Why do Blacks in America continue to be very religious?

Answer 1

In my opinion, much of it is historical in nature. The slaves had nothing else to hope for other than an afterlife if happiness. Their dystopian existences were designed to make them feel that they were entitled to no happiness in earth and were here to function as slightly more intelligent than an animal. The pain, physical and mental, was so intense that these blacks had to comfort themselves with something. Imagine living your entire life and having absolutely no control over it. This is why black woven iften commuted suicide with their babies rather than continue in slavery. So, many slaves believed that they could not save themselves, but only through the beneficence of the creator. In the meantime, they continued to be abused here in earth. Thus came the idea that their salvation would somehow be in the afterlife. Plantation owners who allowed their slaves to read would have them only read The Bible and focus on certain self-serving parts that spoke of slaves obeying their masters, for example. The other thing that happened is that many blacks had absolutely no confidence in their ability to change the circumstances of their own lives. After all, God was white and his white minions here on earth were wreaking havoc among blacks seemingly without recrimination. Then, somehow there became some sort of honor in slavery and suffering. After all, this was the black man's future. Whites convinced many blacks that life had no value for them so they had to look to the supernatural. They had to take their enjoyment where they could get it. As long as it was self destructive, the White man eased their path. Although the Civil Rights Movement came out of the church, it was also the church that made the movement far less militant than it probably should have been. Passive resistance relied on the conscience of those who had no conscience. Passive resistance in many ways continued the paradigm that blacks somehow deserved this treatment even to get the rights they deserved. In summary, I would say that the hope and emotional release that the church offers has been an outlet for black frustration. But, please note that the black church is dominated by the presence of black females. Black males are far more skeptical.

Answer 2

It was a brain washing technue. They were given the "Slave Bible" and the books that referred to rebellions were taken out. Not to mention they they were not allowed to read even if they had a regular bible... most would have been killed for reading it.

This was done from generation to generation. The general population doesn't have all of the books of the bible because the Chatolic church has removed even more books from the bible since that time. Blacks in America really had the faith they needed to survive. That is the reason they make in today's world. It was not from thinking they were not worthy, but they knew that if they held out there would be a better life for future generations.

Slaves were beaten & tortured... They were taken advantage of (females, males & children and sometimes made to reproduced with relatives). But they kept the faith that there would be a better future for the race. Even with the selling of family members here especially on January 1st. They still kept the faith that better days would come.

President, Abe Lincoln freed the slaves & granted 40 acers and a mule & $100, but that was halted after his death. Black people kept the faith. Through "sun downs" laws, "red-lining", burning of Black communities such as "Black Wallstreet", Rosewood", " The Devil's Punchbowl"... just to name a few.

After the WWll, when the Blacks were denied loans for homes to them, they kept the faith of a better future. The Whites vets were told even if they paid off their loans, they could not sell them to the Black vets. Blacks know though, "In the fullness of time..." things will be set straight. We Know now as they knew then that we are more than our situation... We had to learn valuble lessons through our cruel mistreatments... Shalom