are the intentional untruths about Black people and actual situations or incidents that occurred to us. Specifically, lies about who we are, what happened to us and what America did to us. The Lies which are neither harmless nor trivial. The lies perpetuated by white people. Once again, in this current atmosphere, the “real” America rises. It is not The America we have been singing about, nor pledging our allegiance. We see that; Racism causes severe brain damage and the lack of a moral compass.
I referenced brain damage; it is apparent to me that the thinking process has gone awry. It is actually, “Racist Stupidity on Steroids.” It is the lack of a moral compass because once again, Black and Brown people must defend ourselves against animalistic behavior, and fight for our humanity, justice, and equality. The laws written to protect Americans, are now ignored and are not applicable to us, due to the color of our skin or the native languages spoken.
The National Anthem, written by Francis Scott Key, who as a Slave Owner, retained slaves until his death. It is his song that we sing. This is a song of war and even mentions: no refuge could save the hireling and slave. It refers to those who fought with the British for the purpose of being freed from slavery. I can understand why we are continuously being stalked. They never wanted us to be freed. It’s time to recognize that fact.
This song praises the bravery of those who fought for freedom from British rule, while at the same time America was buying slaves and Colonizing Africa. A song which glorifies killing and “bombs bursting in the air.” This is our “National Anthem.” which we have been required to sing at every event and occasion as a reminder of how wonderful America is as a symbol of pride for their conquest for a white man’s freedom.
The Pledge of Allegiance states in its final passage,” and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” All? Justice? Now we see, for whom it was intended. It was written by a white man for white men. The very fact that this song is about a white man’s freedom, you wonder why do we even sing it? We have been indoctrinated to do so.
So, let me summarize all of this. We pledge allegiance to a flag that represents a country that enslaved us, denied us our own humanity, and then stalks us for centuries. The words imply this is a country under the authority of God. The same God that commands us to love thy neighbor as thyself and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. However, anyone who is not a white male was denied human rights, equality and opportunities afforded to white men. It also states, this nation is indivisible, but we have red states and blue states which represent two factions warring against each other. Both different ideologies, one oppressive and the other claims to be more Christian (but supports segregation and prejudices). Although all are God’s children.
Now, let us address the” justice and liberty for all.” No justice and no liberty for anyone but the white men. Everyone else had to fight legally for that statement to apply to everyone. So, does this mean that the flag is a symbol of an intentional lie or the truth? What are we pledging to uphold? For which it stands? What does America truly stand to uphold? And I ask you,” why are we singing that song?” We should always sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. It should have been our National Anthem; the winner’s song.
God created diversity. Any actions against God is a sin.
Micah 6:8. What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
opinions
The Mission is to Vote
by Deborah Springer Suttlar
January 23, 2025
The Elections are coming and I wonder who knows? The Mission, should you decide to accept is to vote. According to The Guardian (2024), 40% of eligible Black voters cast a ballot in the 2018 midterm election, but that number fell to 32.2% in 2022. It also states, we are not voting consistently and stringent voter ID laws, aggressive gerrymandering, and harsher sentencing for errors in voter registration are barriers for Black voters casting their votes. In addition, we have voter apathy which hinders participation in the voting process.
Voting is a rite of passage for Black people. If you are a voter, then you have begun to fulfill your obligation as a citizen in America. The former Congressman John Lewis, stated, “Your vote is precious, almost sacred.” When you think about it, it is!
Black People have a very painful and murderous history securing the right to vote. This is why it is important for us to remember that our mission is to vote. In 1870, freed Black men were granted the right to vote. However Black women did not gain the right to vote until 1965, with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I first cast a ballot in 1971, at the age of 18 years old. I have voted in every election since then. I vote because I understand the importance, significance, and the consequences of not voting. If you choose not to vote, then you have indicated that you have no opinion regarding the decisions that will be made about your life.
