Religion in the Black Community

“Religion and the Black Community”, “Faith and Church involvement in African American
Communities” and “The Nation of Islam” deals with the different effects religion has on the
black community but they do so in different ways.

Through the document “Religion and the Black Community” we noticed that religion has been
0 form of control and manipulation. For African Americans , the Christianity religion was used
as a way to “keep them afeared and control them.” Slave 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 punishment that enslaved Africans endured. Religion essentially enabled the
mind of the distorted slave masters. In the eyes of God, slave masters made enslaved Africans
feel “inferior due to the white skinned superiority of Jesus Christ.” This manipulated Africans
to believe that 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 and since God was created in
their image, it was permissible for them to treat others like second class citizens. Additionally,
slave masters could use religion to control black males by turning them into pastors in order to
“calibrate the minds of Black slave who would rebel”. This essential shows the role Christianity
played in outsmarting enslaved Africans and “keep them in check”.

In the text, “Nation of Islam” we learn that the black community was able to voice their
opinions and anger on the way the white people has treated them. This religion gave the black
community a way of knowing their history. Due to this religion they became a “strong
advocates of black pride”. The nation of Islam told black that the first people who were on earth
were black. This information gave the black people a sense of pride and belonging by knowing
this information and the white people enslaved them and denied them from ever knowing their
history. The nation of Islam help black people with discipline by telling them not to eat “ pork,
tobacco, drink, or even do drugs” and it was to give the black people a sense of direction and
limit their option of hurting themself.

Throughout the document “Faith and Church involvement in African American Communities”
we learn that churches are a helping hand to the black community. Churches provided basic
needs for people such food, shelters and clothing. Community centers practicing rites of
programs saw success in transmitting history, heritage, and cultural pride. The program was a
way for black individuals to know their history, heritage and cultural. Black individuals felt
inpower knowing that their ancients years back who fought for their freedom for them to be
able to have education and to achieve the “American Dream” that their ancients fought for.
Freedom of speech and to follow their dreams. Church involvement produced African American
youth who were less likely to feel disgrace or rejected as a result of their race and ethnicity.
Churches was way for African Americans youth to feel safe and know that God loves them
inside and out.
 All three articles state that religion can be used to unify African American communities.
“Religion and the Black Community” helped to unify the slave to “pray and forgive your
enemies, don’t fight back” it was a way for the slaves to show nonviolence and it was a for the
slaves to united together. At a earlier times “African were very peaceful and spiritual people”
which was a way they were able to unify with each other even though they all were from
different countries but for their spiritual believe united them and their community and it helped
them to conquer the injustice that they were facing. “The Nation of Islam” was a way for the
black community to unify themselves and to learn about their history and why is it so important
to be a black individuals. Muslim prophet messages “black redemption within islam” which
meant that Islam was a religion that give the black community a way of knowing their history
and a very important information that the first people on earth were black. This information fill
black individuals with pride and a sense of belonging. “Faith and Church involvement in
African American Communities” provided a sense of united to the black community by
provided great benefits such “ethnic identity,it was important in the development of healthy
self-esteem and self- efficacy.” It’s a sense of belonging to the black community and a thick
skin to overcome all the negative comment toward the black community. Churches has been a
way for all African American to unify themselves as an black community.
In Conclusion, all three documents deals with the different effects religion has on the
black community.
Number of Paragraphs 6 paragraphs were required for this essay 18 points 18 student has all
required
3 points each paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs All 4 body paragraphs must include: 40 points 35 student does a
- A strong argument great job at
- Explanation and context 5 points per STRONG argument (15) providing
(ideas are made clear) arguments and
5 points per explanation/context (15) details to support
that argument.

Evidence - Essay has at least four pieces of direct 12 points 12 student has all
textual evidence. required pieces of
3 points each evidence.

Overall Structure 10 structure is clear and coherent. Helps in 8 points structure does not hinder 10 student has a
the comprehension of the overall nor help comprehension. very clear structure
argument. and uses
6 points structure is unclear and transitions
- Essay should clearly state hinders comprehension throughout the
similarities and differences. paper. Student also
references the
(Should follow: Intro, compare, compare, sources that she is
contrast, and conclusion). using within the
paragraph.
Grammar/Vocabulary 10 – student uses strong vocabulary and 8 points student’s vocabulary is 8 student has
may make 1 or fewer grammatical average. Student makes 2 - 4 average vocabulary.
Grammar refers to mistakes. grammatical mistakes.
grammar topics
covered in class. 6 points student’s vocabulary is weak.
Student makes more than 4
grammatical mistakes.
Transitions Student should use transition words to 5 points student uses transitions 5 student uses
seamlessly flow between ideas. effectively transitions.

2.5 points student attempts

transitions

0 points student does not attempt at

all to use transitions.

Student does a great job answering the question and proving strong argument.
Student writing is clear and it is easy for the reader to understand how the writer feels
about religion and the black community. Student needs to double check for any grammar
mistakes.

Score: 88/95