The Role of the Church

Historical Origins As early as 1693 there is evidence of black religious cooperative. Slaves were introduced to Christianity by white slave masters. The birth of the independent black church finally took form by black freeman in the 1800’s. By 1910 the black church went through a transitional phase in which black people, begin to rely on their churches for a variety of reasons.

The Church During the Civil Rights By the 1950’s and 60’s the black community was especially anxious that a formal change occur in regard to the status of the black man in America. The organizational centrality of the churches in African American life provided the movement a network of leaders as well as place to meet and to develop plans and ideas.

The Church Structure Types of Churches Besides the many sects, Baptist, Protestant (etc). Churches were broken down into two other groups: Store front Back door Types of Preachers All preachers weren’t alike they were also broken down into categories. Militant Moderate Traditionalist

Martin Luther King Jr. King was one of the most prominent clergy men during the Civil Rights Movement. His tireless personal commitment and his nonviolent method and strong leadership role in the black freedom struggle won him worldwide acclaim and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Emergence of Islam In 1950 Islam and Elijah Muhammad gained national prominence. Islam taught that African Americans must find their identity in a radically different and separate culture, and religion in order to achieve liberation.

How the church helped the movement Became centers for organization (marches, voter registration drives, etc.) Some churches spoke out against social and political injustice. Helped tied Black Americans together, shared hope. Source of comfort, vent frustration, and anger (etc). Notified people of what was happening in the community. Wrote petitions, and letters to high officials.

Church Fires and Bombings Church fires occurred all over the south especially in Birmingham. Between 1947 and 1965, over fifty bombings occurred in Birmingham, resulting in the city becoming known as "Bombingham.” On September 15, 1963, four little black girls lost their lives in a senseless church bombing.

Organizations That Stemmed From of the Church FCC (Federal Council of Churches) endorsed a non- segregated church and a non- segregated society, which slowly gave way to support of the Civil Rights Movement. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) Southern Christian Leadership Conference (the SCLC).

Critics: How people felt about the churches involvement People felt differently about the role of the church during the movement. Many did feel that the church had become a sell out, that they had sold out to the white power structure, and that they cajoled blacks to stay on a accommodationist path. While others felt they shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place. Some even felt that more could have been done..

The Importance of the Church During the Movement It supplied much of the ideology of the Civil Rights movement. It supplied great leaders, and places were protest could be organized. It offered members an opportunity to exercise roles denied them in society.

Black Church Today The Black church has been the wellspring of all Black institutions and one of the richest elements in Black culture and Black social organization. It remains a potential power broker for black people even to this day.