Local Black Democrats Seek to Reclaim Their Place in Politics

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The San Angelo Coalition of Black Democrats held a special event at the San Angelo Ministerial Alliance Campus this past Saturday commemorating Black History Month, and installation of new officers for the Coalition.

Briefly, the mission of the San Angelo Coalition of Black Democrats it to “Stimulate in African Americans an active interest in governmental affairs."

Sally Ayana, challenger for Precinct 1, Justice of the Peace, spoke about how her bid for public office “represents getting involved, and helping to engage others.”

The keynote speaker for the event was Reverend Gene Collins, who is also the chair of The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. Collins is the full-time minister of the Highland Bunche Church of Christ in Odessa, a member of the Spiritual Care Taskforce, an organization mandated by the U.S. Congress after 9/11. And he is a business owner.

The theme of this year’s event was “ Reclaiming Our Place in the Political Landscape.”

With that as a backdrop, Rev. Collins talked about “separation between church and state,” and how this commonly used phrase is misinterpreted.

“God has always been in politics.” “Infractions against humanity are spiritual and political problems.”

Collins used Ezekiel 37:1-14, the story of God bringing dry bones back to life, as the religious foundation to inspire members of the black community to bring to re-energize themselves and engage.

“Some of you have been inactive, living as dry bones.”

And Collins revived Martin Luther King’s speech of Feb. 1968, The Drum Major: “Our instinct tells us to be first, to lead the parade, which is an obsession: the drive to be supreme damages our relations with different races, and among ourselves.”

New officers of the Black Coalition accompanied by J.B. Hall, Chairman of the San Angelo Black Democrats Coalition are: Chairman, Sherley Spears, Vice Chair Programs, Rev. William McClendon, II-Chaplain,  Rev. Mitchell Reed, Parliamentarian, Mechelle Reed, Secretary and Angela Haywood, Treasurer.