Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission and other Texas Baptists’ ministry leaders condemned a racist online post depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The Associated Press and other outlets reported the posted video portrayed the former president and first lady as primates in a jungle setting.
The post to current President Donald Trump’s Truth Social feed at 9:44 p.m., Feb. 5, was removed Feb. 6 shortly before noon after multiple Republican leaders and online users criticized it.
The Associated Press reported a White House staffer posted the video in error.
A spokesperson for Obama has not issued a statement.
CLC statement
In a written statement posted on social media Feb. 6, the CLC encouraged all Texas Baptists to speak out against racism.
“The Christian Life Commission calls on all Texas Baptists to speak out against racism, build relationships, listen to others, provide education, promote understanding and earnestly pray that we do not allow division in the midst of our God-given diversity,” the statement reads.
Throughout the day Feb. 6, many Texas Baptists took to social media to express their condemnation of racism and the content of the Truth Social post.
Stating “all humans are created in the image of God,” in reference to Genesis 1:26-27, the statement declares, “These racist depictions are a blatant challenge to the Christian belief and experience.”
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Noting the timing—the video was posted near the beginning of Black History Month—the statement acknowledges, “We place an added emphasis on celebrating the accomplishments, experiences and history of Black Americans” during this time.
The statement addresses “the pain and harm caused by racism in all its forms” and expresses the desire for “the day when all ethnicities and tongues gather around the throne and praise God.”
However, “while on this earth, our brothers and sisters in Christ still face racist tropes and depictions entering public discussion,” the statement acknowledges.
“We denounce and repudiate every form of racial and ethnic hatred as a scheme of the devil intended to inflict suffering and bring division to the church and our society. This includes racist posts or videos on social media, regardless of who does it,” the statement reads.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.