This is the South and religion plays a major role in our culture. It is the foundation of most of our lives.
Most of you will go to church Sunday or at least pause and ponder this holy day.
Many will go over to the house of a relative or friend for a good meal and watch the kids hunt Easter eggs. I hope you will count your blessings and be thankful for what you have. There are key factors to your problems and I hope you know those solutions start in the hearts of good, sincere people.
But now I’ve got something negative to say: Clarksdale is one of the most godless communities I have ever lived in.
Hear me out. The racial hate that spews from the mouths of Black and White people in this town astounds me. In the space of six years I’ve seen seven children murdered in this community. The tolerance for corruption in government and just a careless attitude toward others cripples us and allows evil to flourish.
We have also staked a portion of our identity on a man selling his soul to the Devil. Last week I had a Black man in Clarksdale say that is the biggest lie ever pushed on his community.
He and others have talked of erecting a giant cross in Clarksdale and if we can’t change our image, at least we can show the world there is another option that is true and pure.
Look around, there are many bad things going on in this community morally, economically and politically.
Please understand this is more than Floyd’s words – in black and white – on paper.
Some people just don’t care about their brother. They’ve got a good-paying job, drive a fancy car and live their life as they demand it. They have no reason to want things to change and they probably won’t be in church this Sunday.
As you ponder Easter, I hope you understand that is not the example this week celebrates.
Election
The sermon’s not over.
Election in the Bible is a very lofty and complex concept. Elections in Clarksdale are very similar.
I am not one of those who believe things just happen in life and I have no control over my future. I believe I will be blessed or suffer the consequences based of the decisions I make. God has given me free will.
Now back to the news.
We have city elections Tuesday.
I hope you realize you have the opportunity to make something happen in your community. When you walk into that voting booth, you are in control of the next decision you make.
I firmly believe you will be blessed or suffer the consequences based on the decision you make.
Look at our candidates closely. Choose wisely, because free will also places the responsibility for your choices on you.
Good people
A little higher up in our visit today, I was sort of hard on Clarksdale. As a newspaperman of more than 30 years and someone who really cares about the people of Clarksdale, I’ve learned sometimes you have to say and do the hard thing.
And there are good people in this community who believe like I do.
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had Godly men come to my office - Black and White - and voice their concerns about our community.
To the man they have all lived here more than 30 years. They’ve poured their lives into their profession, their church and their families. They talked about a need for new, younger men and women to step up and take on the mantle of leadership in Clarksdale.
They talked of the vice, corruption and decay in the city they love.
I couldn’t help but think of a Nazarene who once looked over Jerusalem 2,025 years ago this week and it broke His heart, too.
We’ve all heard the quote “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I think it is very similar to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Let me say again, there are good people in Clarksdale and I am blessed to have looked into their eyes and claim them as neighbors and friends.
Season of Hope
I say no other holiday promotes the concept of hope like Easter.
Jesus came into this world, not to condemn it but to save it. But that salvation came because a debt had to be paid for my injustice. In a day and age when so much is out of sync, I’m thankful for that atonement that focuses my world correctly.
You may read this and call it foolishness. That is your God-given right.
But if that is your view, please read one book in the Bible – the Gospel of John – this Easter Sunday and consider the claims of the Bible and Christ before you decide for all eternity.
It’s called the gospel. It’s called good news!
Floyd Ingram is Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. He is a Baptist, optimist and aggravated at the state of his world and community. Call him at 662-627-2201 if you want to talk about The Good News.
