Black Church

African-American people were taught Christianity in the context of oppression. When people are disempowered, they are often empowered at someone else’s expense, whether it’s women or children or gay people. How do we get through that?

Voter turnout among African-American sank since 2008.

The problem is that the black church is obsessed with the suppression of sexuality.

The obsession with black womens’ marital status obscures their dire economic state.

A new book by an iconic rapper, the Wu Tang Clan’s RZA, told in the voice of a street sage, tells the story of his ascent from the mean streets of Brooklyn to the pinnacle of success, and shows him to be the quintessential postmodern American spiritual seeker.

The conversation continues in a diavlog on Bloggingheads.tv.

What is the black church and what does it mean to say that the black church is dead? A provocative assertion and prophetic challenge by a prominent interpreter of African-American religion occasions a lively and varied set of responses. Updated with a response to those responses by Eddie Glaude, Jr., whose article sparked the discussion.

Though he’s frequently associated with the excesses of televangelism TD Jakes should be praised for doing the progressive thing.

After teaching them that the Black Church is their family, their home, our churches are failing our children in their time of need.

Rev. Wright’s assertions that it’s really the “Black Church” under attack help reduce the complexity of the religious life of black America to a soundbite…