Op-Ed: We Need This Leader With Proven History Of Bringing Communities Together (By Rev. Jay Augustine)

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” – Psalm 133:1

Over the second weekend of January, I had the chance to offer tributes to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr, a visionary leader who brought people together rather than leaning into the forces of polarity and divisiveness. While our country has made progress toward King’s vision since his murder, in too many ways, 2024 reminds me of the 1960s. We live in a time where deliberate forces have mobilized to send America backward to a darker day.

2024 is an election year, and many people are putting their names forward to bring their perspective and service to North Carolina. People run for office for different reasons – deciding what we want in a leader becomes our job. We need leaders who are guided by a set of values and committed to making a difference in the lives of North Carolinians. We need leaders with proven histories of bringing communities together as opposed to tearing them asunder. 

North Carolina has that leader in Attorney General Josh Stein. 

I started following Josh Stein’s career thanks to his bold stances as Attorney General in protecting and advocating for consumers. I was impressed by his representation of citizen’s best interests, and I wanted to learn more about him. It turns out Josh and his family have a history of being on the right side of history. Josh’s father, Adam Stein, helped co-found the first integrated law firm in North Carolina, and even as their office was fire-bombed, Ferguson, Chambers, and Stein kept working to push the law forward. Taking on the tough fights for people is in Josh Stein’s DNA. 

And you don’t have to take my word for it – look at how he’s spent his life. Josh started his law career at the Durham Self-Help Credit Union, working to revitalize the Walltown neighborhood and help people own their own homes. As Attorney General, he’s fought for clean drinking water, health care access, and voting rights. And those fights have cost him. The General Assembly tried to limit Black voters’ right to vote with “almost surgical precision,” and when Josh Stein blocked their efforts, they slashed his budget by $10 million. I know he would do it again because it was the right thing to do – and he won’t be deterred.

That’s because Josh Stein is a person of faith. His faith teaches him that we are each called to make a difference and that we must pursue justice. It’s a guiding compass and a solid rock. 

Of course, Josh Stein isn’t the only candidate whose faith we’ve heard about. Another candidate has recently called Jesus’ vengeance upon his enemies, called God’s children “filth,” and said we were “‘called to be led by men,’ and not women.” Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is shameless in flaunting his Christianity but has nothing to say about turning the other cheek or caring for the least of these. He uses his Bible as a sword to split neighbors apart instead of bringing us together.

As the Senior Pastor at St. Joseph AME Church, I’m guided by Paul’s words in Galatians: No matter who we are, we are all children of God. I am appalled that Mark Robinson continues to take the Lord’s name in vain by promoting a ministry of hate and division. We should all be appalled that he wants to take these values all the way to the Governor’s mansion. 

Next month, you will have the opportunity to make your voice heard at the ballot box. My message is this: All people are worthy of fighting for, worthy of advocating for. That’s what Josh has done as a politician, and that’s who he is as a person. I urge you to take a moment and reflect on the community we are called to be. Will we care for our community’s most vulnerable, or will we blame them for their suffering? Will we welcome the stranger, or will we send them away? The choice is in our hands.

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Jay Augustine

Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine (a/k/a “Jay Augustine”) serves as senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church in Durham, NC, and as general chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is an accomplished author, respected academic leader, and nationally recognized social justice advocate who speaks for the equality of all human beings.