Two white pastors in Texas are under fire for reportedly calling Vice President Kamala Harris a “jezebel” from their pulpits.
Pastor Steve Swofford of First Baptist Church of Rockwall, Texas referred to President Joe Biden as a “cognitively dysfunctional president.” He asked his congregation, “What if something happens to him, and Jezebel has to take over? Jezebel Harris? Isn’t that her name?”
Swofford made his remarks on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Two weeks later, Pastor Tom Buck, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas, made his first reference to the vice president on Twitter, where, according to Baptist News, he wrote: “I can’t imagine any truly God-fearing Israelite who would’ve wanted their daughters to view Jezebel as an inspirational role model because she was a woman in power.”
Read More: Crash involving Chiefs coach Britt Reid leaves 5-year-old in critical condition
The tweet was posted two days after the inauguration.
Days later, Buck doubled down, writing: “For those torn up over my tweet, I stand by it 100%. My problem is her godless character. She not only is the most radical pro-abortion VP ever, but also most radical LGBT advocate. She performed one of the first Lesbian ‘marriages.’ Pray for her, but don’t praise her!”
Read More: Twitter thinks Jazmine Sullivan should’ve performed solo at Super Bowl
Biblically, Jezebel was a princess and a prophet. She tried to save her own life and tempted a member of the royal guard. In popular culture, her name is used to refer to a “loose woman.” Further, since the age of American slavery, Jezebel came to be understood as an overly sexual Black woman, a stereotype depicted in film and fiction. Most recently, the image of the “Black Jezebel” was popularized in 1970s Blaxploitation films.
According to Baptist News, Dwight McKissic, a Black Southern Baptist minister, condemned Buck’s remarks.
Read More: Amanda Gorman performs tribute to frontline workers during Super Bowl
“I find his comment regarding Madam Vice President Kamala Harris extremely un-Christ like, unjustifiable & inconsistent with how he’s treated other female public figures,” tweeted McKissic of Buck, who he said was a friend.
“To refer to the Madam Vice President in any context as ‘Jezebel’ is simply unwarranted & disrespectful & extremely harmful to the image of Southern Baptists when this label emanates from the heart & mouth of an SBC pastor,” McKissic contended. “Consequently, I choose not to engage in any further fellowship with Tom Buck.”
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Download our newest episodes now!
TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today!