Iight, imma go first right quick.
Yesterday, I went to a funeral for my recently departed little cousin. It was in a church of course. Her mother a minister. And the overwhelming presence of her church family was more than impressive. Folk were sad, and the church worked is hardest to uplift. They preached that she is not gone, but alive forever. You lose a close one, like a really close one.... You need to be around folk who feel it's their duty to uplift you.
The church in the black community is one of the very few institutions around that truly empower, support, and ultimately keep our black community together.
They definitely push family. But ultimately they're accepting of everyone.
Now the church is not immune to the shortcomings of man. There are tons of examples of greed and corruption infiltrating the church. But are those things unique to just church?? Or have greed and corruption infiltrated damn near every social construct in not only the black but every community.
These things are not born of the church. They are not created there, and they should be be associated with the church.
But what should be associated with the church is the extended family. I personally know a family who's house burned down Christmas morning.
There was never a doubt on them being good, cuz the second the church found out.. They sprung into action. The pastor has opened his home doors to this and other family many times. The church has put folk in hotels. Church pays folk rent, pays their car notes.
The church has finance classes, the church has job postings on the bulletin board. The church puts folk thru rehab, and gives them roles in the church, give them a sense of responsibility.
The church has a gym, a basketball court. The church is working on free after school care.... There's already a few retired volunteers who hang out at the church now for kids, but we know we need to get licenced. It's just a matter of time.
It's also a learning atmosphere. The overall message taught in church is love for ones fellow man. Individuals may focus on other aspects more or less aggressively, but if you believe had to sum the whole thing up.... It's love. It's charity. It's family.
And i know folk love bringing up how the shit was placed on black folk though slavery.... But let's not act like we ain't remix the fuck outta it.... From fish fry's, folk catching the ghost, our influence on gospel music,
Black church is not like white church.
Black church is not a tool to enslave.
Black church is family, it's community.
The church in the black community is one of the last things that truly keeps the black community together.
