.jpg){kind=link}
From serving as the center of community life to producing Civil Rights leaders, there’s no denying the impact of Black Church on Black culture. Yet, many are leaving the church in droves. What’s behind the decision to abandon this hallmark of Black culture?
#1: Respectability politics – teaching Black men to “pull up their pants” to avoid racial profiling by white people, or for women to dress “modestly” to avoid sexual assault, puts the onus on us to avoid oppression, when the fault ACTUALLY lies with those doing the oppressing.
#2: Victim blaming – sexual assault, especially when those in leadership are accused, is often seen as a “spiritual attack” by survivors. This not only takes away a safe space for them, but it makes it less likely for them to come forward. It encourages a culture of silence.
#3: Mental illness – the Black church has always been a place to deal with depression, anxiety and other mental conditions. At the same time, the church often stigmatizes mental illnesses as personal weaknesses, rather than the medical conditions they are.
The Black church has always been a beacon and safe haven for Black people. Regardless of how we feel about the church, questioning it is a loving act that serves to ensure our spirits get what they need to keep standing up for our liberation.