EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: We’ve always been People of Faith, Congressman Donald Payne Tells Ib’s Blog

Above: Congressman Donald M. Payne (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus). Interview by Ibrahim Dabo. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.
Above: Congressman Donald M. Payne (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus). Interview by Ibrahim Dabo. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. Annual Prayer Breakfast on Sept. 18, 2010, Board Chairman of the caucus, Congressman Donald M. Payne, had some words of spirituality and faith to share.

"we’ve always been people of faith.” - Congressman Payne. Photo Credit: J.K.
"we’ve always been people of faith.” - Congressman Payne. Photo Credit: J.K.

“As seen at this Prayer Breakfast, we’ve always been people of faith,” Payne told Ib’s Blog in an exclusive interview.

“It’s been the church and the spirituality; when we were enslaved people, we always knew that there was a higher being and we would pray and have faith and so this is a continuation of the experience for African Americans,” Payne said.

Payne said faith will make a difference despite the challenges that may arise.

“We’ve come this far by faith and so we are going to keep moving on up that highway until better days.

L-R: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Donald Payne, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.
L-R: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Donald Payne, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.

“So we remember we came from the religious community, we stayed with the [religious] community and the future will be brighter because we are with the religious community,” Payne said.

Faith and Hope in combination are both powerful elements anyone would cling on to for a breakthrough in any situation, and Payne has a message for participants who attended this year’s Annual Legislative Conference.

“I want them to remember that there is hope, and that the future is bright but we have to all participate in our local communities. We have to believe that we will succeed and we will have better days,” Payne said.

L-R: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, President Barack Obama, Congressman Donald Payne, and First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.
L-R: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, President Barack Obama, Congressman Donald Payne, and First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo Credit: Ibrahim Dabo.

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