Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell of Atlanta's 2819 Church faced severe backlash after a sermon urging Black parents to teach their children respect for authority, rather than blaming white police for violence against Black youth. Critics highlighted historical instances where compliant Black individuals, like George Floyd and Philando Castile, were killed anyway, emphasizing the complexity of police interactions. Though Mitchell apologized, stating his comments were taken out of context, the incident reignited discussions about race, authority, and accountability within both the Black community and broader societal contexts.
Not surprisingly, the backlash in Black social media was swift and intense. Some critics pointed to the many Black people, like George Floyd and Philando Castile, who either obeyed an officer's instructions - or were minding their own business, like Tamir Rice and Ahmaud Arbery - and were killed anyway.
Mitchell apologized and said his words were taken out of context in relation to his full sermon, focused on the larger point of submitting to authority while still acknowledging the challenges faced by Black communities.
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