Historic Setting for a Historic Message
On August 28, the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Washington, D.C., opened its sanctuary to mark the anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Founded in 1838 and rooted in the anti-segregation protests of the late 18th century, the church provided a fitting backdrop for a service aimed at inspiring a new wave of civil rights activism.
The gathering carried the spirit of an old-fashioned tent revival, though held inside the historic sanctuary. Ministers, laity, and community members joined in prayer, worship, and reflection on the nation’s ongoing struggles with racism, injustice, and inequality.
A Call to Prayer and Action
Rev. William H. Lamar, pastor of Metropolitan AME, welcomed the crowd by reminding them that prayer must be the foundation of any movement for justice.
“We are facing a surge in injustice, discrimination, exploitation and White supremacy, all expressed in various ways,” Lamar said. “But the good news is we’ve been here before. In times like these, we must turn to God in prayer.”
He warned that too many within the “beloved community” envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had forgotten prayer’s true purpose. “Prayer is sitting and waiting for God to speak to us,” Lamar said. “Then, it’s about moving in faith with God.”
Nearly a dozen ministers lifted prayers for families, children, workers, and justice. When Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, prelate of the AME Church’s Second District, spoke, the congregation rose in appreciation. Jackson urged honesty in confronting corruption and crime, noting that America cannot ignore rising white-collar crime or the erosion of moral character among leaders.
Rev. Bryant Delivers the Word
The keynote sermon came from Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, a charismatic and outspoken voice in the Black Church tradition.
Bryant, who has drawn national headlines for organizing an ongoing boycott of Target over its retreat from diversity and inclusion initiatives, came to Washington with a clear message: the church must spark a moral revival.
“We are gathered here today to deliver the message that something is wrong with the ethical barometer of this country,” Bryant declared. “When people begin to believe that America belongs to them alone, something is wrong. What this nation needs is not another political debate—it needs repentance.”
The congregation responded in the time-honored call-and-response style, with shouts of “amen” and applause filling the sanctuary.
Linking Struggles Past and Present
Bryant reminded worshippers of the deep historical resonance of August 28. He recalled:
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The 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Mississippi.
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The 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
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The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which peaked on the same date.
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And even international milestones, such as the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom in 1833.
He argued that these anniversaries remind America of both its unfinished work and its potential for renewal.
“James Baldwin once said, ‘whatever you don’t face, you will never fix,’” Bryant told the congregation. “The Black Church does not have the option to be silent. We must raise our voices, just as our ancestors did.”
Protest, Not Just Boycott
Turning to his boycott of Target, Bryant reframed it as an act of protest rooted in dignity and self-determination.
“Does America believe that 56 years of inclusion wipes out 400 years of oppression?” he asked. “We are not just boycotting—we are protesting peacefully, keeping our Black dollars in our Black pockets until we are treated with respect.”
Speaking Truth to Power
Bryant’s sermon crescendoed with pointed critiques of political and cultural leaders. “White supremacists, MAGA supporters, Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.D. Vance are mad,” he said. “Not because we are Black, but because we are reviving a Black-led movement. Pharaoh has no friends here. We are here to say, ‘let our people go.’”
He closed with a warning: “We have assembled to tell the leaders of this country to repent. God of history and justice will not stand idly by forever. When history is on your side, nothing else matters. God will have the final say.”
Voices From the Pews
The service resonated far beyond the pulpit. Lawrence Hamm, chairman of New Jersey’s People’s Organization for Progress, drove 200 miles to attend. He said the message motivated him to bring more supporters next year.
“Blacks must remember we have enormous economic power,” Hamm said. “The Black Church must stand with the oppressed, and young people must join this fight to keep it alive.”
Attorney LaRuby May, who once represented Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, said Bryant’s message echoed her own family’s faith history.
“Our ancestors prayed on slave ships and in the fields. That same faith moves us today to fight for justice,” May said. “I support the boycott of Target, because how we spend our money is how we show our values.”
A Revival of Purpose
The revival service at Metropolitan AME was not just a commemoration of the past but a rallying cry for the present. Through prayer, song, and fiery preaching, leaders urged the Black Church to reclaim its historic role as the conscience of America—unafraid to challenge power, confront White supremacy, and demand a more just society.
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