The church cannot do the job of the government
Stories for Change
This digital story campaign features census advocates connecting census participation to a wide spectrum of advocacy, including racial justice, immigration, disability, labor, and faith.
Rev. Dr. James Perkins, of Detroit’s Greater Christ Baptist Church, wants to see a real investment in Black people’s lives — in schools, healthcare, food programs, etc. As a person of faith, he believes that everyone deserves the support they need to live healthy, safe, and dignified lives and knows the census is key to building Black communities.
“There’s nothing fair about living a life where we’re denied equality. I started seeing this as a child in the sixties, witnessing the social unrest and tumultuous events that divided our country during the civil rights movement. It’s not right that we still face the inequities affecting the African American community.
“Today, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see our workers braving a deadly virus as they struggle for a living wage. We see our students left behind because they don’t have internet access to keep up with classes. And we see the poor who cannot be treated because the healthcare system is set up against them.
“Every person is created in the image of God. Every person has dignity. Every person counts in the eyes of God and every person must count in the eyes of the government.
“God is on the side of our communities that experience injustice and our government should be too.
“The church cannot do the job of the government.”
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“Every person counts in the eyes of God and every person must count in the eyes of the government,” says Pastor James Perkins, who called all people of faith to get counted in the US Census to ensure Black communities have the resources they need to thrive.