Devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Improvement of the Race
Stay connected, Stay informed!
Devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Improvement of the Race
Stay connected, Stay informed!
The Lunar Visitor Publishing Company
Welcome
The Lunar Visitor periodical was first published in 1852 in San Francisco, California by a formerly enslaved preacher, John Jamison (J.J.) Moore of the AME Zion Church (denomination)- church home of Harriet Tubman, the Paul Robeson Family, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and other abolitionists.
General News
The World Watches Yet Again as African Americans Suffer Death at the Hands of Police
Members of the Memphis, Tennessee Police Force brutally beat and murdered an African American male and at it was caught on tape. The history of police brutality in America is clear that there is a severe need for changes in how Police operate in this country, but in this instance since all of the officers caught on tape were Black a new twist to the debate has emerged.
Will the Real Donald Trump Please Stand Up? Donald Trump and Black America
Donald Trump has been in the public eye for decades, and during that time, he's cultivated a mixed reputation within the African American community. While on one hand, he has helped the community by pledging support to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and offering clemency to people who were unfairly convicted of crimes, on the other hand, he has regularly made disparaging comments about Black people and other groups who are often marginalized in society.
The Kareem Abdul Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award Winner: A Deeper Look into The Basketball Star & Legend Carmelo Anthony
Everyone knows Carmelo Anthony as one of the best basketball players in history. He's won multiple championships, been named an All-Star numerous times, and even nominated for the NBA MVP. Despite these accomplishments, few know much about the man behind the legend - and what an incredible man he is!
Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE
We Were the Builders: Mound Bayou- What Was, Is, and Could Be!
Mound Bayou is a small town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, with an inspiring history. Founded in 1887 by formerly enslaved men and women, led by Isaiah T. Montgomery, Mound Bayou was a veritable oasis for African Americans years before the abolition of slavery in America. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
We Were the Builders: Nicodemus, Kansas, A Look into the Past & The Future
Nicodemus is a town of just over 20 people in Graham County, Kansas. But this small town has a lot to boast about. Founded in 1877 by a group of seven Kansans, six of whom were African Americans, Nicodemus is the state's oldest and only remaining black settlement West of the Mississippi River. The town started by attracting settlers from Eastern Kansas and Kentucky, bringing the total population to 600 by 1878.
Local News
LUNAR VISITOR SPOTLIGHT: Louisville, Kentucky Metro Council Swears in Jecorey Arthur, City's Youngest Council Member
“And knowing that without government, we will never overcome all of the disparities that we live, and, really, it’s in part because government created those disparities,” the Democrat said, listing slavery and Jim Crow laws as some of the root causes of those disparities.
“So instead of lobbying, which I originally planned to do, I decided to become government and try and work with colleagues here to change some of those outcomes, to change some of the realities that some of us face,” Arthur told Spectrum News 1. Read the FULL STORY HERE
LUNAR VISITOR SPOTLIGHT: Descendants of Bishop Moore & AKA Sorority Member: Peggy Arthur
Peggy Arthur was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She graduated from Tuskegee University Suma cum Ladue, works at a prestigious risk management and insurance brokerage firm, and is a professional in the field of finance. She earned her MBA from Tennessee State University also graduating with honors and working full-time.
Peggy has followed in her ancestor's footsteps by serving the community through her church and other organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
A biography of Bishop Moore describes him as "an inspiring orator and teacher" who "performed missionary work and organized churches in several states." His sermons preached to thousands across the country and were highly influential in developing black theology and advancing civil rights.
Peggy has grown up listening to the stories of her grandfather and hearing stories from others about his family and their prominent position in the community.
LUNAR VISITOR SPOTLIGHT: Kevin M. Foster, 'I’m pretty speechless': Austin ISD school board unanimously approves equity-focused bond
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to put a $2.44 billion bond on the November ballot. It is the largest bond package in AISD history, but district officials and school board members say what makes the bond significant is its investment in historically underserved schools and communities. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Editorial Page
2024 Elections for AME Zion Church Bishop Highlights the Significance of the Role and the Room for Corruption
2024 is a big year for elections! Not only will U.S. citizens cast their vote for the President of Unites States, but also members of the AME Zion Church will vote for new Bishops of the Denomination. Candidates have already begun campaigning to influence church members.
The AME Zion Church has over one million members, church homes that span the continental United States, as well as church homes on the African Continent. The title and role of “Bishop” holds tremendous authority and responsibility, both physically and spiritually. Unlike the President of the United States, Bishops hold a spiritual responsibility to not only church members, but to God himself! Bishops are responsible for assigning Pastors to churches and determining the overall direction of the denomination.
The Lunar Visitor Editorial Staff Welcomes site visitors!
We have been in the publishing busines since 1852. We work for our readers. We are hear to bring to you information that will inspire moral, intellectual, and social development. Feel free to reach out to us about anything on your mind, stories you would like to see, or to share your thoughts. We look forward to serving you!
