If you didn’t know who Pastor Lorenzo Sewell was before, you might definitely know now after his fiery prayer at the presidential inauguration. However, social media users weren’t so moved by his words. In fact, some were offended.
Typically when being prayed out of service, everyone stands to their feet, bows their head, closes their eyes and clears their mind as instructed. President Donald J. Trump stood eyes open, tilting his head to the side unable to keep his glance off Pastor Sewell as he delivered an explosive prayer in a strong tone reminiscent of a 1960s civil rights leader.
The Detroit-based pastor began praying that the nation would begin to “fulfill the true meaning of our creed,” citing the Declaration of Independence’s “all men are created equal” decree. He also prayed for a day that we would not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.
Then, with lots of hand gestures, wide glances to the ceiling and a growl in the delivery of every other word, Sewell sewed in pieces of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“When we let freedom ring we will be able to speed up that day all of your children, Black men and white men, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, will be able to sing in the meaning of that old negro spiritual: Free at last, free at last. Thank you God Almighty, we are free at last,” cited Sewell.
However, his soulful cadence was not welcomed by some Black social media users. Most people just laughed at the video recording of the prayer or took it to be performative or “coonery.”
“Pastor Lorenzo Sewell I hope I never reach your level of coonery,” one X user wrote.
“They should not have let this pastor Lorenzo Sewell carry on with this ‘benediction’ like that, at the inauguration. What a disgrace,” wrote another user.
Meanwhile, other users took him to be making a mockery of MLK and accused him of straight up plagiarism.
“Lorenzo Sewell chose #MLKDay to mock Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on worldwide television at the close of a presidential inauguration. Not sure I’ve seen a more shameful display, ever,” one X user wrote.
“This pastor going to hell bruh lol,” wrote another user, who’s post reached over 10 million views.
Now, not everyone was hating on the prayer. A few comments commended Sewell’s prayer for being powerful and reclaiming the land for God. One person called it a “victory” for Black people. It appears some wouldn’t consider the opportunity a win if it’s in support of Mr. 47.