African American Christianity
Carol C. Ballon
Dr. Tom McCloskey
Religion in America
April 7, 2015

African American Christianity African-American Christianity is a Christian church that minister to primarily African-Americans. Throughout this paper I will share my experience and how I see it through my eyes. I will compare and contrast African-American Christianity verse Christianity. I also will give reason to why we need African-American churches. African-American Christianity started during slavery. This was an outlet for slaves, it was hope, and it was the only faith they had to hold onto. I suspect, that slave owners look at this as a threat. African-Americans gathered together for any cause was frowned upon. This could mean power and a means of escaping. They didn’t even want African-Americans to read, let alone carry around a bible. So from the beginning African-American Christianity was not accepted by slave owners. Throughout the many decades of slavery, religion among African-Americans was a fear for slave owners. For slave owners, African-American religious meetings symbolized the ultimate threat to slavery. Once established African-Americans relied heavily on their belief system. Religion offered an outlet for African-Americans, helped strengthen their belief in God and it was a safe haven. Keep in mind, slave owners was not always willing to accept the involvement of slaves in Christianity. As of today numerous African-American churches exist and are accepted more. Slavery doesn’t exist anymore but I do know racism still exist, so I’m sure not all Caucasians would agree with African-American churches. African American churches have evolved, if I look out my window, currently there are five within two blocks.
There is a need for African-American churches. All Christians share the same bible, so that remains the same but culture plays into religion in my eyes. I have been to predominantly African-American churches and predominantly Caucasians churches. The word seems to be the same; it’s the delivery of the service that seems to be different. From my experience Caucasians churches give the word, sing, and then the go home. However at African-American churches, the service is a all day service at times, there is just no time frame on when you will be released. It’s a lot of singing, praise dancing, shouting, talking in tongues, catching the Holy Ghost, rolling on the ground, crying, and the word is delivered in a soulful way. Sometimes it could be way too much going on and at other times you so much into the services, three hours went by and you didn’t notice. This is why it’s a need for African-American churches; they praise God differently because of their culture. Dr. McCloskey, told myself and my classmates a story about an African-American woman who attended his church and she kept jumping up and shouting. After the service the lady was asked to tone it down during the service. In my opinion that was rude, this is her way of praising God and that should never be stopped. This is one of the reasons why there is a need for African-American churches because they just praise and worship differently but as I stated, the word is pretty much the same.
Secondly, it’s also a source of help for the African-American community. They do coat drives, set up food pantries, and even provide shelter. The one thing I feel African-Americans are lacking is united. African-American churches give African-American the sense of togetherness and family. Yes you can get that from another race but it’s nothing like a entire race coming together for a good cause and as I previously stated, that’s rare in the African-American community.
In summary, African-American churches are needed. It’s a place where racism doesn’t exist; it’s a place where their culture is expressed, its unity in the African-American community. African-American churches are one of the establishments that represent the African-American community and where the community relies on food, shelter, and clothing. African-American churches give hope to the community. Speaking as a African-American woman, I do not want segregation but predominantly African-American churches helps express our culture that Caucasians wouldn’t understanding. It is very much so needed and welcomed in African-American communities.