Eddie Long

What the Bishop Eddie Long Sexual Allegations Have Reconfirmed for Me about Many Blacks

It seems like almost all Black people have some type of opinion about Bishop Eddie Long regarding the sexual allegations that are being claimed by now four Black men. What is most troubling for me about this situation is what it reconfirms for me about many Black people: Many Black people are eager to tear one another apart. Now, what I have observed is many White people are willing to stay united behind members of their own race, even in the most horrible of situations. Black people, we can learn something from White people on this issue—let’s unite more behind our people. Now, I am not saying that we should simply unite behind Bishop Eddie Long no matter what he does and has done, but what I would like to see is for us to not be exploiting him like the media is doing. Before we make up our minds up about what happened, we need to allow the presentation of all the evidence to come forth.

Beyond this issue about Bishop Eddie Long, we need to be more loyal and united to one another. We have a history that demonstrates what we can do when we are united. It was our dominant unity and loyalty to one another that was instrumental in helping to defeat slavery and Jim Crow. Don’t just assume that this man is homosexual just because four men are claiming that he forced them to have sex with him. How many times have people claimed false things about you? How many times have people mischaracterized you? I am not suggesting that this is the case with these four men, but I am saying that it is a strong possibility that what we are hearing and reading from media accounts is not the complete truth. Let’s let truth prevail in this case, which means that we are going to need to gain more facts before we can intelligently start throwing this man of God under the metaphorical bus. No matter what is ultimately concluded about these allegations, I will not demonize this man of God.

What is it about so many Black people that make them want to hate on one another? What is it about so many Black people that make them enjoy seeing members of their own race suffer? I know whatever it is it needs to stop. It seems like many Black people do not want to see other Black people succeed. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in the city of Madison, Wisconsin, I have had the opportunity to experience many Black people who have tried to derail my success. Fortunately, these individuals have failed miserably, but the larger problem with their attempts is that they should be happy to see a Black man doing so well, especially considering many of the horrific statistics that exist about us.

What I’m going to try to do is have a conversation or interview with one of these Black people who hate on successful Black people to gain an understanding about why they hate on successful members of their own race. I think that the core problem that they have lies in their low self-esteem. The Black individuals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in the city of Madison who have hated on me all have the common problem of low self-esteem. As I reflect on all of the people who have hated on me throughout my life, I realize that they too have suffered from low self-esteem.

Black people, we are already a racial minority in America. Let’s not further complicate our situation by continuing to allow self-defeating mindsets to undermine one another.

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bishop Eddie Long and Recent Sexual Abuse Allegations

I just thought that I would share with my readers some brief thoughts about how I feel about the allegations that Bishop Eddie Long sexually abused two Black men (one was 17 at the time and the other was 18 at the time). Before you rush to judgment about what this man of God might have done, I would like for you to think for a moment about this: These are two Black men—you are not going to coerce two Black men to have homosexual sex with you. I will admit that I do not have all of the facts, and neither do you, but I would like for you to think about how there are money hungry people out there who will try to ruin your reputation, record, and character just to get paid in court. I also want you to consider that there are people out there who will say anything to get some type of fame. I want you to, therefore, consider that this is all a grand scam to gain money and attention.

Do I think that it is possible that Bishop Eddie Long sexually abused these two Black men? Well, all things are possible. My instincts tell me, however, that he did not sexually abuse these men. Before you rush to judgment and convict this man in the court of public opinion, I encourage you to wait until a full investigation of these allegations is complete. We may never know the full truth anyway, so take that into consideration too.

For those out there who want to get a quick laugh off of the whole situation, you are simply stupid. How would you like for someone to simply make allegations about you that could ruin your reputation, record, and character? Hmm…not so funny now, huh? For those on the Left who would desire to critique him negatively because he opposes same-sex marriage, you don’t have all of the facts to make a judgment about him, so do the right thing and let adequate facts about these allegations emerge.

I look forward to more factual information coming out about these allegations. I pray for Bishop Long, his church members, and all of those affected by this matter. May God bless Bishop Eddie Long and you as well!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison