African-America broadcaster Roland S. Martin on Wednesday said many questions remain about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's meeting with Black pastors. "We still do not know exactly what was discussed during the meeting, and if the GOP presidential candidate addressed any of the issues important to the African-American community," he pronounced.
So, Martin just issued an open invitation to the 109 pastors who met with Trump to come on his NewsOne Now television morning news show to discuss the specifics, especially what they plan to talk about at the next meeting with Trump.
"Because if you're going to get media attention, and talk about the hype of being a Black pastor, and meeting with a Republican presidential candidate, that's fine," he said.
"But if you're going to walk into the room, at least walk in with a sheet of paper, with something on it that represents your communities."
Texan raised but D.C. resident Martin is a syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. He also is a commentator for TV One and the host of NewsOne Now, a one-hour weekday morning news show. NewsOne Now was the first daily morning news program in history to focus on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an explicitly African American perspective.
Martin said he didn't want to hear another "prosperity sermon" or about illiteracy from this group of pastors. "If you want to be a true prophetic voice, then you should be following Jesus, and talk about stuff that Jesus might actually bring up."
"Come on this show and talk to Black America about what you talked about with Donald Trump about black folk, otherwise all y'all did was waste your damn time," Martin said Tuesday.
He is married to the Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin.
Martin isn't the only African-American, who has questions about the recent Trump-related meeting. Elicia Murphy on social media posted in reaction to Martin's clash with one of the pastors at the meeting: "Geez! Watching this pastor made me cringe. It doesn't seem like anything of substance was covered in that meeting and perhaps those pastors showed up to get a little spotlight. I can give the dude half a thumbs up for mentioning the need for blacks to have a stronger understanding of finance but even then he doesn't expand on how Trump said he would accomplish that."
"Black Americans are turning a corner and quickly becoming intolerant of religious nonsense masquerading as the best solution for the problems in the community. Trump and the rest of them can line up support from every black pastor on the planet but that no longer guarantees that blacks will flock to them like a heard of suicidal sheep. I have some seriously religious kin folk but very few of them are stupid and incapable of seeing the madness emanating from these pulpits."
