Black Ministers' Attitudes toward Population Size and Birth Control

Abstract

The attempt was made to explain the various influences upon a black ministers stance toward the issue of population control. Attitudes toward ideal black population size and genocidal efforts by whites were assessed in conjunction with a larger study of 154 black ministers in Nashville Tennessee. A variety of demographic and experiential indicators which hypothetically should serve as predictors of the stance taken by the ministered were considered. A consistent and sharp linkage was identified between the extent to which a person is disenchanted with the general relationship between blacks and whites and the manner in which he perceives a crucial population issue. This was demonstrated in terms of attitudes and in 2 behavioral measures. The more rhetorically active men were at the quantitative end of the contimuum. If the black minister is in fact effective in influencing the members of his congregation a shift toward the quantitative approach on the part of churchgoing laymen might be anticipated. Those who were rhetorically inactive and qualitatively oriented should have little if any influence.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)