There was every reason to hope the struggle for civil rights would bring about greater freedom and independence for blacks in America. Yet today, we find that many black leaders have forgotten what inspired that struggle. Many of these leaders urge black Americans to look for inspiration from government and political agendas that undermine the moral fabric of the Church -- the same Church that guided the civil rights movement! Abortion, same-sex marriage, and government encroachment -- which subverts religious liberty -- are now all proclaimed as "freedoms" by many black leaders. To be sure, the leaders of the civil rights movement saw these as evils and evidence of sin -- certainly not signs of freedom. Black Americans are at a crossroad of their own today -- in many ways, even more so than before the civil rights movement. Will we turn away from a life of dependence on government and political agendas and turn back to God and His plan for us?
Despite the successes of the civil rights movement -- during which African Americans peacefully protested to obtain basic human rights -- many blacks have forgotten the fact that it was their Church that was at the center of that movement, providing its moral conscience and foundation.
Author Biography:
Reverend William (Bill) Owens is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. Rev. Owens is a graduate of Tennessee State University where he received a degree in Education. After teaching at elementary schools in Memphis and Nashville, he then moved to Los Angeles to continue his career in education. Soon, however, his relentless drive and entrepreneurial skills led him to leave the classroom behind and enter the ministry and business fields. However, he never abandoned his commitment to education and the need to foster achievement in our children. Reverend Owens has always been a pioneer. He was the first African American to own a used car dealership in Memphis and later the first Black man to have a management position at a major Chevrolet assembly plant in Van Nuys, California. While in Los Angeles, he was the pastor of a local church and worked in the real estate business, buying and selling high- end real estate to investors. He was also a founding partner in the Robert Kennedy Hospital in L.A. He is the President and Founder of the Coalition of African American Pastors (CAAP), an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting Christ-centered values. CAAP first gained notoriety as the black pastors group that was willing to call out then-President Obama for betraying the black community on the issue of same-sex marriage. Rev. Owens is known for taking unpopular stands, no matter the consequences. Reverend Owens travels extensively speaking about his core values: choices in education, the sanctity of life, the protection of marriage, and the free expression of faith. He also serves as a consultant to many political campaigns, candidates and organizations. He is married to Dr. Deborah De Sousa Owens who heads CAAP's education department and CAAP's Women's Ministry. Rev. Owens has eight children and thirteen grandchildren. Rev. Owens has been a guest on many national talk shows, including Fox's Megyn Kelly, Neil Cavuto, Lou Dobbs, and CNN's Carol Costello. In addition, he has been featured in numerous local and national publications. Below, please find just a few of the print and television stories that feature Rev. Owens. A passionate educator and an advocate for underprivileged young people, Dr. Owens has extensive teaching, administrative, and business experience, yet her focus has always been on helping young people realize their potential. As a former teacher, Dr. Owens speaks from experience when she approaches parents, students, and educators in the effort to reform our schools. The Director of Mission Education, Dr. Owens is a well-known speaker on positive and effective reform. She drew wide praise for her presentation on the Jefferson County Public Schools Youth Services Centers and School-Linked Services for the National Evaluation Institute CREATE Conference at the College of William and Mary.