The voting process allows you to decide on laws, policies, or pick someone to represent you. Should you choose not to vote, then you did not participate in the decision-making process. The history of Black people acquiring the right to vote has been both murderous and long. There were protests, lynchings, and murders to prevent our participation registering and voting. Not only were Black people denied equal access to voting, but there was a law passed such as The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to prevent citizenship and thereby rendered them ineligible to vote. The most recent hinderance to our participation in the voting process has been the Gerrymandering enacted to prevent people of color from representation. Black people are taxed without access to equal representation. White Colonizers started a Revolutionary War because they had no colonial representation. Our most important mission is to vote.
I have heard people express that they are not “political.” Politics is the way of life and the decisions of life. Voting constitutes a fundamental component of the political process. Any decision that is made is made by a vote, and a vote by someone elected or appointed. Jesus’ death was put to a vote and people voted whether Jesus would live or die. The very lives of Black people were voted on for each legal right we have in the United States of America. They voted whether we were human, freed from slavery, could vote, go to school and many other issues of our lives and the lives of others. The right to vote should be our personal mission regardless of the roadblocks designed to prevent us from doing so.
Our mission is to vote. The coming elections are for local, state, and federal positions. We need to spread the word everywhere we go these next couple of weeks. The following is the schedule:
February 2, 2026, is the last day to register to vote.
February 17, 2026, through March 2nd Early voting – Monday thru Friday- 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m.
On each Saturday – 10:00a.m. thru 4:00p.m.
Election day – March 3, 2026
Golden Rule meaning: Treat others the way we want to be treated out of obedience to God.
Dr. Martin Luer King, Jr stated, “So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote, I do not possess myself.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
opinions
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY CONTINUES … December 7, 2025
by Joy Springer
December 7, 2025
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY CONTINES…. 12/5/2025
I have decided to repeat my beginning paragraph once again from last
week’s article:
The holiday season is here! Many of us are beginning to think about our
shopping lists and where we will spend money to buy gifts for our families
and friends. There’s no better time to support the small businesses that help
make Arkansas such a vibrant place to live. In addition, I recommend that
you buy your children a book or several books if your budget will
allow you to do so from these small businesses, take them to the library to
read or even check the book out from the library and take it home for them to
read. As previously communicated the Superintendent of Schools of the Little
Rock School (Dr. Jermall Wright) who is encouraging parents to have their
children read at least 20 minutes a day. Yes, my parents required that we
complete our homework and reading assignments before I was able to
go outside to join my friends, watch television, and/or any of the other “fun”
that I wanted to do. I stand by the response that I gave to the elementary
school student who suggested that I pass legislation to “BAN” homework. I
promised that I would do so when he and other students across the district
score proficient or better on the state mandated tests. Once again I encourage
you to work with your students at home and challenge them to read a book
for at least 20 minutes a day and then have them tell you what learned after
having read the book, newspaper article, magazine and/or a letter that they
have written to you or to a friend. READ! READ! READ!
This week started with the House and Senate Education Committees met at
Park Magnet School in Hot Springs, where they toured the International
Baccalaureate World School and the Main Street Visual and Performing Arts
Magnet School. These visits give lawmakers a clearer understanding of the
strengths and challenges in Arkansas classrooms and help guide future
funding.
In addition, House and Senate Agriculture, Forestry, Agriculture
met jointly in Hot Springs during the Arkansas Farm Bureau annual state
convention. Lawmakers received updates on issues shaping the future of
agriculture and rural communities across the state of Arkansas.
Arkansas State University briefed members on the progress of its College of Veterinary Medicine that is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. The program will allow students to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in Arkansas for the first time in the state’s history. Arkansas State University (ASU) briefed members on the progress of its College of Veterinary Medicine, scheduled to open in Fall 2026. The program will allow students to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in Arkansas for the first time, strengthening the pipeline of veterinarians needed across the region. ASU expects to enroll 120 students in its first class, with at least half coming from Arkansas.
Poultry is Arkansas’s largest agricultural sector, generating more than half of the state’s agricultural cash receipts. In 2023 alone, the industry produced an estimated 6.67 billion dollars in economic impact. More than 6,500 farms across Arkansas raise some form of poultry, making any disruption in this sector a significant concern.
Committee members are now reviewing the information and considering potential paths forward as they work to support growers and maintain stability in the state’s agricultural economy.