Business & Finance
Doing Big Business: A Deeper Look At Tyler Perry & Tyler Perry studios
After being shut out of the mainstream of entertainment, Hollywood's newest billionaire wrote, produced, and starred in his American success story. Known as Tyler Perry or Madea by media and cultural critics alike, Perry has had an unprecedented rise to success in Hollywood.
"Black America" has over One Trillion Dollars Annually Worth of Buying Power
“At 47.8 million strong and a buying power that’s on par with many countries’ gross domestic products, African Americans continue to outpace spending nationally,” said Cheryl Grace, Nielsen’s Senior Vice President
The First Black-Owned Stock Exchange aims to help Black-owned Companies go Public.
Bill Ellison, an investor and Chairman of Cadiz Capital Holding LLC has partnered with lawyer Joe Cecala to launch The Dream Exchange, the nation's first Black-owned stock exchange. The Chicago-based exchange aims to list smaller companies seeking to go public, particularly those owned by minorities.
The Dream Exchange will be a new stock exchange focusing on small business capital formation and diversity by leveraging the power of the American investing public.
Black-owned businesses in U.S. cities: The challenges, solutions, and opportunities for prosperity
"At a January 17 event marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “From Reconstruction, to Jim Crow, to the present day, our economy has never worked fairly for Black Americans—or, really, for any American of color.” Yellen’s remarks were an acknowledgement that U.S. policymakers have established racially tilted rules for the economy, prohibiting intergenerational wealth transfers among Black Americans, among many other harms."
Culture & History
The Paul Robeson Family & Their Surprising History As A Member of the AME Zion Church
Paul Robeson was a famous African-American athlete, singer, actor, and advocate for civil rights who spent most of his life fighting injustice, for which he was persecuted for. He became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political stances.
After 1950 when the U.S. government revoked Paul Robeson's passport in addition to his wife Eslanda and colleague W.E.B. DuBois, Robeson was blacklisted from TV and radio appearances, and Robeson's monthly periodical Freedom was published.
"AME Zions - Half Million Strong - Back Paul Robeson Passport Fight: Mrs. Sampson and State Dept. Sit Out Vote as 3,000 Cheer," a June 1952 feature story in Freedom, exemplifies Robeson's support among a denomination familiar to him.
As Paul Robeson's income dwindled and his travel was restricted in the early 1950s, his brother Ben, then pastor of Harlem's Mother AME Zion Church, welcomed Paul to stay in the parsonage: "With Ben's hospitality, the church again acted as a 'home in that rock' during a difficult period in Paul's career."
The Lost History of Frederick Douglass and the AME Zion Church
While Frederick Douglass' oratory skills and written works have long been discussed and studied, he was once only known as a lay preacher in local Black churches.
After fleeing to Massachusetts, he became influenced by and involved with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church.
Harriet Tubman & Her Surprising History As A Member of the AME Zion Church
Unknown to many, Harriet Tubman was a member of AME Zion church, and at her death in 1913, her funeral service was held in the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Auburn.
We Were the Builders: Mound Bayou- What Was, Is, and Could Be!
Mound Bayou is a small town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, with an inspiring history. Founded in 1887 by formerly enslaved men and women, led by Isaiah T. Montgomery, Mound Bayou was a veritable oasis for African Americans years before the abolition of slavery in America. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
We Were the Builders: Nicodemus, Kansas, A Look into the Past & The Future
Nicodemus is a town of just over 20 people in Graham County, Kansas, but this small town has a lot to boast about. Founded in 1877 by a group of seven Kansans, six of whom were African Americans, Nicodemus is the state's oldest and only remaining black settlement West of the Mississippi River. The town started by attracting settlers from Eastern Kansas and Kentucky, bringing the total population to 600 by 1878.
Society
Lecrae & The Inception of Rap Gospel Music
Lecrae is one of the most popular and well-known Christian rappers in the world today. Lecrae Devaughn Moore, better known as Lecrae, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur from the United States. He has sold over five million albums worldwide and has become one of the most prominent voices in the rap community as a Christian.
The Kareem Abdul Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award Winner: A Deeper Look into The Basketball Star & Legend Carmelo Anthony
Everyone knows Carmelo Anthony as one of the best basketball players in history. He's won multiple championships, been named an All-Star numerous times, and even nominated for the NBA MVP. Despite these accomplishments, few know much about the man behind the legend - and what an incredible man he is!
Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE
Real Talk with ZSJ
Zakya Sankara-Jabar interviews Allison McDowell as she uncovers some technological truths about technology and how it is used as a weapon against the Black community and society in general. She uncovers topics on eugenics, bioengineering, education.
Black America: US Government Is Sending Billions To Help White Ukraine, What About Reparations?
Moguldom.com reports- President Joe Biden has authorized a $350 million defense aid package for Ukraine for a total of more than $1 billion in assistance committed in the last year, and now he wants Congress to approve $6.4 billion more in new aid. The funds to aid Ukraine against its invading neighbor Russia, have many Black people on Twitter wondering why the U.S. hasn’t funded reparations
Science and Technology
Lunar Visitor Spotlight: Iddris Sandu, the 21-year-old Ghanaian tech prodigy who has previously worked for Uber, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Iddris Sandu, a Ghanaian born in California, was in high school when he created his first mobile software. Sandu, 21, now lives in Los Angeles and has accomplished many incredible feats, including being in charge of systems that have made Uber, Instagram, and Snapchat what they are today.
