The History and Spirit of the House of the Lord Church Before we get into the life and times of Mother Inez Conry I want to back up and include a document that was not in my possession at the time we were recording the earlier documents of the church. In 1952, the desperately ill Bishop Daughtry placed the responsibility of the churches on Elder Inez Conry (1897-1977) whom he had ordained a few years earlier. Elder Conry served as the National Presiding Minister or the Bishop of the House of the Lord for eight years. She was a strikingly imposing woman. She was tall and slender with a very serious demeanor. I often thought that she was descended from the Watusi tribe in Africa. From her bearing, one might get the wrong impression that she was mean or unfriendly, but nothing can be further from the truth. She was a gentle, kind, sensitive, compassionate woman. She was very soft spoken even when she was delivering a stern message. In her preaching, she evinced knowledge and understanding for Scripture that gave the impression that she had spent long hours studying, praying and meditating. It is often talked about in the church how she would walk from one side of the table that sat in the middle of the sanctuary. And as she would walk to the other side, she would slide the Bible from side to side. We thought it strange that she would not pick up the Bible, as was the custom, and teach with the Bible in her hand. But again, it showed that she internalized and grasped the material that she wanted to teach. She was a deeply spiritual woman always teaching and preaching about prayer and fasting. By her slender appearance one could be led to believe that she fasted all the time. The assessment would probably be true. She was also a disciplinarian. During the time, our church, and most Pentecostal churches were rigid in their behavioral demands. It seemed, in those days' churches spent more time on the don'ts than the dos. For example, when I was a child, before ten years of age, we were forbidden to enter a movie house. My first movie was Gunga Din. My brothers had to sneak me in. Of course, television was not created at the time. We couldn't even shoot marbles because that was considered gambling. My brother, Robert (Bob) and I joined the marble contests in Savannah, GA. We played for the championship against opponents in Augusta and we won. But we could not bring our trophies home. Of course, and any dancehall or parties other than the church parties were outlawed. Secular music of any kind we were forbidden to listen to. As for apparel, our sisters had it worse than the brothers. Jewelry and makeup, very little makeup was accepted, but no lipstick. There was a story from one of Billy Graham’s services, that a man said to him, “that was a great sermon Reverend, but your wife had on lipstick and I missed my blessing because of the lipstick”, to which Reverend Graham replied, “thank you very much for the comment. I think my wife’s lips is a strange place for you to have your blessing”. All of the dresses they wore covered the human body as much as possible. It was in this climate that Mother Conry continued the work of Bishop Daughtry. I don't know how strict and rigid he was about these matters. I don't know if in time the lines became tighter and tighter. But Mother Conry put forth maximum effort to remain true to Bishop Daughtry’s teaching. The younger members of the church talked often about how Mother Conry approached them about eye shadow, lipstick and jewelry. In other words, regarding their general appearance. But there is a strange kind of attitude among young people and maybe the older people, while they resented the strict teachings, on the other hand there was an appreciation for Mother Conry and her teaching on these matters. It may have been her concern, her compassion and understanding. She was doing what she thought was the best thing for them and the church. She was a tireless traveler going back and forth to Augusta and visiting our churches in between. She had children and grandchildren, but whatever family and employment responsibilities she had, it did not stop her from carrying out duties in the church. For eight years she shouldered up the responsibilities of the church against the criticism of the men of the church to sabotage her leadership she remained steadfast. She withstood their attempts to sabotage her leadership. She always believed that she was put in place to hold the church together until one of the Bishop's boys would come to take over. How do we evaluate the leadership of Mother Conry? If we evaluate solely on the basis of increase of members and/or number of churches then one would have to say that she was a failure. Membership did not increase and in time some of the old church members died or relocated. It was a time of the Great Migration from the South to North and West America. Young people were not attracted to the church with its rigid policies and practices. And its non-involvement in social programs and actions. Also we have to take into account the constant criticism, the undermining of her leadership and the departure of some of the ministers when they realized that they were not going to be the bishop. Then one would have to say she did an extraordinary job. I recall, during the years I traveled as a revivalist, being in California at Bishop Cleveland's church. Bishop Cleveland had one of the more famous Churches of God in Christ. It was the custom after service that we would have a night snack. On one occasion I told the people around the table. “My dad used his influence to put a woman as the National Presiding Minister,” then suddenly this woman stood up in a trancelike state and said, “I see clearly why your father would not leave the church in the hands of a man, because if a man had been the bishop, you never would have become the leader of the church. In fact, you would have been blocked at every turn and maybe forced or so discouraged to the extent that you would leave the church.” But he knew that Mother Conry would be obedient; that she would carry out his wishes to the inch degree, never faltering, never failing, but holding on till the end. So, when we assess Mother Conry’s leadership, we must keep in mind the people who were leaving for various reasons and there was little help that she could count on. As I stated the men couldn't be trusted there were few women with leadership qualities and not many youths. So, what was her achievement, what is her legacy and did she exhibit any of the spirit of Bishop Daughtry? Yes, she was a success and in her eight years of administration we see evidence of Bishop Daughtry's presence. She was tough. As I stated she gave the impression of being tender because of her slim bearing but she had a toughness about her that could endure “ the whips and scorns of time… the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune …and the thousand natural shocks” (‘To Be or Not to Be’ Soliloquy, Act 3 Scene 1). I have stated the relentless criticism to which she was subjected and that she had the courage to stand. She was not going to be forced from the church and not even from the office of Bishop to which she had been appointed by Bishop Daughtry. She manifested her wisdom that can be seen in her holding the churches together with such a distance separating them. Also, her creativity; she established the Annual Memorial Ceremony to honor Bishop Daughtry. She established an Annual National Sunday School convention. Thus, we see, Bishop Daughtry's toughness, wisdom, creativity, and most of all his determination to serve God and serve the people. To be continued…

A Man of Extraordinary Faith Bishop Daughtry was known not only for his prophetic stand against authorities, a progressive merger of religion and secular concerns, and pedagogical emphasis, but he was well known for his faith, particularly in the area of healing. Many people testified of their miraculous healing. The Mysterious Illness of a Son His faith was never more demonstrated than when his baby son, Herbert was ill. For some strange reason at the age of 4 or 5, he became sick with an unknown health problem. He had emaciated down to skin and bones. He had no appetite and seemingly was slowly dying. His mother, deeply worried, wanted to take him to the hospital. The Bishop rejected the idea of hospitals and doctors and insisted on praying. He said to Mrs. Daughtry, “God is going to heal my boy, leave him alone.” Sometime afterward Herbert saw one of his brothers eating cornbread. He summoned enough strength to motion that he wanted a piece of the bread. Hastily, they made their way to his side and put the bread in his mouth. As he took a couple of swallows he began to cough and cough and cough and he coughed up a peanut hull that was stuck in his throat, windpipe, or somewhere in that area. When the coughing ceased, he continued to eat the cornbread. It was believed that the peanut hull was the problem and as it turned out it was the problem. You can well imagine the rejoicing and expression of gratitude that emanated from the Daughtry family and the church members. Mrs. Daughtry relates that she kept the peanut hull for many years and how broken-hearted she was when it was misplaced. She said that she kept it as a reminder of God’s healing and her husband’s faith. It is significant to note that we are discussing events in the early 30s. It wasn’t until 20 years later that Oral Roberts made healing a major part of his ministry. He had a nationwide television program and would conduct healing services while on the air. Again, we see another trailblazing activity by Bishop Daughtry. There were not many who believed in divine healing in his days. Let us remember that it was in 1906 that God poured out his Spirit at 312 Azusa Street in California under the leadership of the Reverend William Seymour, a black preacher, miraculous things were happening, including healing. From those days, they went forth and carried the message near and far. Someone said, “Bible days were here again”. Venture to Augusta It was not only in the area of healing that the extraordinary faith of Bishop Daughtry was demonstrated, but also, he ventured into the unknown. Bishop Grace sent Bishop Daughtry to Augusta, Georgia. It was a radical change for the Daughtry family. In Savannah, Georgia the Daughtry’s enjoyed a middle-class lifestyle. Bishop Daughtry’s father, as stated above, was wealthy and prestigious. But when they moved to Augusta all the niceties of the middle class disappeared. The first born, Alonzo Austin Jr., described the living situation in Augusta, GA. He said in Savannah, they had running water and in Augusta, they had to pump the water out of the ground. In Savannah, they had showers and bathtubs in every neighborhood, but in Augusta, they took their baths in tubs. In Savannah, they had bathrooms in the house. In Augusta, they had out-houses. In Augusta, they barely had sufficient food most of the time. In Savannah, they had plenty of food. The pantries of food were always full and a refrigerator that kept food supplied but in Augusta times were hard. They owned a spacious house in Savannah. In Augusta, the house was small without the amenities. In fact, it was less than well-structured, plus keep in mind it was the Great Depression that added to the hard times. But Bishop Daughtry kept the faith without complaining, without stress. But in confidence, he went about the ministry to which God had called him. As we think of the faith of the Bishop we must give credit to Mrs. Daughtry, she accepted the difficulties, and the dramatic change of life between Savannah and Augusta. The only time it seemed that she was worried and there was some tension was when her son was sick and his condition was unknown. Failures and Mistakes No Health Concerns He didn’t take care of his family Clearly, the spirit of Bishop Daughtry was to meet the needs of the people, consistent with God’s priority as recorded in the Scriptures. And that Spirit continued to work through Mother Inez Conry and is still in the church working through his son, Herbert, daughter-in-law, Karen, and granddaughter, Leah. They made the priceless contribution of putting it on paper even as Bishop Daughtry put the original Constitution and Bylaws in a booklet. They continued in the spirit of Bishop Daughtry, teaching, preaching, and living so that the people might know and do the will of God. However as much as we disliked mentioning it, Bishop Daughtry, like all humans, made mistakes and had failures. The Bible shows us how to deal with our heroes and our families when they make mistakes. From the beginning, Adam and Eve, and then Abraham, and David and all of them made mistakes. This is why the Bible says, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and “O Lord if you should mark iniquity, who could stand, but there is forgiveness with you, that you might be feared” Psalms 130:3-4. And when we come to think about it, it really makes the Bible more believable. After all, if all the people of God were perfect then they would be beyond the reach of the rest of us humans and at the same time, we would wonder if in fact, the Bible was covering up their shortcomings for whatever reason. There were two failures the Bishop made: The failure to take care of himself: He died at 56. He was a huge man well over 300 pounds. He had become overweight as the years progressed. He was not so at the beginning of his ministry. Why he allowed himself to become so huge one can only guess. Could it be that the burdens of the churches weighed heavily on him and/or could it be the disintegration of his marriage? Who knows. Years later when the Rev. Herbert Daughtry became the National Presiding Minister, health became a major part of his ministry and the church's concern. He became a trailblazer, in the spirit of his father, as it relates to issues of health. Marriage breakup: Surely it must have been a terrible blow for the Bishop to see his family separated. How deep was the cut, only God knows? But it doesn’t take much imagination to visualize and feel, that there was a man who had left the comfort and luxury of his family in Savannah. And bravely endured the complete opposite of what he had known in Savannah. Here was a man who gained wide respect and admiration. Yet his family was falling apart. His wife and children were in Savannah. And he, maybe with one or two of the boys, was in Augusta. The Reverend Herbert Daughtry recalls his things being shipped back and forth between Savannah and Augusta. And when the family moved northward he was shifted from Brooklyn to Jersey City. While in Savannah, he can recall his father coming to Savannah to see his mother. He can recall his grandmother (on his mother’s side) loudly addressing his father. Who knows the role that grandma Cheatham played in the marriage. What is a fact, is that the Bishop could not keep his family intact. This is not to say he was to blame or that he did something wrong. The reason is not known now. Those who might know have long gone and the impact that the marriage breakup had on the children, likewise is not known. But surely there must have been a significant influence over the lives of the offspring. To be continued…

The History and Spirit of the House of the Lord Church Education To recapitulate the major points of the last article: the challenge to tradition, religion, and state authorities; progressive trailblazing; economic enterprises, and in addition, the Bishop placed a lot of emphasis on education. He was known for his preaching and teaching. It was debated whether he was more of a teacher than a preacher. Unfortunately, practically all of his books and papers were lost. What was saved was a little book entitled, “Constitution and Bylaws of the House of the Lord and Church on the Mount”. It contains the usual rules and regulations for church members - what was unique about it was that all rules and regulations had Scriptural references. Thus, showing Mr. Daughtry’s deep and comprehensive knowledge of the Holy Bible and his hermeneutical or interpretation dexterity. Also, again, evincing pedagogical emphasis. Moreover, also demonstrates progressive spiritualism. This Constitution and Bylaws, although may be shown not only the Bishop’s concern for present governance, but also for the people. He knew that if the church was to stand on solid ground and last far into the future it had to have a strong base that could stand the challenges of the coming years. The importance of what the Bishop did can be appreciated if we ask the question, how many small congregations with no church home or building would prepare a Constitution and Bylaws. Years later, in 1960, Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry Sr. became the National Presiding Minister, following the example set by his father, he along with his wife Rev. Dr. Karen Daughtry revived and expanded the Constitution and Bylaws, and later under the Rev. Leah Daughtry, the daughter of Rev. Herbert & Karen Daughtry, further revisions were made. It is a rather impressive document that becomes immediately obvious that a lot of time, energy, and knowledge was put into the volume's production. Additionally, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Herbert & his wife other important documents were produced: Mission Statement: The mission of The House of the Lord Church is to apply the Gospel of Personal salvation through Jesus Christ, the filling and in-dwelling of the Holy Ghost, healing for body and mind, high moral and ethical disciplines, and the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in a holistic synthesis of progressive spiritual and social action, including: A struggle against all forms of oppression and exploitation often is manifested as racism, sexism, and classism. A struggle for human rights and self-determination for all people. To implement this holistic approach, our ministries are: PRIESTLY: Interceding with God through prayer, fasting, rituals, and ceremonies. PASTORAL: providing healing, counseling, and direction. PROPHETIC: Critiquing society from a Biblical perspective that places God on the side of the oppressed, exploited, outcast and impoverished. PEDAGOGIC: Teaching not only the great Truth of Scripture but also secular history, particularly the truths related to oppressed people’s contribution to humankind. PROGRAMMATIC: Developing educational, cultural, and economic programs and institutions. POLITICAL: Creating and/or participating in the creation of organizations and/or coalitions that employ various actions to achieve human fulfillment. Always concerned about mission, Reverend Herbert continued conceiving ideas and programs to reach the people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He developed what he calls EOBO (each one brings one) heavy emphasis was placed upon individuals, what used to be called soul winning. He challenged each member to gain at least one member a year. It was calculated that if each member would bring one member a year and if you had ten members in five years you would have hundreds, and on and on to multiplication, we continued it until it had reached the world. It didn’t seem hard at all for one member full of the Holy Spirit driven by the mandate of Jesus to be “my witnesses” to get one member. Similar to the above, there was also EMOM (every member on a mission). To stir up the zeal of members regarding the mission, Reverend Daughtry thought of the idea of involving the whole church on a mission. Every member, he said, “is on a mission, every member should get up in the morning thinking about a mission, during the day you should be thinking about missions and at night the same - mission. Every member is on a mission. God has called every member to be on a mission.” To be continued…

The History and Spirit of the House of the Lord Church Through Reverend Daughtry’s prophetic activism and institution building, he has continued the legacy that was left by his father. The legacy and spirit of Bishop Alonzo Daughtry can be clearly seen in four areas: A break with the family tradition To the bewilderment of Bishop Daughtry’s contemporaries including the family as he left his father’s church which was one of the most prestigious churches in Savannah, GA and his father was among the most prominent ministers in the city, to follow Bishop Grace who was an itinerant preacher with no church building in Savannah. They worshiped in a tent. Why would Bishop Daughtry leave his father and all of the prestigious trappings and wealth that his father possessed and follow Bishop Grace was a question discussed for years in the family. Resistance to Authority Bishop Daughtry resisted the power and authority of Bishop Grace. Keep in mind that Bishop Grace was a very powerful man who had wrapped himself in religious garb. As stated, people had come to worship him. Additionally, Bishop Grace had ordained Bishop Daughtry and sent him to Augusta. So Bishop Grace was Bishop Daughtry’s mentor, his teacher, his trainer, and his Bishop. Yet, Bishop Daughtry challenged him and the congregation by using Scripture as the basis of his argument. There in Augusta surrounded by Bishop Graces’ fanatical followers, he stood firm and bold on Scripture. And as we have seen, it caused a boisterous reaction from Bishop Grace’s devotees. On the night that this happened, Mrs. Daughtry's mother with two babies had to crawl out of the tent along with those who sided with Bishop Daughtry. Challenge Segregation Laws of the South As stated, in the House of the Lord Church, the legal name is the House of the Lord and Church on the Mount. The members and supporters only used the House of the Lord when referring to the church. But the legal name as stated above was given to the church by one of the founding members, Christine Carey, who gave the church its legal name. She said that she saw handwriting that wrote the name of the church shall be, the House of the Lord and Church on the Mount, the meaning was that everybody should be in the House of the Lord. But only sincere, dedicated, Holy Ghost-filled members could be members of the Church on the Mount. And only God can separate the two. It was a unique way of interpreting Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tare go together and that God would separate them on the day of judgment. Matthew 13:24-30 As the church began to grow significantly all races came to worship. It was a direct violation of the Southern law for races to mix. Bishop Daughtry was told to cease the integration worship. Again, citing Scripture, when Peter and the disciples of Jesus were told to stop preaching, or else they would be thrown in jail. Peter’s response was, “We must obey God rather than man.” Acts 5:29. Peter courageously refused to bow before lawful officials of the state and so did Bishop Daughtry. Black and white, and whosoever desired continued to worship together. He was threatened both with physical harm and with jail, but he boldly continued the integration worship. What we see in Bishop Daughtry’s attitude and behavior was “the courage of his convictions” and the audacity to stand up for what he believed. First, it was a break with tradition in that he left the family's history to join another minister and another church. Secondly, we see the courage to challenge religious authority. He challenged his mentor and powerful leader and the leader's followers. What we say in sports, is “his home field”. This challenge was too religious authority. Finally, he stood up against the power of the entrenched racism in the South. Even when it was undergirded by legality and intimidation, the threat of violence. By his actions, Bishop Daughtry fearlessly challenged state power. Bishop Daughtry was to set the tone and tenor, the spirit of the House of the Lord church which was to be the driving force of the church throughout its history. Of course, all of it, all that the Bishop was and did, he believed that he was doing the will of God. A synthesis of religion and economic From the beginning, Bishop Daughtry saw religion and the people’s that material well-being were joined together. When growing up the Daughtry family remembers wherever there was a House of the Lord church there was some kind of business. There was a wood yard selling wood, a watermelon stand, an auto-repair shop, and a restaurant. When the church expanded to Brooklyn, NY around 1942. Bishop Daughtry opened one of the first of what we have come to call bodegas. The store was on the corner of Dean St. and Saratoga Ave. Not far from Junior High 178 which was up to Dean street and not far from where we lived down Dean street. One of the major businesses was a burial society observing the insurance companies' policies was life insurance. Our people, I’m not sure it was for all people, paid for the policies for all their lives when they died they only received enough money for the funeral and burial and the rest of the money was kept by the insurance companies. When the insurance companies became aware of the Church’s Burial Society, they sought legal. Bishop Daughtry saw the unfairness, really economic exploitation. He decided to do something about it. Yes, he started a burial society with the church members (and maybe others). In time, the insurance companies became aware of the church’s burial society. Again, Bishop Daughtry was commanded to cease the business. And again, he refused. He was taken to court by the insurance companies with the support of black morticians. They saw in Bishop Daughtry’s burial society a threat, at least so they claimed, to the success of their businesses. As the children of Bishop Daughtry and the children of the morticians played together, they would jokingly ask each other, “I wonder whose father won in court today?” Well, the insurance companies and the mortician won. However, eventually, Bishop Daughtry was vindicated and insurance companies had to refund those who held said policies. In challenging the insurance companies and refusing to bend to their demands, we observed the Bishop’s fourth challenge to powerful authorities on behalf of the people’s needs, justice, and fairness. To be continued…

The History and Spirit of the House of the Lord Church This week, the House of the Lord church will be observing our 70th Holy Memorial ceremony. It is a time that we remember all of the members of good standing. We have a ceremony where we remember the local members with the founding members, those who started the House of the Lord church with my dad. Then on the weekend, we make our holy pilgrimage to Augusta, Georgia where our church started in 1930. The ceremony consisted of reading the names of the members and lighting the candles in their memory. Since technology has arrived, we show their pictures on a screen. Their names are put on a bronze plaque to be remembered forever. We also call the names of people who were once members but for various reasons decided they no longer wanted to worship with us. There is a place where we still remember them and there is a part in the ceremony for recognition of supporters. They never joined our church but maintained substantial support for the church. The ceremony commenced with the death of the founder, Bishop Alonzo Austin Daughtry, who made his transition in 1952 at only 56 years old. Mother Inez Conry, who became the Bishop, instituted the memorial ceremonies remembering Bishop Daughtry. When I became the Bishop in 1960, I included all of our members of good standing in our church. In the following weeks, we will continue studying the House of the Lord Church and the legacy that Bishop Daughtry left behind. Bishop Alonzo Austin Daughtry, son of Dr. William Van Daughtry, who was presiding Elder Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born February 17, 1896. He was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost in Savannah, Georgia about the year 1926 under the ministry of Bishop C.M. Grace, founder of the House of Prayer for All People. In the latter part of the same year, Bishop Daughtry felt the call to the ministry and immediately demonstrated unusual spiritual power. It was obvious that the Lord’s hand was upon him and that he was destined to do exploits in the Name of the Lord. It was probably for this reason Bishop Grace sent him to pastor in Augusta, Georgia. Upon arriving in Augusta in 1929, Bishop Daughtry found an old wooden building, a very small congregation, and a city - like most cities at that time - not all receptive to pentecostal preachers. In fact, Bishop Grace had been shown such hostility that he was forced to leave the city, which opened the way for the appearance of Bishop Daughtry. It was not long, however, before God began to show himself mighty. Through the ministry of Bishop Daughtry, multitudes were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Captives were set free and the sick were healed. But it came to pass that with the growth of the House of Prayer in Augusta as well as in other cities, there began to emerge a tendency to exalt Bishop Grace above that which was normal. Whether this was done at the instigation of Bishop Grace or whether it was initiated by well-meaning misguided souls, we shall not discuss. But the fact that it did exist is beyond question. The truth is evident in the developments that took place, in the following. At a service in the year, 1929 Bishop Daughtry made an attempt to correct this tendency while it was still in its early stages. He read from the Scripture, I Corinthians 1: 12-15 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.” Bishop Daughtry’s lesson centered around the Lordship of Jesus Christ and not ascribing divine prerogatives or positions to any man. Some felt that Daughtry had committed the unpardonable sin by questioning the authority of Bishop Grace, but others shared his concern. Together, they left The House of Prayer and founded The House of the Lord and Church on the Mount. In 1930, the Church was incorporated and the congregation purchased land at the corner of Tenth and Perry Streets in Augusta. God blessed the Church wonderfully so that it grew, and spread to neighboring cities. Around 1942, Bishop Daughtry came north and founded churches in Harlem and Brooklyn, New York. In 1952, a desperately ill Alonzo placed the responsibility of the Church in the hands of Elder Inez Conry (1897-1977), whom he had ordained several years earlier. Elder Conry served as our National Presiding Minister for eight years. (We use Bishop and National Presiding minister interchangeably, we only have one Bishop of our church who is also the National Presiding Minister and Chief Prelate.) The National Presiding minister is my preference which I instituted at the start of my administration. In 1958, in fulfillment of his father’s prophecy, Herbert Daniel Daughtry (1931-), the fourth son of Bishop Alonzo Daughtry, was ordained and installed as Pastor of the Brooklyn church. Approximately two years later, he became the Church’s third National Presiding Minister. In 2019, Bishop Daughtry resigned. During his tenure, the Church has expanded its reach, establishing congregations in various cities throughout the United States. Under the leadership of Reverend Herbert Daughtry, The House of the Lord has continued its legacy as a “beacon on the hill,” a sterling example of faith in action, living the Scripture: “be ye not hearers of the word only, but doers also. . .” After the resignation of Reverend Daughtry, the Reverend Leah Daughtry became the National Presiding Minister of the House of the Lord Church. She is the firstborn of the Reverend Dr’s Herbert and Karen Daughtry. To be continued…

Friday, June 17, 2022 We started the morning with our lifeline of inspiration and prayer. Monday- Friday 7am- 8:30am (or how long one chooses to stay). There is a long history to this prayer and inspirational circle. 5 years ago as I felt inundated with the many calls coming in for prayer or counseling and problem-solving, I felt God directed me to start the prayer circle, that was March 15, 2017. This morning I continued to teach on the Seven Challenges for an Abundant Life. The Scripture that I used was Jesus’ statement, “ the kingdom of God is within you” Luke 12:17 or some versions call the kingdom of God is around you. Whichever Scripture one chooses to use the basic idea remains the same. God is in us, around us, or near us, but God is always present. June 12 Issues June 12th issues are very much present, war still rages in Ukraine, people are still being killed and the properties are being destroyed. There doesn’t seem to be any peaceful solution in sight. Another global issue was the heat wave that was burning up large parts of the country Southwest and South. Temperature was over 100 degrees. It is another global issue that we’ve been concerned about. In our Save the Planet, Save the People movement we encourage people to join our committee. After all “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” The world belongs to all of us and we must act that way. Save the Planet Save the People Monthly Organizing Meeting On Saturday 6/18, we had our third monthly organizing meeting via Zoom. Because we had changed the date and time it interfered with people’s schedules plus the Poor People’s Campaign was holding a rally in Washington D.C. It reminded me of the Poor People’s Campaign and Resurrection City in Washington D.C. that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., initiated, in fact it was a heated debate among the followers of Dr. King. Whether he should turn aside and deal with the sanitation workers in Memphis, TN or continue to devote his full-time and energy to the Poor People’s Campaign, the rest is history. The PPC was cut short with his assasination in Memphis. Although others tried to carry it forward but without Dr. King it lost its steam. Thank God for Bishop William Barber who took it up and raised issues that Dr. King was raising. It was/is a part of one of the issues that we included in our Save the Planet Save the People, more specifically June 12, 1982. We had pointed out the military budgets of the nations of the world. If directed to the people’s needs we could have a heaven on earth. In my speech during the June 12th weekend, I quoted facts and figures regarding military budgets and human needs. During our Organizing meeting, while only 50% of our presenters were present, we still had a productive meeting. The issues that we touched on were our Timbuktu Learning Center with Minister Lorenzo Daughtry-Chambers. Also global issues, war and peace and human needs. The Lifeline Prayer and Inspiration Fellowship with Sister Genell Leak, Sister Delores Pridgen is the initiator of power in the one-liner and Sister Sarah Daughtry-Chambers coordinator of Social media. Other issues and persons were Praying with the Basketball: the gym 7-7:30am, conference call 9-9:30), the State of Georgia, 24 Hour Prayer Chain, Sustainable Energy (climate change), Health & Wellness, Organizing for justice in the Jersey City School Systems. I did an overall presentation of the state of saving the planet, saving the people and our various ventures in our continuing efforts to implement viable enterprises. The reason that we changed the time was due to the recital of my great-granddaughter Lauren Joy Daughtry-Chambers age 4, the recital was held at BRIC Arts Media in Brooklyn with the Creative Outlet by Jamel Gaines, the theme was Juneteenth. All the children were exceptional in their dancing routines and singing, but of course for me and I reckoned for the family, the star of the show was Lauren. I reckoned every parent would say the same thing for their child. It was an indescribable feeling of joy and gratitude watching my great-grand perform. It is a tradition in our family that whenever a member of the family has a special occasion, a graduation, participant in a play, athletic contest anything, it is the tradition that everybody shows up unless there is an extreme emergency or unless they are out of town and there’s no way to get back in time for the event. I drop everything, but what is extremely important is that I made another commitment prior to being informed of the child’s event. We have traveled many miles to get to a program or an event in which a family member is participating. Last week we attended another program in which Lauren participated and for that program we had to cut short our participation in the June 12th final forum of the weekend's events. Prayers with the Basketball Players Sunday, June 19th at 7:30am I was back in the gym for prayer with the basketball players. It is always an inspirational and enjoyable time being with the players. I overheard one of the players saying to a few others who were new to the games played in the gym. “It is Reverend Daughtry and his prayers that have kept us together all these years.” I was accompanied by my nephew Minister Greogory Daughtry. Ordinarily, we would have another prayer from 9-9:30am, seldom do we go to 9:30am. We wanted to keep the conference call alive because once COVID-19 hit the scene we could no longer meet in the gym. We started doing conference call prayers. For two years we kept the prayer flame burning, so we want to keep it alive. All men are welcome. We have enlarged the participants to include all male. Contact us for gathering location at 833-236-7555

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess IV. There was still another way Afeni showed courage less conspicuous, but perhaps, equally or more courageous while concomitantly showing profound faith and concern for others. It was during Tupac's transition at the hospital where she manifested unbelievable courage and concern. I recorded it in my book, "Dear 2Pac: Letters to a Son": "Your mother told me how you fought to your end. She told me about your last hours. Your Aunt Gloria told me that your mother was in the next room when the doctors said they had revived you three times. It appeared as if they wanted to try again, but your mother said, 'No, let him go.' Your Aunt Gloria wanted to go into the room where you were. She was told to wait a minute. They had to do whatever they do when they give up. Afterwards, she went into the room, kissed you from head to toe, and prayed over you. Then, she released you to the angels. “..Your mother was never more courageous. Her concern for those at the hospital was extraordinary. The family gathered and began to thank God for your life. It was "a renewal of faith,' said Aunt Gloria. Your mother even comforted Snoop who was crying inconsolably. She put her arms around his shoulders and comforted him. Snoop's mother, who is a very religious woman, joined the prayer meeting and visited you at the hospital. “Your mother expressed concern for your Aunt Gloria who heard about you being shot en route to Texas. She immediately headed towards the hospital. When she arrived, your mother greeted her, expressing concern for her well-being. “There were those at the hospital who understandably wanted revenge, but your mother, aunt, and family only wanted to pray and thank God for your life. You know, Tupac, your cousin (Evangelist Barbara Gene Powers) is a praying woman. One of the deeply spiritual moving things she did was to anoint you at the hospital. She anointed you with oil - your wrist, feet, head, and chest as much as she could. The doctors gave her special permission to do so. Tupac, before you departed, you were anointed, prayed over, and kissed from head to toe. "So, you departed in the most religious fashion. They carried out your wishes: you asked to be cremated and so you were." –- Well, Afeni is gone now, but she will never be forgotten. There are several quotes which I love, and I think are so appropriate to Afeni. The first quote is from the Bible. A man named Paul faced death bravely and defiantly. He was an Apostle or a follower of Jesus Christ. When he knew the time had come for him to depart this life, he wrote, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing." I believe that the above was true for Afeni. She kept the faith. She finished her course, and an eternal reward awaits her. The second quote is from William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet," at the death of Hamlet. Horatio, another character in the play, said (I will change the word, "prince" to "princess"): "Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet princess; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." Finally, in the words of Marcus Garvey, who once said. "Look for me in the whirlwind." And, so I say to all of us, "Let us look for Afeni in the whirlwind, and in every revolutionary, liberation, or social-political movement for freedom, justice, and equality. Yes, let us look for her wherever sincere seekers strive to unite with the Almighty. And, one day, we shall see her again as she once was, but in a glorified, eternal body." V. In conclusion, for history's sake, and as a tribute, I want to record Afeni Shakur's appeal to the Black community - to show up and claim their rights. It is a shining testimony of her commitment, concern, courage, and brilliance. She had been acquitted of outrageous charges. Some attorneys had taken a class action suit on the behalf of Afeni and others, about which they knew nothing. She wrote the following to alert Black people of the development. It is, as I have said, very interesting and informative, and it was so like Afeni to be concerned about everybody. Urgent Message! By Afeni Shakur Sisters and Brothers: I am writing to inform you of a most immediate crisis which affects our liberation movement. I am also writing to solicit your support in responding to this crisis. As you may know, I was a defendant in what has come to be known as the "Panther 21" Trial. This was a case involving twenty-one members of the Black Panther Party who were arrested on April 2, 1969. Our trial lasted some twenty-five months of hearings and trials, startling testimonies were revealed, which painted a factual picture of the New York City Department Intelligence Division, then known as BOSS (Bureau of Special Services). A testimony revealed that undercover agent, Gene Roberts, had been on assignment since Malcolm X's OAAU days, and had in fact, been photographed by LIFE magazine giving Malcolm X mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after he was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in 1965. Gene was one of Malcolm's bodyguards, which led to his later appeal in the Black Panther Party. His credentials were impeccable. Another key witness against us was police undercover agent Ralph White, or Yedwa Sudan, as he was known to fellow Black Panther Party members. Yedwa helped clean, paint, and open up the Harlem office of the BPP in 1968 and was one of the original members. His initial assignment from BOSS was to report on everyday occurrences of the Harlem community. Some of the police reports he filed gave an interesting look into what was important to the NYPD: "April 19th, walked down 7th Avenue from 110th Street to 135th Street.. nothing out of the ordinary occurred." Sometime, in 1971, immediately following our acquittal, a group of attorneys filed a class action suit challenging the legality of BOSS' activities since its inception before 1955, until the present. In 1973, the suit was certified in a class action. I found out about this suit sometime in November or December 1980 from an attorney not connected with the case. In February, I was notified by the attorneys who were intended to represent me that they had signed a proposed settlement of the suit and Judge Charles Haight in Southern District Court at Foley Square wanted me to hold a hearing on possible objections to the settlement. Once I read the settlement, I had many objections! I was also angry that the Black people's right to oppose this settlement, which goes beyond the scope of file collection, was being given away by a group of Caucasian lawyers. Other lawyers have expressed objections to the settlement and at a hearing held April 16th before Judge Haight approximately sixteen very bright Caucasian attorneys expressed their objections in the name of their clients (including the CPUSA, CPNY, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, National Conference of Black Lawyers, the Peace Committee, the Socialist Workers Party, The Puerto Rican Socialist Party, etc.) Not one lawyer represented the Black community, the Black Liberation Movement, Black historians, Black educators, the Black church, etc. I, however, who am not an attorney, was the only Black person at the bar among that sea of white intelligentsia attempting to speak on behalf of all of us. I asked that we - the Black people - be: 1) Declared a sub-class 2) That the settlement be rejected in totality and since the NYPD had admitted to no wrongdoing, that testimonies be solicited from Black activists, historians, etc., to prove illegal activity by NYPD 3) That since political activists and their surviving families (including Betty Shabazz), knew nothing of this suit, our interest could not be protected in this proposed settlement 4) That a determination be made about the crucial charges of illegalities and files be retained until Blacks could obtain them 5) That notice about the suit be placed in a more suitable place than the New York Times Although I am personally satisfied that I did as good a job as I could have done, I am not satisfied that I was able to adequately represent the interest of the Black community covering a span of over 25 years. I was personally appalled that no Black attorney represented our collective interest. Our community/people were represented by the efforts made by the National Task Force for Cointelpro Litigation and Research, which including the filling of formal papers and my court appearance. Judge Haight said that he will hold additional hearings although he has not determined the time or form these hearings will take. I am asking you to come to a meeting on Sunday, May 18, 1981, at 7:30pm at 243 West 125th Street, Room 12, to discuss a common strategy for these hearings. Please call my office telephone number; 212.222.7800, and discuss this crisis with me if you cannot be present. Also, please contact as many people as possible about this question since the class has been defined as: "All individuals/residents of the City of New York and all other persons who are physically present in the City of New York, and all organizations located or operating in the City of New York, who engage in or have engaged in lawful political, religious, educational, or social activities, and who, as a result of these activities, have, been, or are now or hereafter may be subjected to or threatened by, infiltration, physical and verbal coercion, photographic, electronic, and physical surveillance, provocation of violence, recruitment to act as police informers and dossier collection and dissemination by defendants and their agents." As you can see, from the definition of class, all Black people in New York City or who have ever done any work in New York City are affected by this suit. Thank you for your attention. ________________________________________________________________________ Good-night, sweet princess; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess (cont.) III. Afeni fought many battles - some we know of, and others were unknown to us. Jamal Joseph, who was Afeni's protégé, told the story of her fight for Patient's Rights in the hospital. In fact, he said that she was one of the first to take up this fight. She was a gallant, self-giving warrior. Alas, many of us didn't give her the love and appreciation she so richly deserved, but she never stopped loving us! She never stopped struggling for us. There was a time when she opened her soul to me and revealed all of the hurt, disappointment, and betrayals. Tears came to her eyes. She trembled with emotion. After the long conversation, she gathered herself, smiled, and ended on a positive note. I remember it well. It was on a warm summer night in June when I arrived at her home in Atlanta, GA. When I first started the bi-weekly classes, I used to stay at the hotel. Afeni didn't like the arrangement. The last time I visited her, she gave me a tour of the entire house. She showed me the bedrooms and the other places I could sleep. Then, she looked at me and said, "Now, you don't need a hotel." Then, she gave me a phone. "This is your line. This is your home," she said. I smiled. I was deeply moved. I could only say, "Thank you," and give her a big hug. She was very talkative - more so than usual. I recorded the experience in my book, "Dear 2Pac: Letters to a Son": "When we arrived at your mother's house, I immediately observed two new additions: A new black wrought iron table and chairs, with a canopy, and off in the distance, a bed of beautiful flowers. 'Aunt Faye is always doing something new around here,' Bill said. "I was glad when they told me your mother was home. I had been told she was going to North Carolina. I passed Tramaine who was seated at the kitchen table. As I walked down the hall, I passed your pictures on the wall. "Your mother was lying in bed reading when I walked in. The TV was playing. I went over to the bed. She raised up. I gave her a big hug. 'Good to see you,' I said. 'Love ya," she responded. 'How was your flight and travel?' 'Great. How are you feeling?' 'Super, thank God.' "I walked across the room to the doorway leading to the deck. I surveyed the hilly terrain. The green trees, the ruggedness, interspersed by flowers here and there, some planted, some growing wild, but nonetheless beautiful; the quietness, the chirping birds, the fragrance of Georgia pine, it was a picturesque scene before me. "I turned back to face your mother. She motioned me to sit. We talked about the Father's Day Program on June 17th, how it was connected to your birthday, and how it was great. "We continued small talk about family and church. We discussed the Hip-Hop conference, and her missing her speaking engagement in Newark because the flight was canceled. I mentioned I had tried to get there and couldn't. Then, she said something I will always remember. She said she heard a person, I think it was Jennifer Holiday, who was about to perform at the White House, say, 'If God gives you a vision, He will give you the provision. "The film crew was ready for her interview. She had mentioned this British film crew, who specialized in documentaries, was here to interview her for a film they were making on the impact of culture on filmmaking in the early seventies. "It was quite a setup. It seemed they would never stop bringing in equipment. The interview was done on the veranda. Your mother, Tupac, was absolutely brilliant. "She talked about her involvement in the struggle for community control, which led to membership in the Black Panther Party. She was enthralled by the picture of Huey Newton in the wicker chair, the carrying of guns into the State Capitol, and standing on the Capitol's steps with guns. "September 1968 - she joined the Panthers. April 1969 - armed policemen busted into her apartment and arrested her and others on 156 charges. For 25 months, she was tied down with the criminal justice system. She was out on bail, which was revoked when some of the 20 brothers decided they would flee. While on trial and acting on her own defense, she was carrying you. She mentioned the letter that Murray Kempton, a columnist for Newsday, wrote, encouraging her. "Some of the things she touched upon were: During those days, they were young and optimistic. They really believed they could change the world. She and the family were not talented ones; you were, and you took care of them. "On the 'Blaxploitation' tum, she saw them all and took you with her to study them. She began to name them and analyze them: SweetBack - SweetBack got away, which had never happened before. (She liked that.) Super Fly - She liked the struggle to overcome, and Blacks were shown as beautiful and intelligent. Sparkles Cooley High Cornbread Earl and Me "Yes, she liked something about them. At least people were working, sharpening their talents, and making a living. We don't control the movie industry. So, when we get a part, we should take it until we get better. She said she grew up with Bill Robinson, Shirley Temple, and Lena Horne. She said Black power influenced all aspects of culture. She said that as a result of the stress of the struggle and trying to raise a family amid police harassment, she was driven to drugs and believes that many of our strugglers suffered mental and emotional breakdowns, addictions, and suicide. "As I said, Pac, the interview was simply fantastic. The movie people were so impressed. They offered to help her in any way she desired. She told them to get in touch with one of her staff persons. "After the interview, we had the study session. Our study subject was the next four steps in getting what you want from God. They included Fasting, Forgiveness, Obey the Rules, and Association. Last time, we dealt with "Think Positive." So, we covered five. There were 14. There were only three people in the class - Bill, Sekyiwa, and Kenny's wife. We had a good discussion. Everyone participated. Everybody said it was a great session. "After the class, as we were heading out, your mother came into the kitchen. For some reason, she started about the Panther days and her life in general. I can't tell you all she said, Pac, it was too personal, and honesty regarding the behavior of some of our leaders is not for public disclosure. What can be written, you probably have heard, and I have written about before here and there. (It was during that conversation when I asked her about my speech delivered to the Metropolitan Chapter of the Black United Front at the House of the Lord Church on April 14, 1981.) “I stayed at Helena's house. When I arrived, Jamala was there. Both of them greeted me with hugs, and Helena had graciously laid out everything for me. “It was long before I fell asleep. I kept thinking about the day's events and being here, and listening to your mother. It was almost 4:30 am when I was awakened and rolled out of bed at Sam. Next stop: Columbia S.C. "When I arrived, I immediately drafted a letter, which I later sent to Afeni, thanking her for her hospitality and sharing her life story with me. I appreciated the trust, faith, and confidence she placed in me." To be continued...

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess (cont.) Yes, Afeni was a very caring, sensitive, and generous person. Assemblyman Charles Barron noted: "Thank you, Afeni, for being a beautiful, caring Black Panther who fed hungry children breakfast and who gave out free shoes and clothing to needy Black families." I know this for a fact. She was not only generous to my church and family. There were occasions when she asked me to take sizable grants for certain individuals and organizations. In addition to the money, she gave in various other ways. After Tupac's death and the word became known that Tupac had been a member of our church and that I was his pastor, and had spent the last months with him, I became in demand by youth groups. As I have stated, Tupac and I had never traveled together after his incarceration as I suggested we do. The money that Afeni gave us allowed me to travel and speak to groups gratis. I felt that Tupac was with me. In addition, it was May 30, 2001. I will never forget the occasion. I made my bi-weekly stop at Afeni’s house in Atlanta, GA. She was in good spirits. She led me into the dining room. I wrote what happened next in my book, "Dear 2 Pac: Letters to a son": "Your mother gave me a very pleasant surprise. She indicated that she was going to give my wife and I your dining room set. She said she thought long about it and came to the conclusion that it will be best situated in our home in Augusta, GA. (Your mother and Aunt Gloria had made several visits to our home in Augusta.) Your mom said when she had mentioned this to the family, everyone was ecstatic and thought it was the right place for it to be. She also said that it was the first major piece that you owned that she had been able to part with. Afeni had it professionally moved from Atlanta - all wrapped up, and neatly placed in our home in Augusta. “It is interesting and amusing that when the moving people had placed the furniture, one of them said, 'I saw Tupac all over the house where we picked up the furniture - was that Tupac's house? My wife explained that it was Tupac's mother's house, and his mother was giving the furniture. My wife openly amused me by changing the color scheme of the dining room chairs. The movers said, 'No, leave it alone. It is what Tupac chose!' "Pac, it looked beautiful. It seemed perfect for our house. Moreover, I know that this piece of furniture that you picked out, and to contemplate sitting at the table, eating, and writing, too, maybe more writing than eating, is strongly exhilarating ....” (I take great pride in showing the dining room set to everyone who comes to our home. I use the occasion to talk about Tupac and Afeni, the Black Panthers, and the Liberation Movement. People are usually surprised to know that Tupac had purchased the dining room set. I would explain that he had a public persona that didn't always agree with his private life. The many marvelous things that he did were seldom if ever, mentioned in most of the portrayals of his life. Well, after 16 years, the furniture still sits where it was originally placed. It's a perpetual reminder of a beautiful, generous, deeply religious, and totally committed sister, and her talented son.) In the same book, I wrote, "Then, one morning at 1:30 am, my wife called me into the dining room. There was excitement in her voice. She wanted to show me the china she had placed in the cabinet. She had been up all night, shining, polishing, and arranging the furniture. The china, all of it was gold-tinted, and it was absolutely gorgeous. When she looked at the bottom of each piece, what she saw blew her mind, and mine, too. Each piece appeared to have been custom-made, and the price tag was still attached. It was startling what each piece cost, and there was a complete set of eight. We stood around the table, marveling at each piece. Even more fascinating now that we knew the price." When we totaled the price tags, the cost was astronomical. There was another consideration for me that was equally important. I'm not sure how much if at all, Tupac used these pieces, but the sizable investment suggested he had something in mind. A dining room set brings to mind family sitting together, eating, laughing, conversing, and having a good time - even if only during the holidays. I felt certain that Tupac must have had family in mind when he purchased the dining room set, especially knowing that he and his mother, sister, and entire family were very close. Afeni gave me another priceless gift - an impressive collection of 14-CDs with a large record entitled, "From My Mind 2 the Depths of My Soul." They were placed inside a black-enameled frame with the words: "Presented to Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry to commemorate RIAA-certified combined sales of more than 35 million copies of the Amaru Entertainment Gold and Platinum albums, compact discs, and cassettes." The CD collection included:2Pacalypse Now, Strictly 4 My NIGGAZ, Me Against the World, All Eyez on Me, Thug Life, Wild Wild West: Gang-related, Gridlock'd, Makveli: The Don Illuminati, Above the Rim, R U Still Down (Remember Me)? Until the End of Time, The Rose that Grew from Concrete, Greatest Hits, and Still I Rise. And, still, there was another gift. Afeni wrote the Introduction to my book, "Dear 2Pac: Letters to a son." In her own words, she expressed anguish at losing her son, gratitude for the support of family and friends, deep religious faith, and the mutual admiration that Tupac and I had for each other. The following is her introduction. "In this life, no mother expects to outlive her children, yet fate sometimes deals us this painful blow. With each anniversary of my son's death, the void in my heart is intensified when I reflect upon the enormity of what Tupac accomplished in so few years and the contributions he would have made, had he lived. "When the pain of loss overwhelms me, I look within and seek solace in prayer and comfort from the love of family and friends. During our sojourn on this planet, we meet people and develop relationships. Some acquaintances are fleeting, others for a time, some forever. "More than thirty years ago accompanied by my sister, Gloria, with Tupac and Sekyiwa in tow, we joined The House of the Lord Church, pastored by the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry. He entered my life and has become a 'rock in a weary land' for me and for my family. Pastor and I have a wonderful relationship, but the bond that developed between him and Tupac can only be called remarkable. "Drawing upon a spiritual bond of mutual love and respect, Pastor Daughtry pays homage to Tupac in a candid dialogue remembering past conversations they had together. Each letter evolves into a broader picture of a kind, sensitive, and loving young man. That young man is the son I knew and would like to share with you." But the greatest gifts Afeni gave to all of us were her love and her son - Tupac Amaru Shakur. To be continued...

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess (cont.) "On one of my visits with Tupac, while he was in Rikers Island Jail in New York City, we discussed doing a tour together. I would say to him, 'You rappers have so much influence on our youth, you have to use it in a positive way. You all got to keep it real. I mean real, real.' And, I would remind him that phonies are everywhere. No art form, career, or profession has a monopoly on phonies. We have our share in the church. So, I know you have your share in the Hip Hop World. '"Come on, now,' I would say, 'Everybody talking about 'let's keep it real' ain't' real.' Sometimes, I'd say to him, 'Let's do a tour, a concert, or whatever. You do your rap, then introduce me, and let me do my rap. Maybe, we could do something creative with the choir.' He would say, 'Ok, all right,' and he would flash this big grin. "Well, we never did the tour or the concert, but standing here tonight with his mother, Afeni, and his sister, Sekiywa, and with all of his relatives, friends, and fellow artists, I feel his presence. I know that Tupac is here, and I believe I hear him saying, with this big grin on his face, 'Well, Reverend, I told you we were going to do it. I couldn't make it with you in the flesh, but I'm here with you in the spirit. I did my rap. I told them I ain't mad at cha. All eyes were on me. Now, you do yours. Rap about the things we talked about.’ "Now, I don't want to usurp the time. I know we want to hear from all of these artists, but if I didn't say something, I would be letting Tupac down. I would be letting God down. I wouldn't want to do that, and you wouldn't want me to do that. So, let me say a few words to you, and then get out of the way.” "Now, what shall I rap about? Firstly, I want to rap about rapping. It's important that we understand that rapping has a long history in our race. Griots, the storytellers of Mother Africa, were rappers. When I was young, we used to shine shoes, but we shined with a beat. We would pop our rags as we shined the shoes. We also did Ham Bone: 'Ham Bone, Ham Bone, where you been, around the world and back again,’ beating our hip and chest rhythmically while we rapped. Even when we played the dozens, we had a beat to it. In fact, we used to say to those who didn't want to play, but wanted to laugh or enjoy other people playing, 'If you can't play, don't pat your feet to the beat.' All real Black preachers are rappers. "Rapping is in our genes. It's in our melanin. It's in our blood. It's in the beat of our hearts. It is in the essence of whom and what we are and it is not confined to our external reality. It is woven into an indefinable, mysterious something we call rhythm, which flows from and connects us to the Creator and the Cosmos. I name this rhythmic moment the 'Cosmological Rhythm Essence (CRE)' where we are one with the cosmos. When artists are one with the cosmos, they are possessed and they carry us way out or way in until we too become possessed. "In a most unusual, extraordinary way, Tupac embodied the CRE early on when he was writing poetry. He was so smart. Rhymes and lyrics flowed from him so effortlessly and flawlessly, it seemed. It was in him, and over him. He was brilliant - a genius. Pick your superlative to define and describe him, and when you have selected your highest expression, you still will not have fully, accurately, and truly told us who Tupac was. In the end, we have to say, "God knows.' This much we can say, 'He was a supremely gifted son, who was born and lived in peculiar and difficult circumstances.' "Let us acknowledge that artists are beneficiaries of the rhythms bequeathed to them by their ancestors. Let us be clear. What you have is a gift, but the world, especially young people, needs to know that rappers are not only gifted, but all of you are some of the hardest working people in the world. "Now, three things come to mind. Firstly, since God gave rapping to us, we have to be careful and not let other people take it. You know some people always want to be the boss, in charge of, or the head of everything. I remember when I was growing up, there were Count Basie; Cootie Williams; and, they called Benny Goodman, the 'King of Swing. "Then, Elvis Presley became King, Bruce Springsteen is the Boss, and Frank Sinatra is the Chairman of the Board. I am telling you that in a few years, some white dude is going to hang out with some of you long enough to halfway clap his hands-on time - once in a while, and I guarantee you, he is going to be called the "King of Rappers." "Nevertheless, we did our own naming, too. While other people were claiming top spots for their people, Nevertheless, we did our own naming, too. While other people were claiming top spots for their people, we identified and gave top billing to our people. We called Charles Parker the 'Bird.' Nobody could do what he could do with the alto sax. Lester Young was the President (the "Pres") of the Tenor Sax Association. Billie Holiday was "Lady Day." Sarah Vaughan - well, there wasn't an appropriate description for her so we called her the "Divine One." Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, and not far from here, from Augusta, Georgia, came James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. My point is, that what God has given us, we have to name and claim. "Now, the second point I want to make is in regards to rappers being beneficiaries of a race experience. This means what you have doesn't belong totally to you. You have a gift. God and the ancestors have been gracious to you. You have been endowed with a gift that has brought you fame and fortune. I want to remind you that this gift you have received doesn't belong totally to you. It belongs to all of us. It belongs to brothers and sisters who are homeless. I know Tupac would want me to tell this to you. Your gifts belong to young brothers and sisters trying to make it - those who are locked in poverty, powerlessness, and purposelessness. Your gift belongs to young sisters, who deserve our respect, our protection, our caring, and not abuse and manipulations. "Let us de-emphasize our personal wealth and let us emphasize our collective responsibilities. Let us minor in personal ego expansion and major in collective advancement. Who cares about how many cars you drive, the size of the house you live in, how much jewelry you have, who you rub shoulders with, where you go for vacation, how many wives or husbands you have, and how many millions you have? What we care about is how are you using what you have to help your mothers and fathers, and brothers and sisters who are less fortunate and whose early appreciation of you helped to give you the fame you now enjoy, and whose early purchase of your music started you on the way to wealth. You have a challenge. You have a responsibility. You have an obligation to give, share, and help people. It will only enhance what you already have. "Your gifts also belong to our struggle for human rights and self-determination. I challenge you to copy the example of Paul Robeson, who refused to barter away his dignity for society's praise and goodies. Instead, he decided that his talents would be used in the struggle for freedom. Yes, your gift belongs to us - all of us. We need to make a promise here tonight to Tupac and to our God that we will do all we can to uplift our people.” "The third and final point I want to make is ownership. Yes, what we have is a gift from God. Yes, we have to name it and claim it and say who are our superstars. Yes, we have to share our gifts, and use our gifts to help others.” "Now, we have to find a way to control our gifts. We have to express, define, and interpret our gifts; produce our gifts; promote our gifts, and market or disseminate our gifts. We have been able to express our gifts. We have been able to define and interpret our gifts. We have been able to some extent produce and promote our gift. We have not been able to control the dissemination or the distribution of our gifts. It's so simple, and yet it seems so complex and insurmountable.” “Listen! You got it! I want it. Sell it to me. Why do we need somebody between us controlling everything? Or, what do those who control everything have that we don't have or can't get? If God Almighty gave us the gift, then God intended for us to own, control, and with the gift, promote ourselves and lift ourselves up.”

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess (cont.) "There are at least three principles we must remember in organizing: “1. Out-moralize Your Enemy The most effective way to accomplish this is to beat him with his words, codes, laws, tradition, Holy books, and sacred documents. Show the world that he is a hypocrite. Demonstrate that you are really doing what he is supposed to be doing. If he talks democracy, show the world that you are truly the democratic force, that you are the one truly for democratic ideals. Your enemy only mouths this ideal while denying human rights. Significantly, in America, your accusations would be true, which gives you more moral rights. "2. Always Organize Within the Experience of Your Own People Always organize outside the experience of your enemy. That is why any movement which does not take seriously the religious nature of Black folks is doomed to failure. The organizations and movements, which have made the greatest impact among Black people have had a religious base or dimension - Marcus Garvey, Father Divine, and Elijah Muhammad to name a few. Anything with which your people are familiar and your enemy is unfamiliar can be used with great success. “3. We Must Win the Loyalty of Our People Whatever else we do, we must win the loyalty of our people. Revolutions stand or fall on their ability to win the loyalty of the people. We cannot be so bad that we scare our people away from us. And, let us not forget our enemies are always trying to isolate us, always trying to show that we don't represent the people, that we are a handful of hoodlums bent on self-destruction. We must say that we represent the highest aspiration of democratic ideals and economic equality. We have the support of the people. We are the people's representatives. The people are with us. We are the people." In the late 1970s, I remember Afeni Shakur and I attending meetings, rallies, and demonstrations mostly related to police or criminal justice issues. However, in 1970-1981, when the 28 children in Atlanta, Georgia were being murdered, Assemblyman Charles Barron, who was the Black United Front's Harlem Chapter Chairperson at the time, invited the mothers of the murdered children to Harlem and to our church. Then, around 1982, Afeni and I established a strong enough friendship that she decided to join our church. Along with her sister, Gloria, she brought her two children, Sekiywa and Tupac, who later became a Superstar/performing artists. I remember when I asked Tupac what he wanted to be when he grew up. He replied, "I want to be a Revolutionary." It is a piece of interesting information as it is the custom in our church. When a person joins, I assign a Big Brother or a Big Sister, a person who has been in the church for a long time and who is conversant with the church's history, doctrine, etc. I assigned Min. Peggy Washington, who sang at Truly Washington's funeral, to be Afeni's big sister. In time, Afeni moved away with the family. We touched base from a distance. As Tupac gained fame, she would call me whenever he was in NYC and asked if I would go by to see him, which I did. He was always respectful and generous with his time. When he was shot five times in New York, he sent for me. I visited him at Bellevue Hospital. He appeared semi-conscious - almost in a coma. He barely moved except for his eyes. I said, "I've come to pray for you, son, and God is gonna heal you and put you on your feet. Then, we are going to have a good father-son talk." We all know the story of Tupac's departure from the hospital on the same day. In fact, Bellevue Hospital is about 30 minutes from church in downtown Brooklyn. After I prayed for him, by the time I reached the church, Deacon Leroy Applin, Sr., met me at the door. He inquired with alarm across his face. He asked, "Have you heard about Tupac?" I said, "No, I just left him. What happened?" He said, "A report just came on. Tupac left the hospital." It was only a couple of years later that I learned what had happened. Jamal Joseph, a former Black Panther, told me that when Tupac became conscious or gained enough consciousness to know where he was, he put out a call for them to come to the hospital and get him. He feared that those who had shot him would be coming back, and he had no protection. The brothers arrived and took Tupac away to a safe place. During Tupac's incarceration, we really connected as I would visit him at least once a week, and sometimes, more. As a result, Afeni and I were in constant communication. When Tupac was killed in California, our relationship resurfaced as pastor-parishioner. I was a constant visitor of Afeni's home in Atlanta. It was the home that Tupac had purchased for her in a deal with Suge Knight. In fact, I used to conduct monthly religious study groups in her home. We would gather members of the Shakur family and a few members of our church who had relocated for a study and discussion. The Bible was used as our point of departure. From there, we would arrange far afield, discussing everything from politics to the movements, especially liberation/revolutionary; leadership; arts; world events; movies; etc. Tupac had told me during his incarceration that he wanted me to perform the wedding which he was planning with Jada Pinkett (currently the wife of Will Smith). They had known each other since the time he spent in Baltimore, Maryland. Strangely, it wasn't Tupac, but I married his sister in the sprawling, picturesque, and idyllic surroundings on the grounds of the Shakur residence. It was at her home in Atlanta that I married Sekiywa and Gregory. It was a beautiful wedding. It was a reunion of old family and friends. Some of the Panthers were present. They were now bald and gray-haired. In addition, Afeni had purchased a house and a farm in Lumberton near Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was where the family's roots sank deep. She wanted to grow organic food. For a time, she appeared to be happily adjusted to her new life. By the way, it was at this farm that Tupac's ashes came to rest. Afeni always prepared a special room for me in the farmhouse. There, surrounded by family and old friends, she reconnected to the family's deep religious faith. It was not that she had departed from God. She always remained God-conscious, even in her wayward years. But, back home, worshiping in the church of her youth, her faith was revitalized. Assemblyman Charles Barron had a special relationship with Afeni and the family. He related this story in the May 5-11, 2016 edition of the Amsterdam News: "I thank God for allowing our paths to cross decades ago. I will never forget the times I had dinner with you, Tupac and Sekyiwa. Before we ate, you would bless the food and sing a beautiful song, with such a radiant smile, you could light up the universe. I forget the name of the artist, but I will always remember the words; 'Can you catch the wind, can you make the world spin, can you pull the sun down? Can you make man from the ground? Oh, no! But I know who can! God can!" I looked forward to those visits to the farm: walking and talking among the grass, trees, and fresh air; the smell and feel of dirt; and, farming and growing stuff. It was rejuvenating and revitalizing. Then, in the evening, amid the quiet stillness with the perpetual sounds of creatures of the night, roaming to and fro, we had long talks of bygone days.

