What Must Conservatives Do to Reach More Black People?

            After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met His eleven Apostles in Galilee. There He gave them certain instructions to follow in teaching His gospel.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20).

            Raynard Jackson quoted Oral Roberts of Oral Roberts University as putting his own twist on the Savior’s message: “Go into every man’s world and meet them at the point of their need.” Roberts was referring to Christians taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world because there is not enough time to wait for “the people seeking God to stumble into our churches.” However, Jackson likened this message to conservatives spreading conservative principles. Jackson said that conservatives must go to black entrepreneurs, black parents, and black preachers. 

            While reading Jackson’s article, my mind went immediately to a conservative organization that is already working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began working with the NAACP in 2017 when it helped to refurbish the NAACP offices in Jackson, Mississippi. In May 2018, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ and the leaders of the NAACP released a joint statement calling for greater civility and racial harmony. 

            In July 2018, the Church of Jesus Christ “announced a historic collaboration between the two organizations and launched a self-reliance initiative.” In addition, BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School and the NAACP are working on other joint projects. Reverend Amos C. Brown, pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco said the following about his friendship with the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We have more in common than that which may superficially divide us….

[We are connecting] not as black or white, not as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Baptists, but as children of God who are about loving everybody and bringing hope, happiness, and good health to all of God’s children.

            A few hours later, Reverend Brown introduced President Russell M. Nelson at the 110^th annual convention of the NAACP. He spoke about the power of partnerships. “Arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder, may we strive to lift our brothers and sisters everywhere, in every way we can.” Why is the Church of Jesus Christ working with the NAACP? Because they are all God’s children, they are our brothers and sisters,” said President Nelson.

            This “unlikely alliance is providing a model for bridging” the racial divisions across America. In June 2021, President Nelson “walked into a news conference linked arm-in-arm with the president of the NAACP on one side and a Black former student of Martin Luther King Jr. on the other.” The purpose of the news conference was “to announce a multimillion donation to the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and other initiatives to help underprivileged Blacks and improve racial understanding.” 

The president of the UNCF described his organization’s new relationship with the church as jaw-dropping. He said he hoped the Latter-day Saint commitment to Black higher education would become a national story.

The groups should stand as an example to the nation, said the Rev. Amos C. Brown, who studied under King as a young man and now is the NAACP’s emeritus director of religious affairs.

“Our democratic republic is under siege, but this very partnership of the NAACP and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be the saving factor to redeem the soul of the United States of America, so that we shall indeed become one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” he said.

            This shows that leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ were willing to go into the world of the NAACP, and it takes us right back to the article by Jackson. Jackson said that “Blacks are the most conservative group in the country and have been for most of America’s existence.” Therefore, they do not “need to be persuaded or convinced about conservative values.” 

Conservatives must start financially supporting legitimate, credible black organizations and individuals who have standing within the black community. Conservative groups must form strategic partnerships with these credible black groups and individuals.

Far too often, conservatives attempt to address issues publicly that are of particular interest to the black community, but with not one credible black person on the platform with them….

Conservatives must go to the black businessman.

Conservatives must begin to substantively engage with black entrepreneurs. They are the gateway to the black community, not the preachers!

Within the black community, the businessman typically is the head of the deacon board and head of the board of trustees in the black church. So, if you get the black businessman on your side, he will bring you the pastor, who will bring you the congregation.

Conservatives must go directly to black parents.

Despite how the liberal media portrays black parents as liberal, nothing could be further from the truth….

Conservatism is mainstream within the black community. Don’t let the radical left media fool you or convince you otherwise….

            Jackson explained that black parents “are the biggest proponents of schools choice and vouchers,” and “Black men are some of the biggest proponents of the Second Amendment.” He also stated that the black community does not support “the radical agenda that Democrats are pushing on it.” This includes same-sex parents for children, the defund the police movement, higher taxes, transgenderism, or having their children indoctrinated with critical race theory.

Since blacks are already conservative, they apparently just need to have conservative and/or financial support to jettison the influence of the liberals. This means that the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were well ahead of the game.