Religion, Politics and the Black Church in the Black Community

As Black communities of faith, it is important that we critically examine our role in Black history in the Black community and start having the uncomfortable conversations. When there is no clear leadership other factions within the rank-in-file or outsiders will rise to the top and take leadership of the people. Looking at Black communities across the nation today, we see this occurring.

History lets us know that it is the Black Church, more specifically, the Black Baptist Church who lead the important role in the development of African-American communities of faith in the south. The Black Baptist Church history is also extensive in showing its response to the needs of the Black community in religion, social, economic and politics for Black communities in the South. This influence of the Black Church spread across the nation into other Black communities as well.

Today, some 50 years later, studies show, generally speaking, Black churches are not active in the development of their communities as they once were. While they are concerned with secular issues such as community development, they are not active as they once were historically, in challenging the social constructs for Black People or for the freedoms of Black communities for human rights, civil rights, and the attainment of the basic life axioms for a quality of life equal to other people who are not disenfranchised.

The absence of presence of the Black Church’s concern in these specific areas actively, has left a void in the Black community that has not gone unfilled. But, what has taken its place? We need not look far to find the answer. Black churches are emptying while others are growing, and our prisons are growing still more with members of the Black community. Advocacy groups are rising and challenging that they are better to significantly advance the need of the Black community rather than the Black Church. The Black Church once seen as the liberating force in the Black community for religion, politics and social construct is viewed today in sharp contrast to its historic context of the Black Church of yesterday who challenged the disenfranchisement of its Black communities, and championed the civil rights movement of the 1960's that eventually brought about the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

These are the fundamental questions before the Black Church today: 1) Are Black Churches concerned with, and involved in, the development of Black communities? 2 ) Is there a role for the Black Church in community development in Black neighborhoods? 3) If yes, how does the Black Church mobilize to move progressively forward to assist the Black community? As Black communities of faith, consider beginning again, the critical process of self-examination of the Black Church role in Black History and in Black Communities today, and start having the uncomfortable conversations.

Belcher, Alice L. Rev. Dr. (2017) www.alicebelcher.com

For additional insight, article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-r...