Silence is not golden. In 2026, it's betrayal.
There are times when we should remain silent — in a movie theater, in a library, or when law enforcement reads a suspect their rights. But considering the state of political corruption and the threat to our democracy, this is no time to remain silent. Silence is NOT golden; it is betrayal.
Our voices must be heard — the voices of equality, justice, freedom, and liberty. Our voices must be heard so that we can speak truth to power.
I am a Baptist Preacher, so let me start from a Biblical perspective. It has always taken a voice to make change happen. God spoke to nothing and created the universe. Moses spoke to Pharaoh, “Let My People Go!” and the Israelite slaves were set free. David spoke to Goliath, “I come in the name of the Lord!” and slew him with a stone. Jesus spoke and stilled storms, opened blind eyes, and cured diseases just by speaking. Your voice can make a difference.
I also have a law degree, and I am an activist, so let me reflect on the voices of history that made a difference. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus — and her voice initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which gave birth to the modern Civil Rights Movement, led by a young Black Baptist preacher whose name was changed from Michael to Martin. August 28, 2026 marks 63 years since Dr. King stood at the March on Washington and reminded America of its dream — a voice that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Silence is at least betrayal and at most complicit. I began my legal career as an Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor under the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. An uncooperative witness to a crime got charged with contempt of court, at the least — betrayal — or as an accessory after the fact, at most — complicit. I believed then, as I do now, that a person who knows something and fails to say something is just as guilty as the person who committed the crime.
The silence of the MAGA Republican movement is not surprising. But every Republican who stays silent about ICE officers killing people in broad daylight, FBI raids on nonprofit community organizations, and the rollback of DEI, health insurance, and SNAP benefits is just as guilty as those carrying out the MAGA movement's wishes.
The silence of the white evangelical church is just as disappointing. It is difficult to watch white Christians exclaim their love for Jesus while hating the people Jesus loves. When they repeat the lie that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio are eating animals, they betray their faith. When they worship on Sunday and stay silent while their own company won't hire someone because of skin color, they are as guilty as the employer. When they sing in the choir, teach Bible study, or preach from the pulpit, and say nothing when a young Black boy is suspiciously found dead in Mississippi, they fail to love thy neighbor as thyself — and that makes them an accomplice.
Unfortunately, these are the exception, not the rule. Many “mega” Black churches stay silent on social justice, worried it will hurt their “brand.” Many churches of every size believe justice work is too worldly, that church should be about spiritual things only — so we end up with churches competing over who delivers the best experience instead of who makes the most impact.
As a Black pastor, I love good church — the worship, the praise, an anointed word. Every Sunday I work to give Sure House Baptist Church an excellent experience. But that experience is meaningless unless it's tied to practical living. Too often we have pastors more interested in entertaining an audience than feeding the flock of God. One of my dearest friends says it best in every sermon: “My job is to shift you, not shout you.”
I am more critical of the Black Church because I am a Black pastor and I love the Black Church. This is the first of many articles where I'll comment on and criticize issues that matter — and I must start at my own house. The Black Church is still the largest Black institution in the world. Every legacy civil rights organization traces its roots to it — the NAACP, the SCLC, the Urban League, the National Action Network. The Black Church has a duty to stand up, speak up, and rise up for justice, equality, liberty, and freedom.
In 2026, we cannot afford to remain silent while our civil liberties are being stripped from us, our equality is being denied, and our democracy is being challenged. Our silence is betrayal. Our voice must be heard. That is why this platform is so important: we collectively speak truth to power. I will be speaking up on this platform to give voice to the voiceless on issues that concern our community, including politics, faith, social justice, and anything that can improve our community.