The Educational Emergency continues….
Representative Springer previously served on the Little Rock School Board and is a long-time civil rights activist and supporter of equity in public education. She currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committees. Additionally, she serves on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) and the JBC Employee Benefits Division Oversight committee and as a 1st Alternate on the Legislative Joint Auditing committee.
opinions
The Importance of Political Engagement The Five Steps:
by Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
November 21, 2025
1. My story
2. One vote count
3. Elections cause change
4. Know your representatives
5. Encourage family and friends to register and vote in all elections
Here is my story about political engagement. I once had a personal sense of apathy—and maybe even ignorance—about certain situations. I believed I was an active parent and someone who understood what was happening in my children’s education. However, that changed when I was asked and recruited to run for the Little Rock School Board. When I learned I needed to collect 25 signatures from people who lived in my own zone, I realized that most of the people I knew lived in different zones. I did not know anyone in mine.
That meant I had to get out into the community and truly engage. What many people may not realize is that every community—big cities and small towns alike—has recognizable gathering places. My friend James, who is from McCrory, knows where the folks in his hometown gather, and I had to figure out where the people in my zone gathered. I had to find cafes, taverns, juke joints, and hangouts where people met after work.
I found a few of those places, went inside, started conversations, and asked people to sign my petition. What I discovered was that even when I found 8–10 people from my zone, maybe only one or two were registered to vote. So, while I was canvassing for signatures, I also had the opportunity to encourage people to register and participate. I don’t want to make this all about me, but I will share that I eventually won that election with 80% of the vote.
Through that experience, I learned how many people in our own neighborhoods are not politically engaged and do not fully understand what it means to be registered to vote, much less what it means to vote in all élections.
One vote counts! I had two friends running for State Representative in District 35 in Little Rock. I knew both of them. People often say, “My vote doesn’t matter,” but in that race, the winner won by one vote. My friend who lost will never again say that a single vote does not matter.
Elections cause change.Elections bring about both positive and negative change depending on your perspective. This is not just about Democrats or Republicans—independents can win as well. Whoever is elected gains access to power and decision-making that will affect our lives, whether we like the results or not. Elections always create change.
Know your representatives. From school board all the way up, know who represents you. Do you know your school board member? Do you know your justice of the peace, your state representative, state senator, congressional representative, or governor? Many people do not, but I do, and I regularly communicate with them. One thing I encourage you to do is write each one of your elected officials this November and let them know that you are a constituent. That simple act can make a difference.
Finally, encourage your family and friends to register and vote in every election. I’m to the point that if someone in my family is not registered and does not vote, we have a real problem. It truly is that serious. I hope this encourages you to start conversations, to get registered, and to show up and vote. It is our constitutional right as American citizens, and it matters.
We pray that in everything we do; we remember that we are all equal.
Love,
Charlie Edward McAdoo
Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church
opinions
If Only America Could Be the Sweet Land of Liberty
by Deborah Suttlar
December 7, 2025
As Advent begins, I reflected on how America has strayed from its original vision as a beacon of freedom and hope. It appears that once, again, those of us who are neither white, nor wealthy, are being thrust back to the time of racism, discrimination, and hatred. Langston Hughes's poem "Let America Be America Again". It is both a reminder that though the date has changed, racist attitudes and biases are the same.
Please take a moment to read this poem and think how in 2025, we really do need a Savior. This poem though written in 1935, is most appropriate for what we as Americans of Color are experiencing today in America. If Only America Could Be the Sweet Land of Liberty
"Let America Be America Again"
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There’s never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”)
Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?
I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one’s own greed!
I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean—
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today—O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.
Yet I’m the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That’s made America the land it has become.
O, I’m the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home—
For I’m the one who left dark Ireland’s shore,
And Poland’s plain, and England’s grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa’s strand I came
To build a “homeland of the free.”
The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we’ve dreamed
And all the songs we’ve sung
And all the hopes we’ve held
And all the flags we’ve hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay—
Except the dream that’s almost dead today.
O, let America be America again—
The land that never has been yet—
And yet must be—the land whereeveryman is free.