Remembering Afeni Shakur: Our Own Black Shining Princess (cont.) I can't remember where or when I first met Afeni Shakur. I know we had come to know each other by 1981. As Chairman of the Black United Front (BUF), I delivered my annual message, primarily, although not exclusively, to the BUF members. The meeting took place at my church, The House of the Lord Church, in Brooklyn, NY. A part of my message was critical of our Movement. I thought we had become too predictable in our verbiage and tactics. We needed to find language that could say what we wanted to say but would have a stronger and larger appeal. I knew I would not get an overwhelmingly positive response from the membership. In fact, I was prepared for deep and extensive criticism, but Afeni was conspicuously vocal and demonstrative in support of the message. Years later, while sitting at the kitchen table at her home in Atlanta, GA, and talking about bygone years, I asked her, "Why were you so boisterous in support of my speech?" She said, "I had been saying the same things, but I was criticized and even threatened. They thought I had changed." I want to share excerpts from my BUF speech. I believe my criticisms and suggestions have special relevance today. The Black Lives Matter Movement, along with other movements, have brought us to a time, not unlike the time of my NBUF speech. The concerns, issues, tactics, strategies, policies, and conditions bear striking similarities. Hopefully, something can be learned that will enable us to take giant strides in our continuing struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. “Beyond Predictability” A Speech Delivered to the Metropolitan Chapter of the Black United Front at the House of the Lord Church, April 14, 1981. “…We are in a war - a war that is sometimes subtle and sometimes flagrant, but always destructive. War means killing and destroying, and that is precisely what is happening to us. Thus, it is imperative that we learn and apply certain principles which are employed during times of war, and I am not necessarily talking about violence and weaponry. I am thinking about a more sophisticated kind of war-making: identifying allies and real enemies, developing different approaches at different times, knowing when to sound militant and when to moderate the language, when to threaten and when to talk peace, when to be diplomatic and when to be strident, when to confront and when to compromise, and when to brandish a sword and when to bury it. "I am referring to the 'Art of War.' That is what Sun T. Yzu called it. Yes, war is an art. How do you think Mao won in China; Nkrumah won in Africa; Ayatolia Khomeini won in Iran; the Patriotic Front won in Zimbabwe; Maurice Bishop in Grenada; Toussaint L'Ouverture beat the French; Castro conquered Batista; Ho Chi Min won in Vietnam; and, everybody else? Is it because they had more firepower? No. They won because they learned the ‘Art of War.’ Remember, all the huge animals are gone - the Tyrannosaurus and the other dinosaurs, while the small animals are still with us. We must outthink our enemy, not outmuscle him. It is the best mind or the best thinker who wins in the end. "Mao said, 'When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy halts, we harass; when the enemy seeks to avert battle, we attack. When the enemy retreats, we pursue.' "Lenin said, 'No war can be won by the adoption of a static attitude, to tie our hand beforehand, openly to tell the enemy, who is at present better armed than we are, whether we shall fight him and when is stupidity not revolutionism. To accept battle at a time when it is obviously advantageous to the enemy and not to us is a crime. And, the political leader of the revolutionary class who is unable to 'tack, maneuver, and compromise in order to avoid an obviously disadvantageous battle is absolutely worthless.' ***(I never understood President Barack Obama, or any leader, when they announce to the world, especially their enemies when they are going to stop fighting. Nor do I understand the critics of President Obama demanding to know his strategy for the war against our enemies. I must say that I agree with Donald Trump at least partially so when he talks about flexibility. Our friends and allies must be assured of loyalty and consistency. Our enemies need to know that we are flexible and we will try anything, anytime, anywhere.) "This flexibility, this art of war, is not easy to adopt. The stiffest opposition will come from one's own people. They will strive to perpetuate an image of the leader and organization that they first knew or which first attracted them. They have grown comfortable with the image. If they have benefited or made some progress, to change or shift now, will be all the more difficult. But, there are times when a leader must lead, and it is always true that leadership is risky business. History often shows that a leader is crucified by his own people. "Let me try something on you. We are always expressing our Anti-Americanism. We have heavy rhetoric on our hatred for everything American, and justifiably so. America deserves all the anger and contempt we can pour on her. But, what does this do? It wins some ‘yeah's' and 'right on's' from the brothers and sisters, but it keeps ordinary brothers and sisters neutralized for the most part, or at least, it does not expand our support among our own people. In addition, running a heavy anti-American, 'I-hate-the-flag' rap gives our enemies more ammunition. "Posturing themselves as gleaming patriots, they condemn us for being unpatriotic, which we are, according to their definition and the definition they have made people accept. If you talk in those anti-American terms, the adversary will label you socialist, communist, etc. We would be wise to reject his definition of the kind of society we want. We should say, 'You can call it what you will, but I am describing a social order I would love to see exist.' "You see, 'socialist', 'communist', and 'revolutionary' are terms you should be very careful about using because people in the United States of America have been brainwashed into believing that anybody who is a socialist, communist, or revolutionary is some kind of monster. To accept the socialist, communist, and revolutionary labels are to put you at an unnecessary disadvantage. "As Malcolm X said, 'And, I don't believe that groups should refer to themselves as 'leftist,' 'rightist,' or middle-ist.' I think they should just be whatever they are. Don't let people put labels on themselves and don't put them on yourself, Sometimes, a label can kill you.’ "Suppose we say, 'Let's make America what America ought to be.’ First of all, it takes moral, patriotic posturing away from your enemy. Secondly, to say you want to make America what America ought to be can mean all the things we talk about in our wildest revolutionary moment. "What is it that America ought to be? If you had the power what would you make America? Well, it ought to be a land where freedom, justice, and equality abide; a land where there is quality education, medical services, and employment for all; a land where democracy and economic fairness exist - where there is war against racist, fascist, and imperialist regimes anywhere; and, a land that supports freedom struggles in the world and opens its door to all who are fleeing oppression. Can anybody argue with that? “As a person and/or movement grows they must find language to express their expanding vision; and, if the vision is authentic, it must encompass the world, yet include - in a special way - the most oppressed.” The greatness of Malcolm X and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther. King, Jr. surely was due to no small measure to this universality and particularity. They were ever-growing; and, therefore, ever reaching for language to articulate their universality. To be continued…