WHODAT Under Bishop’s Hoodie?

“Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”   1 Timothy 2:2

By Eric and Stephanie Stradford

AMWS, April 4, 2012, Virtual -- Faith leaders throughout Florida and across the U.S. are responding to calls for justice stemming from the killing of Trayvon Martin. The Florida Council of Churches demonstrated unity through a public statement of support. Hundreds of churches, ministries and individual leaders have since lent their names to a rapidly evolving demonstration of unity.

Today, one significant name connected Florida families to a legacy of Free Africans dating back to Colonial America – and an unchecked problem of an African American’s value, that goes back even further.

The Rt. Reverend John Richard Bryant is the 106^th Elected, Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His lineage and that of his contemporaries on the AME Church Council of Bishops celebrates a legacy of Church Founder Richard Allen, elected and consecrated during the historically unique denomination’s First Quadrennial Conference, July 1816 in Baltimore, MD.

As the denomination’s chief servant, Bishop Bryant demonstrates characteristics of a bishop in “Church Universal.” Behind the scenes, Bryant has ministered empowerment to seasoned and emerging ministers in his district and throughout the faith community. The Bishop’s public support, and that of his fellow AME Bishops, candidates for bishop, and general office, lifts a voice that “resounds loud as the rolling seas.”

A “Great Awakening” in African Methodism, first described in the church’s official news outlet, points to a need for building a future on solid roots of the past. Bishop Bryant’s advocacy has weathered economic threats against historically disadvantaged Americans from redlining to profiling. His latest demonstration caught reporters off guard when he showed up at The White House with son Reverend Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant wearing a hoodie.

According to The Washington Times, and other news sources. a pastor attending the Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House on Wednesday was wearing a hoodie in apparent solidarity with Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Florida.

But a background check on the preacher under the hood reveals a story beneath the hoods of Americans who identify with Trayvon Martin. Closer investigation reveals the biblical characterization of a “hoodie” that is today celebrated by 1.3 billion Christians in the U.S. and around the world. Sources say authorities perceived the preacher to be a threat to their economic security.

The Christian Recorder, official news source for the African Methodist Episcopal Church confirmed the identity of the “unidentified pastor” at The White House event as The Rt. Rev. John R. Bryant, Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
American Urban Radio Network reported that President Obama said nothing about the bishop’s attire. "According to Bishop Bryant, he just welcomed me," Reporter April Ryan said at a press briefing. Ryan pushed press secretary Jay Carney for the White House position on "the hoodie movement."

“Carney said he had not spoken with the president about Bishop Bryant's hoodie,” Ryan reported. “He declined to comment on the sweatshirt movement, citing the ongoing investigation on the Martin case and he referred further questions about the president's thoughts to Obama's remarks last week,” she said.

“I can only imagine what these parents are going through,” said The President. “ And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together -- federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened. So I'm glad that not only is the Justice Department looking into it, I understand now that the governor of the state of Florida has formed a task force to investigate what's taking place. I think all of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how does something like this happen. And that means examine the laws and the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident. But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened,” The President said.

Bishop Bryant’s demonstration reflects a wave of international outrage to threats on American lives. The circumstances around Trayvon Martin's death have received national and international attention, particularly regarding Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law and allegations of racial motivations and police misconduct, triggering multiple investigations and public demands for the shooter's arrest. The shooting of Trayvon Martin took place on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. Martin, a 17-year-old African American, was shot and killed by a 28-year-old man.


The shots that killed Martin and too many others in American history underscore the need for finding value in African American youth. It is a wake-up call America. It is one more shot felt around the world.