The land that’s mine—the poor man’s, Indian’s, Negro’s, ME—
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
Sure, call me any ugly name you choose—
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people’s lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath—
America will be!
Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a community activist and longtime supporter of public schools.
opinions
Collateral Damage from Racist Hatred
By Deborah Springer Suttlar
November 21, 2025
Collateral damage is defined as the injury inflicted on something or someone other than the intended target. As a result of how this Republican Regime/Administration operates through the elimination of DEI, imposing extreme Tariffs, ICE illegal tactics such as illegal arrest/deportations, denial of healthcare, slashing $300 Billion from SNAP, gutted $1 Trillion from Medicaid, fired over 200,000 Federal Workers, decimated our Humanitarian Aid by eviscerating USAID, destroying the Department of Education and with the help of a Republican majority Congress, confirmation of incompetent Cabinet Officials and finally, numerous impeachable offenses with no check and balances in government. We have witnessed Collateral Damage from Racist Hatred in every aspect of the lives of all Americans, around the world and America’s future is in peril.
The collateral damage has put the United States of America on a Global Human Rights watch list. This country was once a beacon of hope in the world. We stood out because we had set an example of Democracy in a multicultural society. However, Republicans and the Right-Wing Evangelical agenda has put in place one of the most racist, repressive, and oppressive regimes since post-Civil War. The inflicted terror, lies, schemes and manipulation to re-write history by the elimination of a diverse culture in America is pure racist hatred. It is quite evident to me that racism causes severe brain damage which affects the ability to think with competence and compassion.
The egregious acts of the Republican Party are how they can influence repressive policies and laws which obfuscate people rather than enlighten them. Republicans instigate racist misinformation and engineered racism by promoting fear of cultural differences. Instead of promoting goodwill, peace, brotherhood and unity, the Republican Pary has perfected a means to alienate people while promoting racial ignorance and promoting white privilege to do “whatever satisfies their agenda.” This divisive and ungodly tactic is common, it is their “modus operandi” which has been used for generations. This tactic originated by Satan beginning in the Garden of Eden. The sad fact is that the teachings of Jesus Christ have been highjacked by racist who believe that a particular skin color has dominance. This is a racist lie and sinful. Racism is a sin.
America is the victim of collateral damage from racist hatred. This racist hatred has become the badge of honor for the current political party responsible for the maintenance and operation of the government of the United States of America. Unfortunately, just like with the release of Barabbas who was also a notorious criminal and insurrectionist. The vote was also cast (US Supreme Court) to allow a convicted felon to be the president of the United States of America. Trump is now murdering America. The people of America have become collateral damage of racist hatred by the policies and laws of this Republican Regime. The current Trump administration is impacting America's future, and this effect is felt not only across the nation but also around the globe.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
African Proverb - The path of a liar is very short.
Deborah Springer Suttlar is a longtime supporter of Civil Rights and Public Schools.
opinions
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY........
by Joy C. Springer
November 21, 2025
EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY CONTINUES …… November 21, 2025
Another week of Legislative meetings to review and obtain “data” designed
to address pressing issues facing our State. The Arkansas Legislative Council
(ALC) also convened this week to review key updates affecting state revenues,
public assistance programs, healthcare initiatives, and workforce development.
State fiscal officials reported that general revenue continues to remain steady.
Arkansas has collected about $2.65 billion in gross general revenues so far, this
fiscal year, slightly above the same point last year by about $14 million.
Net general revenues available for the State’s use now totals $2.27 billion,
reflecting an increase of $41 million compared to October 2024.
Members of ALC and other Representatives also examined proposed changes
to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program prompted by the federal
One Big Beautiful Act. The new federal requirements would expand the age
range of able-bodied adults without dependents who must meet work require-
ments, raising the upper limit from 54 to 64. The exemption for parents is also
being narrowed. Under the updated rules, only parents with children younger
than fourteen would qualify for an exemption, whereas previously parents of minors
under eighteen were exempt.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received approval for $2.9 million from the state’s restricted reserve fund. The funding will support the High-Risk Pregnancy Program, which connects rural healthcare providers to specialists through obstetrical telemedicine; the Stroke Program that offers around-the-clock virtual access to neurologists for rural emergency departments; and the Following Baby Back Home Program, which provides guidance and support to families caring for premature infants.
