In a deeply resonant episode of Lean In, Commissioner Henri E. Brooks welcomed a voice of conscience and consciousness to the podcast: Pastor Fish, Senior Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church and professor at LeMoyne-Owen College. The two leaders explored the intersections of faith, political maturity, and the urgent need for a more disciplined approach to Black leadership in Shelby County.

Reclaiming Civility in the Public Square

The conversation began with a candid reflection on a recent County Commission meeting marked by disrespect and a breakdown of decorum. Commissioner Brooks noted that the “meanness” displayed toward the Chair was a betrayal of the community’s standards.

Pastor Fish offered a sharp critique of public infighting, describing the current political climate as “volatile and toxic.” He emphasized that while disagreements are inevitable, they should be handled with “political and emotional maturity.”

“Those are governance conversations you have offline,” Pastor Fish noted. “You do not cause such a public spectacle that instead of talking about tax revenue and payroll, we are talking about personal attacks. We have to do a better job of reclaiming the full scope of humanity for our people, even in elected office.”

The Voter Engagement Crisis

While much of the political focus in Memphis remains on voter registration, Pastor Fish argued that the real hurdle is engagement. He pointed out the “abysmal” turnout rates—often as low as 15% to 20%—which allow a tiny fraction of the electorate to decide the fate of the entire county.

“We don’t necessarily have a voter registration problem; we have a voter engagement and education problem,” he explained. This gap leads to apathy, where voters stay home because they feel their voice doesn’t matter, which in turn allows elected officials to yield more power than their mandate actually warrants.

Up the Vote 901: A Cycle of Accountability

To combat this apathy, Pastor Fish detailed the strategic cycle of Up the Vote 901:

• The Memphis People’s Convention: Held during municipal election years to unify around consensus candidates and prevent “vote splitting.”

• The People’s Primary: An opportunity for the community to vet candidates before the official primary.

• The Memphis People’s Summit: An “off-year” event designed to hold current officials accountable for their votes and records.

Commissioner Brooks doubled down on this need for scrutiny: “When you go to the polls and vote for me, you have hired me. I am your employee. If I don’t do my job, you get an evaluation, and if you haven’t done your job, you get fired.”

The Principle of the Term

The duo also touched on the controversial efforts to shorten School Board terms. Pastor Fish argued that regardless of how one feels about a specific official, the principle of the vote must be protected. “Shortening a term because you don’t like a decision is a violation of the constitutional standpoint. It undermines the people’s voice.” He urged voters to show “political maturity” by making wiser selections at the ballot box rather than trying to change the rules after the fact.

Looking Ahead to the Mayor’s Race

As the field for the County Mayor’s race grows, Pastor Fish remained unfazed by the number of candidates. His advice to the public was simple: look past the “popularity contest” and name recognition.

“If a person does not have the qualifications, the credentials, or the track record, and we end up electing them—shame on us,” he warned. “It is the citizen’s right to assess the people applying for this job and hire the one best suited to implement our agenda.”