Black churches (attend, America, trinity, protestant, catholic)

[Flappycat]

1) Are "black churches" racist?

2) Is it terribly different for a church to identify with African-American culture than for a church to identify as "Irish Catholic" or with other "white" ethnic groups that have historically been treated as second-class citizens?

(I would recommend Boondock Saints to one who wanted to begin understanding the plight of the Irish during some points in our history. "St. Patrick's Day" is arguably a "politically correct" holiday for the Irish in spite of it widely being taken in good humor.)

3) Can it be argued that some black churches only serve to perpetuate a sense of bitterness which should have been left behind with segregation, discrimination, and other forms of persecution?

4) Some members of our forum compare such churches to organizations like Aryan Nations and the KKK. Is this fair? What would you say to these members of the forum?

5) To those of you who are critical toward the black churches. What would you suggest to them to remedy whatever it is you hold in criticism?

6) On a completely different note, would you defend these "black churches" as a "special flavor" of Protestant Christianity that was born out of the Civil Rights era?

7) Again addressing supporters, how else would you defend these churches to their critics?

8) If an African-American who was running for President attended a fairly moderate "black church" such as Trinity United Church of Christ, would this affect the way that you vote?

9) Specifically to Radio Frequency X: would you consider yourself "post-racial"? I am defining "post-racial" as a state in which one feels "above" or "beyond" such classifications as "race" or "ethnicity."

To deliver my personal thoughts on these churches, I actually feel that they may be slowing our progress toward a post-ethnic, post-racial America. However, this is just my vision for America's future, and I shouldn't press it upon those who have other ideas.

[Reverend Rick]

We do not have any "black churches" in Berea. Berea had the first black college in the country though. We all go to church together in harmony. Most people of color around here have got past the "Black Doctor" or "Black Lawyer" thing, They are Doctors and Lawyers who just happen to be black.