NBA player Jonathan Isaac plans to “unite the kingdom” at an event hosted by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Faith, Isaac announced in a correo on X, formerly Twitter. Isaac, a forward for the Orlando Magic, is set to speak at The Believer’s Summit this July.
TPUSA’s event seeks to “galvanize Christians across America to effectively put their faith into action.” It will feature speakers such as Allie Beth Stuckey, Jentezen Franklin, Seth Dillon, and John Amanchukwu.
Isaac’s decision to be among these speakers drew backlash because of recent controversial remarks from Kirk on race. Kirk has made disparaging statements about Martin Luther King Jr, the Civil Rights Act, and Black professionals, among other things.
While Isaac said it’s “warranted to be skeptical” of his decision to be a speaker at the event, he plans to be there because he disagrees with Kirk’s remarks.
“I disagree with Charlie on a lot of what he says about the black community, especially how he says it. That is why I’m still going to speak at the event,” Isaac wrote in his post. “Christ still has to be preached regardless of the audience and especially coming from a black man in that circle.”
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Isaac said his goal is to “unite the kingdom” by speaking and potentially to enlighten Kirk about “black engagement.”
“Maybe I’ll be the one to shed light to Charlie when it comes to black engagement. . . we’ll see, but Twitter fingers sure won’t,” Isaac said. “That task is going to take black Christians being transparent and bold in predominantly white spaces and vice versa because our ish stinks, too.”
Isaac added that he is trying not to fear others’ opinions of his decision because the “Kingdom” and “Black youth means too much.”
A few days later, Isaac al corriente again and shared further thoughts on the issue.
“I do not believe the vast majority of conservatives to be racist including Charlie,” Isaac wrote. “My way of creating change is actively engaging with people that don’t look like me with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Isaac added that even if speakers for conversative values have shortcomings, that doesn’t disqualify the benefits of these ideas. He said the same goes for Christian values.
Isaac previously spoke at TPUSA’s largest annual event, AmericaFest, in December 2023.
Kirk has made a series of racial remarks
The controversy over Isaac’s attendance at the event stems from a series of remarks Kirk made.
In January, Kirk called Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “awful” at the 2023 AmericaFest, according to WIRED.
“He’s not a good person,” the conservative commentator said. “He said one good thing he actually didn’t believe.”
Kirk also shared that his perspective on King is part of a broader strategy to discredit the landmark Civil Rights Act enacted following King’s death.
“I have a very, very radical view on this, but I can defend it, and I’ve thought about it,” Kirk added. “We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s.”
Kirk argues that the Civil Rights Act brought a “permanent DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) type bureaucracy” to America.
Signed into law in 1964, the Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sex or national origin in public places. For instance, it banned segregation in businesses and outlawed discriminatory employment practices.
“It was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction,” according to the National Archives.
Kirk has also expressed that DEI policies cause him to question the qualifications of Black pilots. “I’m sorry, if I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified,’” Kirk dijo en Enero.
That same month, Kirk made similar remarks on his show, The Charlie Kirk Show, about Black women.
“If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I don’t — I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because (of) affirmative action?” Kirk said.
Kirk co-founded his political advocacy group TPUSA in 2012, El Informe Roys (TRR) previamente reportado. Seven years later, he expanded his platform to appeal to religious voters by partnering with Jerry Falwell Jr., then-president of Liberty University, to create the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty.
When Falwell renunciar from Liberty in August 2020 in the wake of multiple scandals, Kirk ended his affiliation with the center. Kirk soon announced the launch of TPUSA Faith, TRR informado.
Kirk continually makes headlines over controversial actions. In 2023, Kirk teamed up with a company headed by a registered sex offender for that year’s TPUSA Pastors Summit, according to Rolling Stone. A few months later, Kirk welcomed disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll on his national radio show.
For Isaac, ‘Black lives are supported through the gospel’
Isaac is also no stranger to making headlines.
The 26-year-old basketball player received attention in 2020 when he declined to join his teammates in kneeling while the national anthem played before a game. His teammates kneeled to protest police brutality against Black lives in the U.S., but Isaac cited the gospel as his reason for standing, ChurchLeaders reportado.
“Kneeling. . . for me personally isn’t the answer,” Isaac said. “For me, Black lives are supported through the gospel. All lives are supported through the gospel.”
That same year, Isaac se convirtió an ordained minister through J.U.M.P. Ministries Global Church in Orlando.
In 2022, Isaac garnered more controversy when he rechazado to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
More recently, Isaac used his popularity to launch a clothing brand called UNITUS to offer an alternative to brands with “divisive agendas.” UNITUS seeks to give people a way to “confidently wear what you believe.”