In other business, the Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee discussed upcoming duck season regulations and heard clarification from the Attorney General’s Office regarding “open carry” firearm laws in the state. The Attorney General confirmed that Arkansans may carry handguns openly or concealed in state parks except for areas that fall under federal jurisdiction.
Finally, the Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee visited the Arkansas Workforce Center in Little Rock. Members toured the facility, learned about job training and job placement services. In addition, members heard
firsthand accounts from Arkansans who have benefited from the programs offered
the Arkansas Workforce Center. Additional information may be found at: https://dws.arkansas.gov/dws_local_offices/little-rock/
Welcome Fall and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
State Representative Joy C. Springer represents District 76 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Representative Springer previously served on the Little Rock School Board and is a long-time civil rights activist and supporter of equity in public education. She currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committees. Additionally, she serves on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) and the JBC Employee Benefits Division Oversight committee and as a 1st Alternate on the Legislative Joint Auditing committee.
opinions
The Importance of a Name
by Dr. C.E. McAdoo
November 15, 2025
I was recently blessed to be in a meeting where a friend of mine shared a devotion that has stayed with me ever since. To get the full impact of this reflection, I encourage you to read Matthew 1:1–16 and Romans 1:1–16 before continuing. While my thoughts today relate to people of all faiths—Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise—those two passages add powerful context for this week’s message.
In the devotion, my friend told the story of a blind man who had someone read the Bible to him. The reader began with the passage from Matthew and asked, “You really want me to read this?” The blind man said yes. Then the reader flipped to Romans, took a look, and said again, “You want me to read this? It’s nothing but a bunch of names!”
The blind man replied, “That’s exactly why I want you to read it—because names are important.”
That moment struck me deeply. I told my friend that when I used to teach Old Testament History as a credit course at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I often assigned my students readings from Chronicles. If you’ve ever read those books, you know they contain long lists of names—generation after generation of “so-and-so begat so-and-so.” My students would groan, “Why do we have to read all this?”
I told them the same thing the blind man said: because names are important.
Think about what it would mean to see your name—or the name of one of your kinfolk—written in the most sacred book in the world. Suddenly those lists aren’t just ancient history; they’re stories of real people whose names mattered to God.
I don’t claim to have read every single name in those genealogies, but I have read the Bible cover to cover. And each time, I’m reminded that every name represents a life known and loved by God.
That’s one reason I try to call people by the name their parents gave them. I don’t always succeed—especially in my own family, where nicknames abound—but I try. Names carry meaning. They carry identity.
For example, my name is Charlie Edward McAdoo. Sometimes when I introduce myself, people will say, “Oh, I thought your full name was Charles and you just go by Charlie.” I always tell them, “No, my name is Charlie.”
That brings me to one more story. The Lord has blessed me to write three books, with a fourth on the way—In Defense of Being Black. It’s going to be a good one. When I first started selling books, I signed them “C.E. McAdoo.” After a while, my sister pulled me aside and asked, “Is that the name Mama and Daddy gave you?”
That question took root in my heart. From that day forward, I’ve signed every book Charlie Edward McAdoo—the name my parents gave me, the name I’m proud to carry.
I’m not proud in a boastful way, and not because I know every detail of where it came from (I think one part came from my granddaddy). I’m proud because it’s my name—a name known by God.
And when my time comes, I pray that my name—and yours—is written in God’s book, or at least on God’s list somewhere. Because names matter.
Love,
Charlie Edward McAdoo
Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church.
opinions
Have Yourself some Bible fun!
by Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
October 4, 2025
Assalamu Alaykum. Shalom. La paz sea contigo. Peace be with you. My peace I give
you, as Jesus said in John 14.
Have yourself some Bible fun!
There are thirty books in the Bible in the paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on it while fishing from his johnboat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judged the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brewed a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That’s a fact.
Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or scholar to see some of them at the worst.
Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fundraising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new sales record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported it was the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, “The books are all right there in plain view, hidden from sight.” Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal.
A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus. There really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. Good luck!
Peace in the name of Jesus,
Love,
I Am
Charlie Edward McAdoo
Dr. C.E. McAdoo is a retired district Superintendent in the United Methodist Church.
opinions
THE RIGHT-WING ENTERPRISE TO RE-INVENT CHARLIE KIRK
by Wendell Griffen
September 19, 2025
THE RIGHT-WING ENTERPRISE TO RE-INVENT CHARLIE KIRK
"I will not give Charlie Kirk a post-mortem character makeover."
Since the September 10 murder of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old husband, father, and right-wing social media influencer who headed Turning Point USA, public discourse about his ideology, influence, and religious identity has dominated social and news media platforms. Kirk has been remembered by people who loved him, people who despised him, people who benefited from his affection, and people who suffered harms from the views he championed.
Bottom of Form
All of this is normal, not extraordinary. It is customary to eulogize the people we like after they die, and customary to criticize people we do not like. The deaths of people we like grieves us. The deaths of people we dislike should not make us insensitive to the grief of others. We can, and should, have empathy for the people who grieve the deaths of people we dislike, even if we hold a different view of their deceased loved ones.
Nevertheless, empathy does not require me to eulogize Charlie Kirk. Empathy for his loved ones does not require me to eulogize his bigotry toward people of color, women, immigrants, Muslims, and other marginalized people. The proof of that bigotry is irrefutable.
Empathy also does not compel me to suspend intellectual and moral critique concerning his history of endorsing vicious politicians and policies. The proof of that history is equally irrefutable.
Charlie Kirk’s death does not compel me to pretend that I do not know about his bigotry and history of endorsing vicious politicians and policies, no matter who else chooses to eulogize him.
Nor does Kirk’s death require that I tolerate efforts to lionize his ideology and its harmful impact on vulnerable people. I do not owe fealty to Charlie Kirk’s bigotry. I will not obey officious edicts from anyone to honor it, be silent about it, let alone validate it.
Charlie Kirk’s professed Christianity was blasphemous and fraudulent. Jesus was a child of Jewish ethnicity born in Palestine, a place that Kirk falsely said did not exist. Jesus became an immigrant child with his parents after he was marked for death by a sociopathic politician when he was a toddler. Jesus denounced bigotry towards immigrants, women, and people of different ethnicities. Knowing this about the religion of Jesus gives anyone who respects intellectual honesty good reason to question Charlie Kirk’s professed fealty to the religion of Jesus.
Charlie Kirk’s professed love of country was idolatrous. His devotion to bigotry was hateful. The tragic fact and hateful cause of his death does not erase the harmful ideology Kirk espoused, the lies he trafficked, and the harms caused by the policies and politicians he supported, despite what Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Stephen Miller, Pam Bondi, or anyone else says, thinks, or does.
For these and other reasons, I denounce the despicable enterprise that Trump, Vance, Miller, Bondi, and other right-wing figures are mounting to censor, intimidate, and silence people who criticize what Kirk believed, said, and did. Trump, Vance, Miller, Bondi, and others are free to disagree with Kirk’s critics and detractors. They are not entitled to our deference nor our obedience.
Charlie Kirk held, espoused, and made his fortune by trafficking views that were racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic, and otherwise despicable. Count me among those who have the good sense to not be suckers for the right-wing propaganda enterprise to give him a post-mortem makeover.
Wendell Griffen is the author of Parables, Politics, and Prophetic Faith published by (Nurturing Faith, (2023) and
The Fierce Urgency of Prophetic Hope (Judson Press, (2017). He is also an ordained minister and former elected judge.
www.fierceprophetichope.blogspot.com
www.wendellgriffen.blogspot.com
Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
pastorgriffen@newmillenniumchurch.us
CEO, Griffen Strategic Consulting, PLLC
www.griffenstrategicconsulting.com
griffenstrategicconsulting@gmail.com
Co-Chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
opinions
52 WEEKS
By Rev. Dr. C.E. McAdoo
September 18, 2025
ALHAMDUILLIH - HAMDULLAM (Arabic) Haruchhasham n(Hebrew).
