The Activist Role of the Black Church

Abstract

Various writers who have directed their attention to study of historical origins of African-Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), which began in 1816 under leadership of Richard Allen, generally place their analyses within context of economic, political, and social climate during early 19th century (George, 1973; Lincoln, 1974; Mukenge, 1983; Wilmore, 1972). The conclusion reached by these writers can be summarized by referring to Mukenge's (1983, p. 33) argument that AMEC emerged as a movement responding to deprivations caused by structural blockages of legitimate expectations in Black population. Mukenge explains that although ideological climate provided framework for freeman's claims to equality, there was a blatant contradiction between these ideal values and real status of Black Americans. These contradictions, according to some writers, still exist in contemporary society. Studies indicate that in spite of all social and legal changes that have occurred as a result of civil rights movement, African Americans still represent a seriously disadvantaged group. This position is succinctly articulated by Jaynes and Williams in their statement that the status of Black Americans today can be characterized as a glass that is half full-if measured by progress since 1939-or a glass that is half empty-if measured