Atheists, super Afrocentric people and others, I really want to ask you to leave Black Christians alone! Nary a day goes by that I don’t come across a social media post about how dumb Black people in America are for practicing Christianity since it is the so-called “slave master’s” religion. It’s time to chill already! Not only are you mistaken about history, but it’s just downright disrespectful to come at people about something so intimate as their religious beliefs.
Europeans Didn’t Invent Christianity
Contrary to what so many “preach” on social media, Europeans didn’t create Christianity, neither did they introduce it to Africans. I’ve always known that Christianity existed in Ethiopia long before Europeans came to America. In fact, as early as 340 A.D., Christianity was the official religion there. For the record, Ethiopia has never been colonized, either.
Anyone who has studied history and the Bible in any detail also knows that Africa is mentioned in the Bible and that Christianity gained traction in certain western portions of Africa, as well as central, long before any form or European colonization took place in either part of the continent.
Here’s a video on Africa’s very long history with Christianity for those of you who want to learn more:
Show Some Respect
Like it, love it or hate it, a belief in the Bible and its teachings was also a source of strength for our ancestors even when the religion was forced on them here. We know how to take something painful and make it work for us! It’s what got our grandmothers and their grandparents and theirs before them through situations that people who didn’t have a strong faith would have just straight up killed themselves over instead of endured. No matter what anyone’s personal beliefs may be about Christianity, the church and its teachings, today, the strength it provided our people for hundreds of years in this country is indisputable.
Still, there’s plenty of room for criticism and even blame when it comes to the faith and even its impact on people of the diaspora. I get that and I’m not here to defend it on that level. What I am saying is that we should all have enough respect for the historical resource it has provided our grands to just calm down and think about how sacred this belief still is to some people.
Teach a Better Way
A lot of sistas and brothas have begun embracing indigenous African religions, which were most likely practiced by some of our ancestors before they were enslaved in this country. As awesome and interesting as I find some of these beliefs to be, without gathering bits and pieces from multiple sources… and knowing which of these sources have been vetted and can be trusted… there’s no centralized way of learning about these religions. Mostly everyone I talk to (except those who’ve traveled to the Motherland for their education), is on a free learning path. Meaning, they’ve read a few books, Googled a bit of information, followed a few likable people who seem knowledgeable and so on. While that’s all well and good to a certain extent, no one can expect Black Christians to suddenly change their entire belief systems without doing the same– which they’re just not motivated to do! And even in taking that approach, there’s not a lot to hold onto that can compare to what the Black church has meant to our people socially and historically.
Here’s something I wrote a while ago on this very topic:
So, instead of constantly criticizing what Black Christians believe and calling them out on some false history, why not practice kindness and, respectfully, share what you know to be true. That is, if you’re certain about your own beliefs! Why not offer guidance instead of merely throwing stones? I was raised to believe you catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. Making memes attacking something so deeply personal as someone’s faith doesn’t do much to paint your spiritual practice as being a better or a higher path. And I’m certain it does nothing to encourage people to join your path.
Sorry, Not Sorry… But Open to Hearing You Out
I had to post this because I just find it so divisive to see the same attacks day after day. Especially in a climate when we should be aiming for more solidarity, the whole act of criticizing Blacks who identify as Christian is just divisive, harsh and cruel. You can disagree with me if you like, that’s perfectly fine, but please be sure to come correct in your comments below or when you hit me @LaLaLivesOnline on social media.