Hello, hello, hello to all my schoolmates.
52-week challenge. We have been blessed to have 52 weeks to live life each year, and it is a blessing. But in these 52 weeks, I want to challenge us as I challenge myself. While I do not have 52 different challenges, I do have a few.
One challenge is to develop and have self-reliance: the belief and mindset that we can overcome life’s challenges. What do I mean by that? I mean things we are working. Some are physical things like, for me, getting rid of stuff. I don’t know if we all were born to be hoarders or if just some of us will be, but a massive challenge, sometimes, is getting rid of things. Not just getting rid of it but maybe give it away or donating it.
Another challenge is letting ourselves know that our own well-being is a priority and being committed to nurturing that well-being. But how do we define being in good shape with our well-being? I think it comes to 3 factors.
One is having mental well-being. That can be a double-bladed axe. Having a good sense of mental well-being helps us to not be upset about things to such an extent that we lose sleep. I have been blessed with having a pretty good sleep. I only get up for bodily functions.
The second thing is to nurture our physical well-being. I have mentioned before that I exercise. People may think about athletes that pass early even though they were in peak physical condition, but all of our bodies are different. The lord blessed me to be a medic in the army, and I remember the doctor always saying that doctors and lawyers are licensed to practice and they can help us mint our physical well-being.
The third thing is our environmental well-being. We can control our environment, and you should strive to not stay or live in bad situations. I used to always tell my kids if they were somewhere and it didn’t feel right, just go to the bathroom. Create space between you and a negative environment.
The next part of our 52-week challenge is to practice the power of empathy and compassion to create a better world. Every person whether man or woman, or boy or girl, can have an empathetic mindset. Empathy means that while you can’t be in anybody else’s shoes, you can imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. When you are considering that circumstance, also consider what you would do if you were in their shoes. This doesn’t always have to be about money, but I just happened to be at a counter a day or so ago and I and another person were trying to buy some stuff and someone else came up. I had just a few items, and the person allowed me to go in front of them. They just said, “No, you go ahead!” And that just struck me as empathetic and kind. Those simple moments of letting yourself be in an empathetic mindset give you the opportunity to paste that on to someone else.
I don’t care what the public are saying. They must be running into the wrong people or something ain’t right. I see too many people that say hello and that are smiling. I think this world is in much better shape than we realize and I want to help it along by passing on an empathetic mentality.
The last thing we must do for our well-being is to prioritize our rest, peace of mind, and the holy healing we have to do each day. I talked about exercising and men in good shape and all of that but my son and I were talking business-wise about my business plans and this and that and he said, “Daddy, just what do you think Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and all those other folks do?” I said I don’t know, and my son said they find time to think. I think we all need to find the time for us to think and in that thinking we are peaceful, we are restful within ourselves. That thinking is rest we need but it also adds to our peace of mind. But peace of mind isn’t always silent or silence. My peace of mind sometimes is looking at a cowboy picture or looking at a black and white movie or a mystery from the 40s and 50s. I love watching them and finding peace there.
The last challenge is the healing of the heart. I can’t say too much about the healing of the heart because I don’t know how many stripes we have. But I do know that Scripture says by His stripes we are healed and that makes me emotional thinking about Jesus taking those stripes for us. His taking those stripes for us means we are living in a healing place, and we can go and live a life of healing and make a difference in the world.
That’s our 52-week challenge. You don’t have to deal with them every day, but you can pick through them and find the ones that make sense for you. I am challenging myself and others to strive to make the world a better place.
Love,
Dr. Charlie Edward McAdoo
Dr. McAdoo is a retired district superintendent in the United Methodist Church
About Us
Why we must create our own narratives
Perception is reality. How we are viewed and what is said about us matters. It is abundantly clear that here in Arkansas, we as African-Americans don't control many, if any, statewide media groups. On any given day, COUNT the number of positive stories reported by print and television stations KATV, KARK/KLRT-FOX-TV, and KTHV, about African Americans in Arkansas.
