This is a letter written to clergy in the
African American community:
Dear Clergy:
With much respect I ask the
following question. What is one of the
oldest institutions in the African American community? I realize that this is a rhetorical question
of which I know the answer – the church.
I will follow up this question with another. What would you say was the reason this
institution was originally founded? I
would answer that it was a rebellion of second-class citizenship; a means of
safety and acceptance within the African American community. What started out as a safe harbor for the
Black community, a place that acted as the first line of defense for the
struggles within the community, seems to have become just the opposite for certain
members – the LGBTQ members.
Homosexuality seems to be viewed
within the African American church as a “sin.”
If homosexuality is a sin and has no place within the church, where does
adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, bigotry, judging, and any of the other
multitude of sins we commit as human beings belong? If the church exonerated all sinners, there
would be no one left! In fact, recent
developments in the field of science have demonstrated that homosexuality is a fundamental part of a
person’s life, not an option. We tend to
want to put God in a box to fit our own religious and personal needs and
interpretations. Hasn’t the African
American church done this through its “open closet” acceptance of the gay
community? As long as “they” fit into
the church’s “box” and obey all the rules, then “they” can continue to
participate in the aspects deemed appropriate for gay members. This does not include a recognition or discussion
of their homosexuality. What about the
Black church leaders and married lay congregants who are MSM (men who sleep
with men) or SGL (same gender loving)? In
recent qualitative research conducted in affiliation with the New York
Psychiatric Institute and the Columbia University School of Public Health,
evidence shows that this occurs on a regular basis within the church, further
stigmatizing Black gay men in particular, thus keeping them "on the down low." This systematic approach to oppression affects the Black gay community at the individual, community and societal level, intersecting every area of their life.
Think about
this. Jesus built his ministry around
spreading the gospel to people who were scorned by society. He was criticized by current religious leaders
for his close association with “the wrong type of people.” How is it that such
an “authentic” institution within the African American community can be
responsible for suppressing the ability to lift up its “wrong type of people” to
be their most authentic and true self?
The church has historically and is currently a powerful force in the
Black community – a force to be reckoned with!
I urge you to refer to Nobles’ and Goddard’s African Centered Behavior Change Model. See where the gay community within your
congregation fits. Spend some time
thinking about where you and other members of your congregation fit. As a shepherd responsible for his flock, do
you not want each member to be their most authentic self? Finally, think about the seven core
principles of the Nguzo Saba: unity,
self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics,
purpose, and perhaps most importantly, FAITH!
REFERENCES
Fullilove, M. & Fullilove, R. Homosexuality and the African American Church:
The Paradox of the “Open Closet”.
Gilbert, D. J. and
Williams, L. (2007). Deconstructing
the down-low; a systems-ecological perspective on African American men who have
sex with men. Human Behavior in the
Social Environment: An African American
Perspective, pp. 501-517
Karenga, M &
Karenga, (2007). The Nguzo Saba and the
Black family: Principles and practice of
well-being and flourishing. In H. P.
McAdoo (Ed.), Black families, 4th Edition (pp. 7-28). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Pitts, L (1998). The ‘choice’
to be gay.
Squires, D. (2011, March 3). Black Church Leaders Ask for Forgiveness from the LGBT Community.
Retrieved March 2012, from The Root:
http://www.theroot.com/views/black-church-and-lgbt-community.
Julie you are right about within the community and the church how homosexuality is looked down upon but in the same company of the church you have adultery, stealing and judging. As the African American community grows we should not place upon others what had been placed upon the community for centuries. We have to help our fellow church members and neighbors. If we do not we are a part of what is called self-oppression and internalization oppression.
ReplyDeleteI love how your arguments was presented to the clergy because as leaders of the church they do carrying the direction of the church in their possession. By keeping gay African Americans from being their true self is furthering their oppression. Jesus like you stated loved and preached the gospel to all, even to those that society did not want, who is the church to deny a whole body of people because of their sexual preference/orientation. I am glad that you brought up the point of other sinners such as lying or cheating because as we stated in class the church tends to pick and choose what constitutes a sin.
ReplyDeleteI love that you brought up these other sins as points because really cheating is the most hurtful, painful thing one person makes another person go through. I also like the fact that you brought up, that science is starting to prove that being gay is not a choice. I wonder how this letter would bode in a catholic church...I think they would burn it...
ReplyDelete