Racism And Heterosexism Within African American Churches

The struggle that Black churches have on homosexuality has been an ongoing battle. The issue of homophobia and heterosexism within African-American churches is a difficult one. Regardless of the complexity of the matter, it is one that the black community must address. It is, to ensure, time for the black religious leaders to truly live into its justice asserting social, political, historical, and theological beliefs which would lead to eliminating any manifestation of the sin of homophobia from its very mindset. The denouncement of black LGBT individuals presents factors about why 49 percent feel suicidal or have attempted suicide. What some people fail to understand is that there is a certain privilege in being able to wake up every†¦show more content†¦Harris explains that theses exertions became a matter of life and death during the early 1980s when predominately male African-American male congregants, pastors and other church members became sick from an unknown illne ss which later became recognized as the autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has a superfluous effect on the black community. African-Americans accumulate nearly half of most HIV and AIDS diagnoses. The delayed response of black leaders to the epidemic was another factor that incited the highly prevalent rates of HIV and AIDS cases within the African-American community. Along with affected gay men, prostitutes and intravenous drug users became infected as well; Harris further reports that those people were considered â€Å"degenerates† and â€Å"immoral† by black church leaders. Trailing back to the days of slavery, black religious leaders assisted as freedom fighters of social justice for oppressed African-Americans. Those affected with the disease looked to religious leadership for spiritual support and to bring the disease to light. However instead of the desired support, they were faced with disdain and denunc iation at the lifestyle as black leaders believed caused the individuals to be affected with the disease. Furthermore, Harris addresses that many gay men who died from the disease were restricted from being buried beside their home churches. ThisShow MoreRelatedRacism : A Social Construct1593 Words   |  7 Pagesway I am and have been oppressed. Albeit racism has an impact on all of our lives in the US, however; it’s the intersectionality of the other social identity forces that when they are interacting with racism, they manifest many forms of social oppression. My social identity is that of an African-American, married lesbian woman. Racism is a social construct that has serious impact on many people’s lives. Heterosexism, also a social construct and racism contribute to the ever widening inequalityRead MoreEssay on Black Theology1522 Words   |  7 Pagescould no longer be enslaved. So to appease their conscience they would not allow Blacks to take part in theology. Due to these issues Black Theology soon originated within the United States. The origination of Black Theology was only cracked open by the idea of slave theology. The origination of Black Theology first began when churches began to become segregated. Many could not understand how Whites could continue to behave this way in the Lords house. It was soon realized that this was becauseRead MoreEssay on Needs of Diverse Learners Final4267 Words   |  18 Pagesappropriateness of shaking hands, bowing, or kissing people is an example of the cultural manifestation of Nonverbal communication 18. Multicultural education supports and extends all of the following EXCEPT Racism 19. Socially transmitted ways of thinking, believing, feeling, and acting within a group is Culture 20. Assimilation of groups to the point that they share primary relationships, intermarry, and have equality with the dominant group is Structural assimilation Chapter 2