Freelance journalist Liz Lykins escribe for WORLD Magazine, Christianity Today, Ministry Watch, and other publications.
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11 Respuestas
The Right is not even hiding their racism anymore.
Since Trump came down the escalator we’ve gone from ignoring the racists in our ranks, to “good people on both sides” of the issue to now flocking to conventions run by racists.
The Left has always been racist – the Ku Klux Klan were Democrats and all the segregationists were Democrats. Then somehow they were sanitized and their racism was disguised under wide spread policies to “help” the black man by doling out welfare with the hidden agenda to keep them voting Democrat. Of course these policies didn’t lift people out of poverty but kept them dependent on the Democrat handouts. Biden actually had the audacity to say in 2020 “if you don’t vote for me you ain’t black” as if black people aren’t smart enough or even allowed to think for themselves – how racist is that! The tactic of the Left has always been to call anyone Racist if they point out the evil or misguided intent behind the Left’s policies. And when a black person figures it out and walks away from the Left he’s called an Uncle Tom – which is racist.
Beverly – please pick up a history book. It was not “then somehow they were sanitized” – these parties changed platforms over the years (and they continue to evolve – even the GOP of today is NOT Reagan’s party.) There’s a reason white supremacist organizations tend to wave Confederate flags and vote conservative – these are not your parties of 70 years ago, or even 30 years ago.
Furthermore, welfare and other entitlement programs (including government-backed loan programs to support home ownership) were initially denied to Black people in their inception; it was through legislation that Black people were forced to be included (and then suddenly they became “awful handouts”). To this day, most welfare recipients are white (take a look at flyover states and rural communities).
Also, please get to know Black people and Black voters. We are not a monolith. MANY are conservative (especially older Xers and Boomers) due to faith (we tend to be affiliated with churches and be against gay marriage and other progressive policies more than other groups), but don’t feel comfortable voting for Republicans BECAUSE of the not-so-overt racism that is now invited on stage at conservative rallies and conferences.
I’m all for debate, but some of your comments simply aren’t accurate and full of sweeping generalizations. Supporting a specific political party does not automatically make one racist, nor does it automatically absolve one of racism. If you don’t like being lumped in with generalizations like “Republicans are racist”, what do you hope to solve by making the EXACT generalization about “the Left”?
Are KKK members, of today, Democrats? Lol!
Isn’t food assistance for any person who needs help – for a variety of reasons?
Are white supremacist Democrats?
Are Christian Nationalist Democrats?
Perhaps they are called “racist” because they say racist things – out loud! Lol!
Maybe they are called racist because they reject policies they think will specifically benefit non-whites, even if it will benefit the citizens of their own party.
When the people rejoice, they then hypocritically take credit for something they voted against.
Maybe minorities, including women, vote for policies that are benevolent.
Maybe they vote against things like automatic rifles. Outside of the military, who needs one?
Maybe people vote for a humane society where we’re gracious to one another in spite of our differences.
Maybe mature people realize we live in a pluralistic society. Anyone who thinks a political party has a monopoly on Christianity, or isn’t happy that heaven will represent all of God’s creation, will not be there anyway.
Our role as Christians is to change hearts and minds, not votes. Change the heart, change the behavior. No party fully represents God.
Harriette Beecher Stowe may have been well intentioned, but her character, Uncle Tom, has come to represent those who join with their own oppressors.
The oppression is seeking to go across many facets of our lives.
There are many educated, prosperous, Christian, Democrats. Democrats are certainly more diverse than the GOP. Surely, they are all thinking for themselves.
However, they are probably thinking of those less fortunate as well.
beverly
You are correct. The left has sanitized their image with the willing participation of the media. From entitlements that trap generations and destroyed the two parent home in many communities to overtly anti-Semitic actions at colleges and in the halls of congress.
The left tells us the right is anti-democratic.. Who forced social platforms to censor? Which Supreme Court Justice the left installed is worried about the 1st Amendment “hamstringing” the government from censorship? Who is blocking candidates from running? Who wants a federal takeover of state elections?
The destruction of the immigration system was no accident. At the same time the U.S. is funding border security with a number of other countries.. It doesn’t require an advanced degree to the see what this is doing to the workforce in terms of opportunities and wages- or the costs to the social welfare systems for decades to come.
Among the greatest loss has been the public education system. The left has controlled the schools and teachers for over half a century in all major cities. What percent of students can pass basic skills? Graduation rates are meaningless if the student is incapable of math or reading- let alone civic responsibility.
The left has cultivated a system of lemmings who vote reliably to perpetuate this. How does one explain Brandon Johnson in Chicago?? Lunacy.