In Arkansas, with the exception of KTHV, the media groups and their ownerships are conservative and often often distort people of color and specifically, BLACK families. As black consumers of the news, "that's the part we miss." How on the "regular" we are portrayed by white media groups and their local news stations and print media.
A study from the University of Illinois concluded that at best media outlets (a) promoted racially biased portrayals and myths that pathologize black families and idealize white families with respect to poverty and crime (b) play a dangerous role in spreading debunked stereotypes about black families and (c) at worst, amplify those inaccurate depictions for political and financial gain. We've all seen that type of behavior before.
When media outlets examined in the study reported stories about poor families, they chose to feature black families in their coverage 59 percent of the time, even though only 27 percent of families living below the poverty line are black.
Similarly, in coverage of welfare, 60 percent of families portrayed were black, even though only 42 percent of families receiving welfare are black.
Finally, the article addresses the real-life consequences of the continued distortion of black life by the media. "When the news media constantly associates black people with crime, it increases racial stereotypes among viewers, leading the public including liberal and conservative Arkansan's to disproportionately favor punitive criminal justice policies." As a collateral damage piece, when the poor are depicted as overwhelmingly black, it leads the public to support heavier restrictions on welfare because of a perception that undeserving black people benefit from it. Backers of corporate and right-wing policies gain when the news media blames black families for social conditions, while their own role in destabilizing society remains invisible.
This online publication exists to counter the narrative that constantly depicts African Americans as "less than." It exists to balance the negative view of African American life that is constantly depicted in the local news and information outlets in this state. We are so much more than the lip-service paid to us by those that control the news cycle. It's not about the reporting of the news, it's about the process of manufacturing the news. There is a saying that goes something like this. "If you control the messenger, then you control the message." Let's take some of that control back. As African Americans in Arkansas, let us create our own narratives. Most importantly, let us report and talk about the real issues.................. with our own voices,.... and our own opinions.
meet our contributors
opinion
opinion
opinion
Deborah Suttlar
Deborah is a longtime Community and Civil Rights Activist. Her column appears in the Opinion Section.
Click the link below to read read Deborah Suttlar's column.
https://talkblackarkansas.com/opinion
opinion
opinion
opinion
The Honorable Wendell Griffen
Judge Griffen will comment on the law and its impact on Black Arkansans. He will also discuss and legal and social issues on a state and national level impacting Black Arkansans and Black Americans.
Click the link below to read Judge Griffens column.
Finance
opinion
Religion
Gaining generational wealth is the key to Black economic family wealth and security. We will share strategies from the Association of African American Financial Advisors to help you and your family get there. We will inform you about managing your finances so that you can start your path to financial freedom.
Religion
Religion
Rev. C.E. McAdoo
Rev. McAdoo is a retired District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church. He will provide a weekly column on Religion and Black Arkansas.
Click the link below to read Rev. McAdoo's column.
https://talkblackarkansas.com/opinion .
At the State Capitol
State Representative Joy C. Springer
State Representative Joy Springer is a veteran school an civil rights advocate for African-American children and their families. She will provide a weekly column on state legislative and educational concerns affecting African -Americans .
Click the link below to read Representative Springer's column.
Medicine and health
This weekly column features a listing of top African-American doctors in Arkansas, and their areas of expertise. We will try to connect you with physicians who understand your physical, cultural and mental health needs. One study suggests that African American male patients who meet with black physicians often ask to receive more preventive services than patients who met with nonblack physicians. This study also suggested that black doctors are more likely to provide a comfortable settings to black patients, perhaps because of shared experiences or backgrounds. The study concluded that increasing the amount of black physicians could lead to a 19 percent reduction in the black-white male cardiovascular mortality gap and an 8 percent decline in the black-white male life expectancy gap.
Education
Who to call
Who to call
This weekly column will focus on educational happenings in the state including news from local school districts and the Arkansas Department of Education.
Who to call
Who to call
Who to call
People always have "who to contact questions." Whether it is a local city government office or a state government office, we will try to steer you in the right direction.