When Atlanta megachurch pastor Phillip Mitchell told his congregation to stop blaming white cops and start teaching “obedience to authority,” backlash erupted—including from his own members. While he apologized on Instagram, many saw it as hollow, especially when he doubled down on the same dangerous rhetoric. The panel breaks down the historical and present-day implications of respectability politics in Black churches, police violence, and what true accountability really looks like.
News Source
Atlanta Black Star by Christian Boone, April 21, 2025
https://atlantablackstar.com/2025/04/21/atlanta-megachurch-pastor-apologizes-for-telling-black-folks-to-stop-blaming-white-cops-for-the-killing-of-black-kids/
The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.18.3 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Stephen Harder and AJ Atlanta
Pastor Sparks Outrage Over Police Violence Comments 🚨
“Just Obey” Isn’t Justice: Pastor Faces Backlash 🧑🏾⚖️
Pastor Blames Black Families, Not Cops—Apologizes Under Fire 🔥
Mitchell’s Apology Falls Flat After Victim-Blaming Sermon 📉
Black Congregants Reject Obedience Over Justice ✊🏾
Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Under Fire for Cop Defense 🕊️
When the Pulpit Becomes a Police Apologist Platform 👮♂️
Churches Divided on Policing and Accountability 🤔
Respectability Politics vs. Reality: Who’s to Blame? 🎤
From George Floyd to Now: Why “Obey” Rings Hollow ⚖️
Apology or Excuse? Atlanta Pastor Walks Back Remarks 🙄
History Repeats: Policing Black Lives from the Pulpit 📚
Is Obedience to Authority Biblical—or Oppressive? 📖
Why This Pastor’s Sermon Hit a Dangerous Nerve 🚫
When the Bible Is Used to Silence Protest ✋🏾
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