The Breakfast Club – Best of Interview: Pastor Jamal Bryant on 40-Day Fast Against Target, Black America’s Success & Politics

Podcast: The Breakfast Club
Host(s): DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Rye
Guest: Pastor Jamal Bryant
Date: December 24, 2025
Episode Theme:
A timely, energetic interview with Pastor Jamal Bryant focusing on his 40-day “fast” (boycott) against Target, why faith leaders should be vocal in politics, generational shifts in Black American activism, and the economic power of united action.

Episode Overview

The hosts welcome Pastor Jamal Bryant to break down his call for a nationwide 40-day “Target Fast” among Black churches and communities. The discussion delves into how religious institutions must adapt to the digital age, the interconnection of activism and the Black church, and the practical and philosophical challenges in building Black economic power. Bryant addresses internal debates among Black leaders, generational rifts, and encourages constructive, united action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Adapting the Church to Modern Culture

• Bryant details the lag in church adaptation to technology and culture:
  • “Culture changes every four years. Church culture changes every 20. So the average church is 15 years behind schedule… social media really is that bridge to make the church relevant to a generation that's disconnected.” — Pastor Jamal Bryant (04:21)
  • Streaming and social media are essential to reach youth; pandemic forced many churches to modernize or shut down.
• On generational divides in church engagement:
  • Traditional versus digital worship is a real divide, but Bryant contends physical church is still important for mental health and community.
  • “This is the loneliest age… People are connected online, but disconnected from people. So a lot of people are depressed… that sense of community… is still necessary.” — Bryant (07:27)

2. Being Outspoken and Facing Backlash

• On leadership and controversy:
  • Bryant embraces controversy as part of courageous leadership: “If you want to be liked, sell ice cream. But if you add sprinkles, somebody gonna be allergic to it.” (06:22)
  • Risks of being a trailblazer: “First they laugh at you, then they try to kill you, then they try to copy what you did.” — Bryant, quoting Gandhi (06:34)

3. Responding to Political Smears & Black Representation

• Bryant’s response to Fox News’ Jesse Watters (accusations of racism):
  • “He clearly doesn’t know what racism is… Black people don’t have the capacity to be racist.” (08:11)
  • He criticizes Black leaders who attend photo-op events with no substantive agenda, especially when their community’s interests are at stake.
• Symbolism vs. Substance:
  • “They have that access to the president and didn’t champion any of the needs of their own community… If we’re going to celebrate it, we can’t ban the books that record it.” — Bryant (11:11)

4. The Intersection of Faith and Politics

• Why Bryant is politically active:
  • “To be a real prophet… [is] to confront the king and say, you out of order, you’re not doing this right… Revolution comes with inconvenience.” (15:01)
  • Critique of mega churches’ visibility vs. community impact: “The most powerful preachers… don’t have mega churches, but they’re in the community.” (15:54)
• On meeting with political adversaries:
  • Would meet with Trump, “but I wouldn’t go by myself.” (13:18)
  • Stresses need for accountability and strong representation.

5. The 40-Day Target Fast Explained

Why Target?

• Target promised $2B investment in Black business post-George Floyd, but “dishonored that commitment.” (16:27)
• “Negroes spend $12 million a day in Target. And I don’t know any black business that amasses that much money in any singular day.” (17:26)
• Target operates on 27 college campuses—not a single HBCU.
• Target is one of the largest Black employers, but does not honor Black communities proportionally.

Why a Fast and Not a Boycott?

• Seeks to reengage Black churches and Christians in activism, aligning with the spiritual significance of fasting.
• “This was a call specifically for black Christians to show the younger generation our head is not in the sand… we’re aligning it with prayer.” (18:19)

Addressing Criticism—Impact on Black-Owned Brands in Target:

• Uses digital directories so consumers can buy Black brands online (24:43)
• Sees inconvenience as necessary: “A movement comes with inconvenience… Let’s buy more to cover what is that loss. Companies take losses all the time.” (26:06)
• Emphasizes principle over profit and encourages building Black-owned retail infrastructure.

6. Internal Black Community Debate

Debates on Boycott Methods:

• Some preachers led congregations to Target to “buy out” all Black products (“support Black-owned brands”). Bryant objects:
  • “You’re still supporting Target. We gotta come [up with] a way…” (26:06-27:50)
• On uniting despite tactical disagreements:
  • “There can be many different paths… but there’s gotta be a line in the sand of how it is that we stand without attacking each other… Iron sharpens iron in that space…” (31:14–34:33)
• Advocates for decentralized, multi-track movements, echoing movements like LGBTQ rights.

7. Demands and the Path Forward

• Key Demands for Target:
  • Partner with HBCUs
  • Help Black businesses scale up
  • Measurable, public commitments
• Mobilization Success:
  • “We are 110,000 people… and did it before we ever got to the Breakfast Club.” (40:34)
  • Goal: Grow to 150,000+ to maximize leverage at Target’s shareholder meeting (June 12, Minneapolis).

8. Memorable Quotes

• On Black Economic Power:
  • “America’s worst nightmare is the marginalized, unified. If all of the different sectors came together, that’s when you have real power. Fingers separated don’t mean anything. Fingers together, become a fist.” (38:46)
• On spiritual activism:
  • “If we don’t bring a spiritual grounding to it, I think that we're going to miss it… Marching is good, protesting is necessary, petitions are important.” (18:19)
• On movement participation:
  • “For you to have a real revolution, you don’t need 100% participation. You only need 3%.” (39:09)
• On direct communication and accountability:
  • “[Silence] is the worst thing that you can ever do. When we learn how to talk to each other and discuss it, I understood where it is that they were coming from.” (34:55)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Church & Social Media: 04:10–07:27
• Controversy in Leadership: 06:01–07:11
• Responding to Jesse Watters, White House Events: 08:02–11:14
• Political Engagement & Influence: 11:45–15:54
• The 40-Day Target Fast: 16:07–20:00
• Supporting Black Brands, Debate Over Boycott Tactics: 24:19–31:14
• Debate on Black Movement Leadership: 31:14–34:33
• Building Black Economic Ecosystems: 27:50–29:05
• Mobilization Numbers & Plans: 40:27–41:37

Notable, Memorable Moments

• Bryant’s tongue-in-cheek wit and directness: “You gotta have a hood interpreter, a hood whisperer…” — Pastor Bryant (11:11)
• Engagement on ideological rifts in Black activism:
  • “Iron sharpens iron in that space of arguing and articulating what we stand on and why there needs to be different tracks.” (34:00)
• Dynamic closing exchange about Baltimore vs. South Carolina crab:
  • “Baltimore’s the homicide. It was trauma that I had to do it in South Carolina before I had it.” (42:25)

Action Steps & Resources

• Pastor Bryant urges listeners to visit targetfast.org for:
  • Target fast list of demands
  • Digital directory of 300,000+ Black businesses
  • Daily prayer devotionals to keep participants focused

Final Takeaway

This episode is a spirited look at the crossroads of faith, Black economic leverage, and political action. Pastor Jamal Bryant challenges his community to organize, act with principle, leverage power collectively, and build sustainable Black-owned infrastructure, all while anchoring activism in spiritual and communal values.

Listeners are left with both the urgency and the hopefulness of a spiritual, strategic, and unified approach to Black progress—beyond short-term controversies and toward lasting economic and cultural influence.