Philadelphia Eagles' famed wide receiver, Desean Jackson was both right and wrong!  With a mix of immature and juvenile social media posts displaying unkind and hurtful anti-Semitics views concerning Jews, he errantly brought shame on both himself and the African-American community—for this, he was wrong!  Within 24 hours, he righted his wrongs by being man enough to both publicly own-up and apologize for his erred statements—for this, he was right and did right!  I fully applaud and commend him. 

The greatest rise of anti-Semitism today is unfortunately from the African-American community.  There is no room or tolerance for hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.  In fact, if any ethnic groups should stand and support the Jewish people, it should be African-Americans.  There are unique parallels and commonalities between the Jewish and African-American communities.  Both communities have suffered horrendous persecution and unspeakable oppression as a people and nation.  During such oppression and persecution, both communities have embraced religion and spirituality in a search to find meaning in their lives.  Further, both as a culture of people can identify with the pain and plight of a people dislocated, disenfranchised and disheartened. 

Let's fully discuss this recent exchange of events concerning Desean Jackson and look deeper into both the challenges and the solutions to a better, shared community experience. 

This past 4th of July was NOT your typical 4th of July weekend…  we're yet trying to find away to celebrate with food, fun and fireworks all the while enduring this most historic and unprecedented pandemic era, the continuance and now spiking reality of COVID-19!  To add, we are witnessing at an all-time high, the sinful and ungodly spirit of racism—systematic, institutional as well as the overt and obvious.  I don't believe the underlying motives and movement of Black Lives Matter is the absolute answer.  The answer?  Simple!  We must be a nation and generation of people that finds ourselves humbly back at the foot of the Cross… the Cross of Christ!  This, for all, will be the truest and purest path to freedom and liberty for all!

Not feeling connected to your local church as of lately?  Feeling like something is missing—fellowship with friends and colleagues at the church?  After 100 days in quarantine, it's easy to feel like you are not being spiritually feed and pastorally covered.

Being high tech is a wonderful thing in the world of websites, Facebook Live and various streaming services… but being high touch is very essential and needed in an hour such as this!  Truth is, it is becoming more and more convenient to compare so many great online and streaming church services and overlook and undervalue your very own local church and pastoral leadership.  I want to encourage you to stay faithful and focused on your local church fellowship and pastoral leaders. 

On this 2020 Father's Day weekend… Dad is Destiny!  If there has ever been a time and need for fathering, now is that time.  If there has ever been a time for men to rise up and take their rightful place in the home, now is that time!  It is said that "Fatherlessness is the most destructive trend of our generation."  With this Father's Day weekend podcast, I want to both charge and challenge all fathers to be the man—the husband, the father and friend you were called to be!  During this global pandemic, combined with the injustices, civil unrest and race tensions, every fathers of a child needs to both possess and pass on to their children—a voice that gives identity and security, a vision that won't leave you and values that instruct, admonish and affirms!  

"It's never too late to be the father who you might have been… because, Dad is Destiny!"

I've often said, when White America catches a cold, Black America gets pneumonia!  These are absolutely unprecedented and unparalled times for our nation—the COVID-19 global pandemic has certainly had its destruction and devastation on many!  Unfortunately for Black America, the pain is undoubtably doubled!  There are two deadly and diseased viruses Black America simultaneously fights—the COVID-19 virus which has exposed the disparity of healthcare access and resources in the Black community, and the ungodly, sinful virus of racism.  This   deadly virus of racism, whether systematic, institutional or overt and obvious—places unbearable burdens of pain and pressure in the African American community.  To make things more interesting, there is yet, this looming and alarming silence among many—in various white communities, including the church.  Is this, perhaps why the peaceful protestors across America cries, --white silence is violence?  As for immediate, real time solutions?  The church must seek the Living God, speak truth to power and stand in this, such a hard and hurtful day—a day burdened in Black America!  Let's talk about it!!

We as African-American conservative Christians are becoming more and more stuck between a rock and a hard place!  What the President did recently was wrong—both uncouth and unnecessary!  To hold the Bible up as a prop in front of a neighboring church outside of the White House for a photo opportunity was straight unethical and uncalled for.  As a Christian believer and leader, I am concerned that many African-American voters and supporters will soon, no longer give their conservative 'benefit of the doubt' because of his pro-church, pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-Israel, prison reform, HBCU support and what was then a robust economy at the expense of seemingly provoking of a potential all-out war against American citizens--of which, of course, the black community will suffer most. I have prayed for the President... and will continue. As a citizen of the USA, I respectfully honor and follow leadership… but, some of our white Evangelical brothers or sisters in his inner circle MUST speak truth to power and give Godly, prophetic wisdom that will influence a man in which will, in turn, impact a generation!  Let's talk about it!!

Another unarmed and hand-cuffed Black man is dead tonight in America—all at the hands (…and a knee) of a white cop!  Where's the voice of the Evangelical church?  Evangelical leaders?  Where are the voices of the Black church?  Black leaders?  The only voice we're hearing, actions we're seeing are the looters and rioters—Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington D.C., …all the while America is on fire and burning.  Who should we hold accountable?  Who needs to be called out?  What are our country's next steps for healing and restoration? This podcast conversation is about a simple and solid solution about ending unnecessary police brutality and the injustice of murder by police!!!  Not about President Trump, but about ending local police department injustices across America!  The church should be praying and seeking God for practical solutions and answers to our world's greatest need!   

Straight Talk with Dr. Mike is an upbeat and energetic podcast show from an African-American urban perspective that entertains, yet explores and engages various current events, hot topics, and news worthy issues in church and community