Invisible Institution, Essay Example

The Black Church has played an essential role in changing and unifying its attendees and entire communities regardless of race or color. Therefore, I agree that individuals or an organization that shares similar religious viewpoints, particularly the Black Church, have the role in developing and maintaining social policy and the obligation to participate in social actions that might empower and motivate people to improve their quality of life. With the current social, economic, and political climate in America, the increasing number of high-school dropouts, joblessness, and the economic lockdown has ignited the people of color more so the black people to air their grievances. It’s the role of the Church to push forward the expression of the people’s grievances.

As much effort and time have been invested in connecting the Black Church with social action, a specific body has not been developed to encourage the Black Church’s social policy engagement. For some of these issues to be addressed, there needs to be a substantial and relevant voice that will formulate policies that will eradicate poverty and problems instead of continuously addressing the consequences. The Black Church should create and allow space for strategic, critical, and analytical assessment of the people’s issues. Ideologies such as “the call of arms” are strictly based and championed by the Church’s profession of following equality and justice principles. Therefore, it is vital for individuals who share the same belief, usually the minority communities, to facilitate the much-needed change in their living environment and condition.

In this context, the Black Church is known as a designated group in America that operates by tracing its ideals, roots, practices, and traditions in line with their forefather’s ideologies centuries ago and practiced Christianity as a religion only. The distinctive difference between the Black Church of then and now is that the pioneers of the Black Church then practiced faith in secluded sections of the White churches. As a result, many Africans converted to Christianity as their only means of survival.

The Black Church does not necessarily operate on racial bases as perceived in most definitions, but it’s known as “Black church” due to its supporter’s view of God’s activities. The Church’s theological viewpoint borrows concepts from both the African and Christianity roots. Hence, both views created an impression where the black community viewed the gospel spread through Christianity via the liberation lenses. Furthermore, the black religious perspective is not confined to the white’s view of Christianity; neither does it align with the African beliefs but is more of both.

The African-American identity was first coined during the slavery era, developing a dynamic culture in the U.S. However, slavery limited the ability of African-Americans to their culture. Much of the African-American cultural traditions, beliefs, values, and practices have survived the test of time but have also been blended with other western cultures; therefore, they have numerous modifications. The black community relies on the black church for social and spiritual growth. African-American religion has had a significant influence on the usage of drugs. The church became an incubator for benevolent societies, particularly in the 19th century. Besides, they played an important role in the struggle for Civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King being one of the church pillars for equality. Other prominent participants and leaders in the movement were either laypersons or ministers in local churches.

One of the church’s greatest contributions was influencing change and challenging public policy by participating in the Civil Rights era’s social actions. Since the end of the Civil Rights era, the church has not been vocal on the need for social change on policies affecting people from mostly poor and black communities such as policing, public education, social services delivery, and fair housing. The black church’s social capital perspective has been developed upon the communities and congregation life sharing experiences and staking in another person’s life. The Black church also creates a space to affirm social identity and the marginalized by other political and social systems.

Through social capital, the participants can access economic resources such as investment tips, subsidized markets, and loans, thus maximizing their social capital by contacting institutions or individuals that may redefine world perspectives. Black Church is significant since it among the few institutions for the impoverished societies which may offer collective economic opportunities. Besides, these funds, in collaboration with other finance sources, a significant social change may be met.

The African-American religious experience has impacted America by raising self-identity to the marginalized groups such as the black folks. Since the emergence of the Black Church in America, there have been numerous formations of churches under protestant, some of which are African Methodist and Baptist church. Religion was at the center of black community growth as it was a foundation stone for people to voice their grievances. Another major change attributed to the black church is the evolved mode of preaching. The black Baptists interpreted emancipation, civil war, and reconstruction as God’s gift for freedom, thus, pressure on social equality change.