The vast majority of “Racist” voters on the right do not espouse any of these views. Instead, support for quality education, effective welfare support, law and order, and free speech are the platform essentials.
Jim
Jim – if the vast majority of voters on the right do not espouse these views, why are they so quiet about them?
Their silence – and willingness to put these views on stage – speaks volumes.
Marin-
What I read and hear nearly everyday from clients, neighbors, and some of the media is the downfall of this country at the hands of the Left. They are not quiet or hesitant to express their views. Major media doesn’t want to cover it.
Why does a flawed-egotistical Presidential candidate poll so high? Because reasonable and rational people want a society of law/order, lower inflation, education focused on the essentials, and more. I had similar leaders in the Army and business. We accomplished the mission despite their (or our) personal flaws.
If you went to California 50 years ago- and returned today- you would find two different worlds. An education system, once the envy of the world, turned upside down. Crime. Taxes. Cities falling apart. A black (cash-only) market exists in this one state that likely rivals the GDP of many third world countries.
Don’t be fooled by the smiles of Gavin Newsome or Joe Biden. They haven’t fixed anything.
Jim,
Where to start?
It was media on the “right” – NewsMax and Fox, that were found guilty and fined for “knowingly” reporting lies and misleading their viewers.
Wages are up, unemployment is down. Remember the pandemic? Supply chain shortage due to the pandemic? The entire planet is rebuilding. Yet, “we” have the best economy in the world.
Speaking of the pandemic… who hires someone to learn on the job? Especially someone with a proven record of losses and failures? I mean when a crisis hit, not only was he foolish with the bleach and lights – my goodness! He had no experience in how things work. Nor did his staff. He couldn’t handle a crisis. Over I million Americans died! How is that for “patriotism”? He thought we could buy Greenland! Get serious!
Two parent homes? He has three sets of children from different wives. Sean Hannity, Rudy, Marjory, Newt etc… all divorced. GOP has all kinds of perverts.
Early childhood education, food for hungry children so they can learn – the “right” against it all.
Teaching to the test – Republican idea.
Crime? Look at the parole boards releasing criminals due to overgrowding. Look at sentencing. It is not one party at fault.
The border? Trump had illegal immigrants working at his properties. They all do. The border is an issue every election cycle. Two paren homes? Thousands of children who were separated from their parents will remain orphans because of that cruel and fumbling administration.
Anti-democratic? Come on! They stormed the capitol, beat law enforcement officers, destroyed and stole property, created false electors, strong armed and intimidated and continue to lie.
Sir, people lost their law licenses, reputations, money, sense of security, and freedom behind that ANTI-DEMOCRATIC effort from the “RIGHT”.
I started to type out a response to each of your “facts” but saw the space for response is limited.
65% of Americans believe this country is on the wrong track. Why? For most it is their budget. Others see the loss of a border, crime, or their children’s education. Some see a President and Vice President completely clueless (even when they only answered to scripted questions).
You haven’t been involved in the education system if you believe “Republicans” are teaching to the test- or denying legitimate help. Too many scams have occurred to make most question aid. In Minnesota $250 million was paid out by Democrats for a relief program that feed few but left over 50 individuals with money to spend- including $50 million in real estate.
January 6th went too far. Would you agree that the riots of 2020 (nearly 10,000) resulting in 19 deaths, 200 federal buildings damaged and billions in damages were also criminal? I haven’t seen you comment on these before…
“Kirk continually makes headlines over controversial actions.” = $$ for him. T-shirts, ad revenue, multiple streams. Nothing is too outrageous. He and his ilk plumb the depths of depravity.
There’s a part of me that believes – or wants to believe – that even Kirk doesn’t buy what he’s selling. He wants clicks, money, and attention – not for Jim Crow to return, right? Hopefully? Prayerfully?
But what he’s saying is dangerous – not only is it racist, but it takes away all personal accountability for racism and “blames it on the law.” The Civil Rights Act and affirmative action legislation is NOT why you think Black poeple are inferior. This legislation had to exist BECAUSE you think Black people are inferior and were taking actions to dehumanize, segregate, and belittle them. It’s your personal beliefs that fuel your thoughts, actions, and attitudes towards Black people. Own it. Do something about it (or don’t). Don’t conservatives tout “personal accountability”?
And who wants to tell Charlie that most Black pilots are VETERANS of the Navy or Air Force; so why doesn’t he go up to their face and tell them that after completing rigorous military flight training and serving this country that they are inferior?
Charlie is intentionally dumbing things down into “either/or” arguments – someone is EITHER qualified OR Black. MLK EITHER believed in his dream OR believed in radical progressivism. God forbid anyone can be or do BOTH. His listeners should be insulted by such simplistic arguments.