White Savior Syndrome

 Many were disappointed that Joel Osteen failed to open his church to the public during Hurricane Harvey.
Many assumed that Lakewood Church should operate a shelter.
But I'm not so sure...

The Largest Mega-Churches in Houston;
1. Lakewood Church - Pastor Joel Osteen  Weekly Attendance - 52,000 - Shelter*
2. Second Baptist Church - Dr. Ed Young - 22,723 - No Shelter
3. The Woodlands - Kerry Shook - 18434 - Shelter
4. New Light Church - I.V. Hilliard - 13,500 - NO Shelter (Black Church)
5. Fountain of Praise - Remus Wright - 9,000 - NO Shelter (Black Church)

FEMA took three days to set up in the hurricane area even though their only responsibility is disaster response - the same amount of time it took Osteen to set up... in the middle of a flood zone, even though disaster response is not their primary responsibility.

Anyone who remembers Hurricane Katrina and NOLA's response and the debacle that was the Superdome know that proper planning is key.
Crime, a lack of food, water and security, a damaged structure and poor planning made a stay at the Superdome a nightmare for it's inhabitants.
Maybe Mr Osteen preferred not to go through such a second catastrophe.

My club's Facebook news feed was filled with criticisms of Mr Osteen.

By people who don't even attend his church.

My club's page is primarily Black.

Do Black people who don't attend his church have a right to complain and criticize?

Sure, as the above photo shows, Black people do attend Osteen's services - but it is not a 'Black' church.

I.V. Hilliard does have a Black Mega-Church in the disaster area.

Did they think to shelter their members?

Nope.

(And the nigga has four locations spread throughout the city!)

The same could be said of Dr Ed Young at Fountain if Praise.

Shelter?

Once again, nope.

How can Black people criticize a white pastor but not their own Black pastors?

Do Black people expect more from white people than they do of their own?

Do Black people only look to white saviors in s time of distress?

(Some do.)

If more Black people aren't seen by Black people helping Black people - can this be a good thing?

Isn't this just perpetuating the mythology if the White Savior?

How can 'woke' niggas hold their own to lower standards and still expect to be seen as equal to whites?

Beyotches, please.

But I ain't hating on Kerry Shook at The Woodlands.

Shook had the foresight and discernment to have everything in place before and just in case disaster struck.

His shelter (pictured above) was up and running without being prompted by social media.

Maybe some of you 'woke' negroes who criticize Osteen are right.

Maybe it does take someone white to do things right.