NYC Mayor Eric Adams And His Complicated Relationship With The Black Church

It is difficult not to view New York City Mayor Eric Adams turning to the Black church after being indicted on federal corruption charges as anything but a politician’s cynical weaponization of the church.

To be fair to his hizzoner, though, he has always professed to be a man of faith with longstanding ties to Black church communities and its leadership.

MORE: Read The Full Federal Indictment Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

“I lean into my faith and I will continue to do so, and I don’t lean into my faith during hard times. I do it during all times,” Adams explained at an Oct. 1 press conference. “I’ve been consistent throughout my entire career on the power of my belief and faith…those leaders know me, and they know I authentically care about the people of the city.”

Still, with all due respect to the church folk now rallying to Mayor Adams amid legal scandal, many of them have been laying it on mighty thick for a man whose corruption charges don’t sound remotely Christ-like.

Prayer circle for Mayor Adams —surrounded by Black clergy and officials, with Ingrid Lewis-Martin at his left shoulder.

“We pray now Father, that You give him the stone that he needs,” Rev. Waterman says, seemingly comparing Adams fighting charges to David fighting Goliath. pic.twitter.com/19yEbiFBf6

— Josie Stratman (@JosieStratman) October 4, 2024

I thought the spectacle of Black religious leaders in the NYC area singing “Glory Burdens Down Lord” on the steps of City Hall in support of Eric Adams was doing the most, but then I watched a prayer circle featuring more church leaders where they spoke of Mayor Adams as if he were the victim in this situation.

“We pray now Father, that You give him the stone that he needs,” Dr. Robert M. Waterman said during the prayer, seemingly comparing Adams fighting charges to David fighting Goliath.

Now, I haven’t been to anyone’s Bible Study in a good long while, but I’m familiar enough with the story of David and Goliath to know this analogy is off.

As I understand it, it has been alleged that Eric Adams, starting during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president, cultivated a relationship with reps of the Turkish government who arranged for his access to lavish gifts such as discounted business-class tickets and free stays at luxury hotels in addition to allegedly funneling donations to his campaign through straw donors. In return, Adams allegedly performed favors as a public official.

These alleged favors include pressuring city fire department inspectors to certify that the new Turkish Consulate near the U.N. was safe without conducting the necessary inspections and cutting ties with a Brooklyn-based Turkish community center affiliated with a political movement opposed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

I’m sure the lesson of how importance of courage in men’s hearts when their faith is placed entirely in God is comforting to Adams when he’s due to face the Feds in court, but how is the mayor David in this scenario?

By the way, in the Biblical story of David and Goliath, David took ownership of his mistakes and repented.

Worse comparisons are coming from Adams’ side, however.

Speaking with New York magazine, Bishop Dr. Chantel Wright said of Black church leaders, “We have his back, and we stand today to make that declaration, and we say, ‘As long as we stand, nobody is going to hang him prematurely.’”

It’s akin to Adams asserting that he is being “targeted,” banking on the known history of Black men — including those of faith — being demonized by law enforcement and the government.

It is despicable and low to make such invocations and comparisons about a man like Adams. He is no civil rights leader. He is just someone guilty of making the mistake of thinking a man in blue would save him from the kind of watchful eyes of the federal government train on Black politicians.

About that ego, when Eric Adams was indicted, he went to Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church in the Bronx and declared, “I’m not going to resign. I’m going to reign.”

When asked to elaborate on what he meant by “reign,” Adams fumbled, but it was nevertheless a tactic omission that he takes a Trumpian view of public office.

It’s why he noticeably says “my city” and “my cops” when speaking to the media.

That’s what makes it so frustrating to watch Black church leaders serve as willful accomplices to Adams’ bid to hold on to power.

Not just with gospel-infused rallies and prayer-offs, but mounting real political pressure.

It’s been reported that Adams’s mentor and longtime friend, Rev. Al Sharpton, urged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to not forcibly remove Adams from office through a gubernatorial power in the state not used since 1932.

I understand that Eric Adams is innocent until proven guilty, but I question why people are using their political capital on him.

Adams, this alleged great man of faith, has treated the homeless in the city inhumanly with policies that failed to deal with the root problems; he proposed cuts to libraries to bolster the already inflated budgets of the NYPD; and he encouraged the use of racist police policies like stop and frisk while broadly dismissing cases of police brutality.

Eric Adams has often declared that he was ordained by God to be mayor of New York, but he has governed in ways that don’t mirror the dogma he claims to inform him.

I read the recent AP article about how Black leaders in New York City are struggling with Adams’ scandal due to representation and it made me think of a separate piece from the New York Times about how the Black church has a Gen Z problem and its political ramifications.

The Black Church does not have the influence it once did, and while there are several reasons why that is, one assuredly is that a lot of Black people watching profess to be one thing while standing beside its polar opposite.

A poll released by Marist College last week found that 69% of New York City residents want Adams to step down. A similar number said Hochul should remove him if he declines to go willingly. With more investigations into the Adams administration, even a man of faith must contend with the inevitable.

Before it comes, I pray the Black church leaders being played come to their senses.

Michael Arceneaux is a New York Times bestselling author whose most recent book, “I Finally Bought Some Jordans,” was published in March.

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