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There’s something unsettling about Pastor Jamal Bryant’s approach to civil rights and Black advocacy. On the surface, he speaks fluently in the language of justice, equity, and empowerment. But peel back the layers, and too often his work feels more performative than practical — more spectacle than strategy.
Let’s talk about his charitable efforts. Supporting formerly incarcerated individuals is a worthy cause, no doubt.
But what about the everyday Black men who didn’t break the law — just got laid off, downsized, or locked out of opportunity?
They follow the rules, work hard, and still fall through the cracks.
Who's rebuilding their futures? Who’s advocating for them?
Then came the announcement about a cannabis farm on church grounds. A weed farm at New Birth?
Is that really the economic gospel we want to preach to our people — that salvation now comes in grams and greenhouses? Especially when so many in our community are still waiting for meaningful investment in education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
And yes, he made headlines for donating to HBCUs. That sounds commendable. But let’s be honest: many of these institutions are struggling to provide students with updated resources, real-world career pipelines, and competitive curricula. A symbolic check is nice — but how about pushing for startup incubators, tech partnerships, and programs that train students to not just graduate, but compete?
Most recently, Bryant turned his attention to Target’s DEI promises — namely, a $2 billion commitment to Black-owned brands.
His issue?
That pastors and churches accepted the money. But… isn’t that the point? Isn’t that what we fought for — corporations finally putting dollars behind the promises?
Looks like Target has started paying up. That’s not the scandal. That’s progress.
Now the question becomes: how do we scale that?
Hopefully, more Black business owners and churches step forward and tap into that funding.
And maybe — just maybe — these churches can evolve beyond the pulpit and into business incubators.
Places where entrepreneurs are coached, kids are mentored in tech, capital is circulated, and ownership is taught right alongside scripture.
Because here's the truth: shouting for change is easy. Building systems is hard. But systems are what we need.
Throwing around numbers like $250 million to HBCUs might sound impressive, but dollars alone don’t guarantee transformation. Where’s the follow-up? Where’s the transparency? Are these funds going to scholarships, STEM programs, business accelerators — or just press releases and photo ops?
Pastor Bryant, we don’t need more theatrics. We need strategy.
We need outcomes, not optics. Progress, not publicity.
It’s time to move beyond moments that trend on social media and start investing in movements that shift power, build infrastructure, and change lives. Advocate for real economic development. Demand educational reform. Create scalable platforms for entrepreneurship.
Stop chasing applause. Start delivering impact.