The outspoken Tech Guru sees himself as a cultural architect, aiming to "level the playing field" between Silicon Valley and young communities of color.
How is Artificial Intelligence changing the world as we know it?
Modern Artificial Intelligence systems can capture and ‘understand’ their environment in real time; they can make optimal decisions, based on multiple signals, in milliseconds. With applications ranging from self-driving cars to healthcare, AI is already changing our world.
Technology has transformed the global economy, and it’s giving emerging markets a competitive advantage.
Younger populations and robust technology infrastructure is giving emerging market countries a potential competitive advantage
U.S. Congress holds historic hearings: The military's UFO database now has nearly 400 reported incidents
"Reports of unidentified flying objects – now called unexplained aerial phenomena or UAPs by the military – have been increasing, said Bray. He cited improved sensors, an increase in drones and other non-military unmanned aerial systems, and "aerial clutter" such as Mylar balloons as causes for the uptick."
Religion & Spirituality
Mary, Mary & The Inception of Pop Gospel Music
Sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell make up the female American urban contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary. Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single "Shackles (Praise You)." Incredible (2002), their follow-up album, debuted at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart.
A Look at AME Zion First Leaders: Reverend Sharon Creek, Part 1
Reverend Sharon Cheek is the former Senior Pastor of one of the most influential and historic African-American churches in the Bay Area -AME Zion First Church. Reverend Sharon Sanderlin Cheek grew up in Norfolk, Virginia and has been an active member of the AME Zion Church for many years, most recently as co-pastor of Metropolitan Wesley AME Zion in Washington, DC, where she served nine years.
A Look at AME Zion First Leaders: Reverend Dr. Christopher Zacharias, Part 2
Dr. Zacharias has a reputation as a powerful preacher and devoted pastor who cares deeply about God's people. He is currently the pastor of
John Wesley AME Zion National Church in Washington, D.C, and the Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Interfaith Council of the District of Columbia, . READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Black Liberation Theology & Dr. James Hal Cone
James Hal Cone (1938-2018) was a proponent of Black liberation theology based on African American experience and related to other Christian liberation theologies. His book Black Theology and Black Power, published in 1969, provided a new way of articulating the distinctiveness of theology in the black Church. READ FULL ARTICLE
Bishop Mildred Hines, first AME Zion female bishop, dies at age 67
Hines, the 98th bishop of the AME Zion Church, died on Monday May 23, 2022. She was the sole female bishop of the historically Black denomination that dates to 1796.
The Morish and Divine Movement remains strong in Ohio
A Columbus Ohio couple keep the works of Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Divine and National Movement alive in Ohio. As Co-Chairs of Moslem Mission 30, Bro. Lloyd Douglas EL and Sis. Drewcilla Velez-Douglas EL remain consistent. In their missionary work they urge those who know that their spiritual, social, intellectual and economic condition can be better to join the Moorish Scient Temple of America, to proclaim their Nationality as Moorish American, and adhere to the Divine and National Principles Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom & Justice.
Chief Rabbi Capers Shmuel Yefuneh addresses the African America plight in comparison to the Ancient Israelites
"We Israelites see ourselves as both Biblical Israelites as well as African Americans who suffered through the Middle Passage and slavery in America, as well as other parts of the Western Hemisphere".
" In many respects, we are just like the ancient Israelites, who wanted freedom, but they wanted to remain Egyptians. I believe it is time for the Israelite community to seriously consider what Rabbi Arnold Josiah Ford did in his time, migrate to the Mother Land, to Africa. I don’t believe that we all should leave at this time, but rather send our scouts to different corners of Africa to see if the land is good and if so, let us consider setting up outposts on the continent."
The Greatest Black Preacher You Probably Never Heard of Part 1: John Jamison Moore
If there's one man you need to know about, it is Bishop John Jamison Moore. The founder of the AME Zion Church in San Francisco and one of the most influential African-American preachers in history, his impact is still felt today.
Moore was born in what is now West Virginia as an enslaved person. He and his mother fled to Philadelphia to live in freedom when he was 15.
Soon, Moore became a preacher at Philadelphia's AME Zion Church, where he rose to prominence. Shortly after, Moore moved to San Francisco in 1852 to help establish the church there. Moore was credited with, according to Bishop B.J. Walls:
"Planting the core tenets of freedom, as his denomination practiced on the Pacific Coast in 1852."
Moore established St. Cyprian AME Church, the first AME Zion Church in San Francisco, in 1852. Around that time, he opened a school for African-American children in the church basement, where he also taught and served as principal. Moore founded and became the head editor of The Lunar Visitor, the same ear which "promoted civil rights and advocated for the development of educational, social, and political institutions useful in working toward full participation in American society" and became the only newspaper published by an African American in the Western United States at the time.