February 23, 2008
Local Minister: Blight Makes Right for Harlem
The only way to save Harlem for the benefit of its longtime residents is to economically cripple the neighborhood. So says Dr. James Manning of the ATLAH World Ministry church. He's proposing an economic boycott of the area in Manhattan between 110th St. and 155th St., from the Harlem River to the Hudson River. The plan is that once interloper businesses have been driven out via bankruptcy, Harlem will become a less desirable place to live for people like whites, rising rents will decline, and Harlem will have been purged of the problems that have been driving people out of their homes.
Gothamist first wrote about Dr. Manning last spring and noted that his empowerment-through-impoverishment plan was not well received by local politicians. The CityRoom blog at The New York Times reports that the Dr. (Ph.D.) is still thumping at his pulpit, calling for Harlem to become an economic "drought zone." Although many feel that Manning is simply trying to re-ghettoize Harlem, he does have some supporters, although they wonder how easy it will be to do their shopping outside of their neighborhoods.
The Times piece notes that Manning may be considering opening up a grocery store of his own within the drought zone and told The Village Voice last year that he uses Fresh Direct to adhere to the local boycott. The Times reporter at Manning's most recent church meeting asked fifteen people if they had an Internet connection so they could also use Fresh Direct. None did. Considering the multi-racial nature of Harlem's gentrification, Manning's proposed solutions seems to have more to do with class than race. If one can't make it to his Harlem church, check out the ATLAH World Ministry YouTube channel.
|
what an idiot.
There's little doubt that race, not class, is what drives this clown. Read this bit of nonsense from the website:
Ham is the son of Noah. ... Ham was assigned the task to preserve the knowledge of creation and pre-creation. He also carried the science of mathematics and medicine with him into the ark. ...
Ham is the father of the dark-skinned, kinky-haired people. He is also the founder of the nation of Egypt, and his knowledge has enabled his sons to become the builders of the Great Pyramids in Egypt. These are the inheritances of the sons of Father Ham, and they have been passed onto his descendants. Yet, when you see the dark-skinned, kinky-haired people today, they have fallen from their level of greatness.
However, Almighty God has raised up The Honorable James David Manning, as the Priest for this generation to speak a word of deliverance unto them. That word is called, ATLAH - the land of The Great Light People. God is returning world power to the dark-skinned, kinky-haired people, and when they rise, they shall institute a level of superiority that cannot be denied nor rivaled by the existing world.
http://atlah.org/ministries/fatherham.html
wow what a idiot.
So he apparently can afford to boycott while the people he preaches to (and fund him) cannot. That doesn't seem right.
His heart's in the right place.
His money and his mouth isn't in the right place.
his heart's still in the right place.
His heart is in the right place?
Gee I guess you would say that any person trying to increase a certain group of people's chance at greatness at the expense of others has his heart in the right place? Hmmmm. I recall history tell us a different story about men like that.
And lest we forget that Harlem has already been a less desirable place to live by the efforts of it's own community. Anybody remember the 60s-90s?
What's happening to Harlem is it's 2nd renaissance. And it's happening because people with a commitment to the community are moving there to live and invest their money in local business. People of all colors.
This is just a class struggle being disguised as a race issue, because it's easier and more effective at getting people to respond emotionally.
I guess I'll just go boycott the black owned and operated bakery that just opened on Lenox and 131st so they'll go out of business and a shitty Chinese restaurant can take it's place.
Way to go reverend fucktard.
Where do these assholes come from? Shouldn't he be wearing one of those dushikees or what ever those born again Africans wear? Does he share a ministry with Al Sharpton? What homes might I ask have the people of color been thrown out of? They didn't own homes and turned a perfectly good neighborhood into a shit hole for the past seventy five years.
Who paid for his suit and tie?
In his heart you might think he's smart, in his guts he's definitely nuts.
WOW! Fifteen people. That should shut down the Harlem economy overnight. Is he providing delivery from his Fresh Delivery drop off site in his basement to those fifteen individuals?
This isn't one of those store front churches is it?
His heart and soul's in the right place, though.
Fighting racism with more racism isn't a winning strategy, Snoop.
May I offer some sincere advice? Instead of leaving a bunch of thoughtless comments in every post, could you take a deep breath and think about what you are going to write? There is no contest, nor any prize, for being an early or frequent commenter. Take the above for example. Your first comment is racist, factually incorrect, and ignorant of Harlem's history. Your second comment makes no sense ("In his heart you might think he's smart"???). By your third comment you actually zing the guy with a valid point.
hmmm. Maybe obama can use this strategy to re-invigorate the US economy by doing this to foreign investors?
This guy is just looking out for his own job. So long as his constituents remain convinced that they are helpless victims of racism and shouldn't even bother trying to get into the game, he'll always have a job "defending" them. A little self-sabotage goes a long way in keeping this ball rolling.
Where can a brotha get a mustard colored suit and a purple tie to go witht he lime green feather in my hat??
it's interesing how instantly resistant people are to radical ideas. indeed, this is a radical idea, which chafes against our current economic system which can be read at it's core as ultimately exploitative of working class people of color. For him to propose an idea for being able to reclaim a community that has been taken away by market forces is completely legitimate. The details are possibly problematic, but why people on here have to attack a new idea because it threatens their privelage is disturbing.
Preying on your congregation's ignorance to further racist ideas isn't radical it's stupid, hateful and ultimately self-defeating.
God's on his side cause his heart's in the right place.
niceshed, this isn't people resistant to radical ideas, this is people resistant to suffering fools lightly. This man is at best an ignorant fool, and more likely a person who profits by preying off of the ignorance of the community he claims to be trying to help. basically what dr zippy said.
So, I'm guessing the folks of Harlem should start donating their money to churches below 110th St., rather than ATLAH based on 123rd St (within the boycott zone).
This sounds like a good way to start the plan.
This man spews hatred and bigotry from God's pulpit. Asks yourselves, what would Jesus say regarding such a "man of the cloth"?
This man is not concerned about Harlem nor its residents. His interests are purely self-motivating.
If you have any doubts listen to his comments, from the pulpit, about other ministers of the people of Harlem. He has graciously posted them on Youtube for your viewing and listening pleasure.