Rev. Larry Fryer, James Brown’s former pastor, was among three ministers who spoke before Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority’s (ARCCA) board of directors during its monthly meeting, Tuesday afternoon, to address the controversy surrounding the name of the entertainment complex currently under construction.
“He was not only a great entertainer, Mr. Brown was also a known humanitarian,” said Fryer, speaking on behalf of his denomination, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, during the meeting’s public participation portion. “Mr. Brown also has done great work in this community, and I think that it would be very, very, very important for us to look at what the decisions that would be made when it comes to his name.”
Fryer would go on to highlight philanthropic projects he worked with Brown on, such as toy and food giveaways, visiting young inmates at Augusta YDC and donating computers to the New Hope Community Center.
Rev. Paul Bush, president of Concerned Ministers Fellowship, a partnership of CSRA churches based in Aiken, emphasized the potential profitability of the Godfather of Soul’s namesake, saying, “At the James Brown complex, you’ll never lose money. The name itself is a draw. It is something that people want to be recognized with… if [artists] did not have the opportunity to perform with him, they would at least love to have the opportunity to perform in a building named after him.”
Rev. Dr. Eugene Beverly, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Augusta, noted James Brown’s global appeal, and how inspiring his music proved to many, comparing the “revolutionary rhythms” of his hits to the traditional preaching rhythm of African American ministers.
“He would say these words at a time that was instrumental for this country,” said Beverly. “He said, ‘Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud. And some may think that that was only for African Americans… It was really saying that ‘I’m a man and I’m a proud to be a man.’ ”
Brad Usry, the board’s New Arena Committee chairman, concurred with the clergymen about the significance of James Brown’s memory, offering his own personal anecdotes, before noting that though the Authority recognizes James Brown’s legacy, it must also “do what’s in the best interest of the taxpayers.”
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Board member Bonita Jenkins spoke on the public’s concerns about how the complex would be named, and how the ARCCA thus far has intimated that whatever decision is reached regarding the name on the facility, that James Brown would be recognized by the facility in some way.
“You have a way. Just leave [the name]. That’s just how I’m hearing it,” said Jenkins, referring several phone calls and emails she has received expressing the sentiment.
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ARCCA board chairman Cedric Johnson, who had spoken before the Augusta Commission earlier that day regarding the naming of the arena, said that the current board is trying to “set the course so that” the current board members’ successors will be more financially secure as he and Usry, upon joining the board, “had to do a lot of cleaning up.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
