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Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson: ‘Healing Must Happen Beyond the Struggle’

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The harvest might not come this season, it might not come for seven generations. But that’s still our work.”

Published

1 year ago

May 2, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

Rev. Dr. Melva L. Sampson didn’t inherit a pulpit—she created one. The ordained minister and professor of preaching and practical theology at Wake Forest University has emerged as a leading voice for Black spiritual innovation, communal healing, and radical reimagining of faith—outside of the systems that have long tried to silence people like her. “I’m a product of the Black church,” Dr. Sampson said. “That’s where I trace my community involvement—youth ministry, usher board, choir, youth revivals. I learned to speak extemporaneously before the congregation. We went into the community to volunteer, to collect goods, to visit senior homes. I watched my grandmother as a member of the JD Morton Missionary Society. My mother kept an open house, always someone boarding with us, always someone in need. This is in my blood. This is in my DNA.” Her theology is rooted in Ubuntu, the Southern African philosophy recognizing shared humanity. “If I ask you how you slept and you say, ‘Not well,’ then I didn’t sleep well either,” she said. “Our lived experiences are inextricably linked.”

Dr. Sampson’s path to ministry didn’t come through family lineage or denominational inheritance. “I didn’t grow up knowing I came from a line of preachers,” she said. “Later, I learned I had a great aunt who was a traveling evangelist in early 20th century South Georgia and North Florida. Her sister was a healer, what we called a fire talker. People brought their sick to her. But I didn’t come from a tradition of pulpits being passed down. That’s not my legacy.” Instead, she came through the back door of ministry—through community, service, and healing. “I ended up getting the credentials—seminary, ordination—but it was service that led me,” Dr. Sampson related. “I’ve been very effective, especially for those who’ve been iced out of traditional systems. Ministry is a system, and it often marginalizes voices that deserve to be heard.” In 2016, she founded Pink Robe Chronicles, a digital hush harbor that elevates sacred Black wisdom through storytelling, spiritual formation, and liberating faith practices. “It’s a beautiful practice to honor, restore, and elevate Black folks’ sacred memory,” she stated. “It’s rooted in womanist theology and sexual memory. My ministry creates spaces of healing, rest, resistance, joy, and justice.” Dr. Sampson also co-founded the One Love Festival, which uplifts African diasporic history and culture through innovation, entrepreneurship, and spiritual wellness. “I’ve created new modes of being by stepping away from the traditional path,” she remarked. “This is ministry in exile. It’s creating something out of nothing. And people have been helped by it.”

When asked what message she has for people struggling under what she called an unjust administration, as services are cut and prices rise, Dr. Sampson pointed to ancient wisdom. “I believe it’s Jeremiah 6:16— ‘Follow the ancient paths.’ That’s what we need now,” she asserted. “While this moment may feel new for some, for others—like my generation, Gen X—we’ve seen economic hardship before. But my children haven’t. So, we return. We return to the land. We return to cooperative economics, collective work, and responsibility.” She called on people to organize, pool resources, and resist isolation. “If it happens to one of us, it’s happened to all of us,” Dr. Sampson insisted. “We fight at the policy level while returning to our roots. Grow your own food. Build collective cooperatives. See yourself in others.”

Dr. Sampson also addressed those on the front lines of economic justice movements like the Target boycott. “Keep your hand on the plow and hold on,” she said. “These movements take time. Western society has us believing that you protest today, and change comes tomorrow. But a seed planted doesn’t bear fruit immediately. The harvest might not come this season, it might not come for seven generations. But that’s still our work.” She drew on Hebrews 11, referencing the ‘hall of faith’—those who saw the promise but never lived to experience it. “They saw it in the distance and greeted it,” she said. “Dr. King didn’t see what we now live. Brother Malcolm didn’t see it. But they didn’t stop. They were Afrofuturists. They imagined us.”

Dr. Sampson warned against complacency and what she called “comfort in captivity,” particularly where corporations profit off the Black community while retreating from equity. “If it requires a minor discomfort for a collective win, we must choose discomfort,” she offered. “These corporations respond to bottom lines. They take our dollars for granted.” For those seeking to follow or support her work, Dr. Sampson directs people to http://www.onelovefestival.com, http://www.doctormelvasampson.com, and on Instagram and Facebook at Pink Robe Chronicles and Melva Sampson. “We have to consider healing beyond our struggle,” she said. “We honor our pain, but we’re not married to it. Our existence begins in brilliance, not bondage.”

Stacy M. Brown

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY