Religion in the Black Community

After reading Religion and the black community we notice that religion has been a form of control and manipulation. For
African Americans, the Christian religion was used in a way to “keep them feared and control them”, despite this, some churches help
build people up and supply them with food, shelter, and other things.

Through the document “Religion and the Black Community.” we notice that religion has been a form of control and
manipulation. For African Americans, the Christian religion was used in a way to “keep them feared and control them.” Slave masters
masters manipulated various verses in the Bible in order for it to work in their favor. With the tool of religion, slave masters were able
to justify the brutal punishments that enslaved Africans endured. Religion essentially enabled the mind of the distorted slave masters.
In the eyes of God, slave masters made enslaved Africans believe they are “inferior due to the white skinned superiority of Jesus
Christ” this manipulated Africans to believe that the white man’s version of Christianity granted their position in society. As a result,
slave masters were able to push the notion that God was white. Additionally religion was used to control strong black males by turning
them into pastors in order to “calibrate the minds of black slaves who would rebel.” This essentially shows the role Christianity played
in outsmarting enslaved Africans and keeping them in check.

The Nation of Islam positively affected the black community by giving them something to believe in that won’t lead to abuse
of fear. It built up hope in the black community that persons of all shades could mingle without discrimination of hate. It states that
black people were the first people on Earth, which made them believe that they were superior, which made them feel powerful. This
also led to problems in which the black community got so caught up in their beliefs that they caused uproars. World leaders felt
threatened and chose to negatively portray the black community. “They deliberately portrayed the Nation of Islam as the nasty,
vicious side of the black movement…” This gave way to beliefs that islamic believers are vicious and violent, and want nothing but to
tear down the white man's work. In reality, islamic believers are mostly peaceful, and the Nation of Islam both positively and
negatively affected the black community.

Faith and church involvement positively affect black communities. “Faith, spirituality, and religion differ on many levels.
Faith is described as a belief in something beyond one’s self. It is not bound to spiritual understandings but can be applied to any
aspect of life. Spirituality has a less concrete expression; it is directly related to a relationship with God and self. Religion, or being a
part of a faith community, can offer support among people with similar faith experiences.” Despite the differences, they all have a
place in black communities. Faith gives them something to believe in that won’t bring them down. Spirituality allows them to believe
that they have a positive connection with a higher force. Religion can brinto support one another either inside or outside their
faith.”Research findings have indicated that formal religion (i.e., the Black church) is a primary contributor to values that create
supportive and responsive family relationships.” As stated, black communities who are given something to believe in together, tend to
support others how they can. In conclusion, faith and church involvement in black communities positively affected black people by
leading to support, jobs, resources, care, and hospitality for those who are involved, or aren’t.

Overall, religion in the black community has affected those involved in many different ways, whether it be positive of
negative. Document 1 talks about how christianity as a religion negatively affected people of color by manipulating them and having
them believe false claims. “The conquering of Africa, the separating of Black unity, an enslavement tool for Blacks, mental slavery—
the list of burdens goes on and on. Typically, Africans in earlier times were very peaceful and spiritual people. Fought when they had
to fight, kill— invade, if they needed. Europeans found it very easy to conquer, control, and separate the Africans, since they were
very peaceful, spiritual and well— passive aggressive people.” The African’s behavior made them easier to conquer since they were
accepting and didn’t view other as direct threats. Document 2 explains how the nation of Islam affected black people, It tells how it
gave them hope, but also posed a threat to them by having world leaders fear they’re beliefs and try to tear them down. “The attraction
of the Nation of Islam to blacks was its apparent ability to voice the anger and discontent that existed in every black community.”
People in black communities realised that they could express their anger with others without drawing more negative attention to
themselves. “Even the media and press hyped up the Black Muslims. A section of the ruling class recognized that they would
eventually be forced to make concessions to the black masses of America. They deliberately portrayed the Nation of Islam as the
nasty, vicious side of the black movement, thus bolstering the respectable, non-violent mainstream of Martin Luther King.” As stated,
the media began to negatively portray them in fear that their beliefs would spread to every black community, and cause uproars, as a
result, non-violent protesters became involved. Finally, document 3 explains how faith and church involvement positively affect black
communities. It leads to support, jobs, resources, care, and hospitality for those who are involved, or aren’t. “Community centers
practicing rites of passage programs saw success in transmitting history, heritage, and cultural pride to youths and teens. In their
efforts to teach youth values, morals, and human ethics. Such programs help students to experience secondary benefits of community
pride, and increased prosocial ambitions.” Church and faith made it easier to pass history, traditions, values morals and human ethics
to youths of color.

In conclusion, religion in black communities has affected those involved in many different ways, whether it be positive of
negative. For African Americans, the Christian religion was used in a way to “keep them feared and control them”. The Nation of
Islam positively affected the black community by giving them something to believe in that won’t lead to abuse of fear. Faith and
church involvement in black communities positively affected black people by leading to support, jobs, resources, care, and hospitality
for those who are involved, or aren’t.
 Number of Paragraphs 6 paragraphs were required for this essay 18 points 18
Student had all
3 points each required
paragraphs
Body Paragraphs All 4 body paragraphs must include: 40 points 37student had great
- A strong argument details and
- Explanation and context 5 points per STRONG argument (15) arguments. But in
(ideas are made clear) order to prove the
5 points per explanation/context (15) effect religion had
on the black
community,
student should
create arguments
that are debatable.
Evidence - Essay has at least four pieces of direct 12 points 12
textual evidence. Student has all the
3 points each required pieces of
evidence.
Overall Structure 10 structure is clear and coherent. Helps in 8 points structure does not hinder
the comprehension of the overall nor help comprehension. 10
argument. Student structure is
6 points structure is unclear and clear and coherent.
- Essay should clearly state hinders comprehension
similarities and differences.

(Should follow: Intro, compare, compare,

contrast, and conclusion).
Grammar/Vocabulary 10 – student uses strong vocabulary and 8 points student’s vocabulary is 10
may make 1 or fewer grammatical average. Student makes 2 - 4 Student has
mistakes. grammatical mistakes. average vocabulary.
Grammar refers to
grammar topics 6 points student’s vocabulary is weak.
covered in class. Student makes more than 4
grammatical mistakes.
Transitions Student should use transition words to 5 points student uses transitions 2.5
seamlessly flow between ideas. effectively Student uses some
transitions.
2.5 points student attempts
transitions

0 points student does not attempt at

all to use transitions.

Student did a great job at explaining the different effects religion has. Student also did a great job at using in text citations in
order to show a greater understanding of the documents provided. Next time student should work on providing strong
arguments that others will be able to debate.

Score: 89.5/ 95