Charles Blow Gets it Wrong on Blacks and Prop. 8

In a column on the overwhelming black vote (black female vote in particular) in favor of California's Proposition 8, the New York Times' Charles Blow noted two main trends: a particularly irrational form of religiosity; and black, female self-pity and resentment. He then insists that we dare not question either. One would have thought he was joking, but alas, he was not.

Selected quotes:

"[the] high rate of church attendance by blacks informs a very conservative moral view. While blacks vote overwhelmingly Democratic, an analysis of three years of national data from Gallup polls reveals that their views on moral issues are virtually indistinguishable from those of Republicans."

"Marriage can be a sore subject for black women in general... Women who can't find a man to marry might not be thrilled about the idea of men marrying each other."

"Comparing the struggles of legalizing interracial marriage with those to legalize gay marriage is a bad idea. Many black women do not seem to be big fans of interracial marriage either."

"...don't debate the Bible. You can't win. Religious faith is not defined by logic, it defies it. Instead, decouple the legal right from the religious rite, and emphasize the idea of acceptance without endorsement."

This is a portrait identical to that of white evangelical racists--personally resentful and misusing religion to justify their bigotry. Blow then explains what this strict morality does for the black community--how this religiously-based, "conservative" moral philosophy serves us:

"...for instance, most blacks find premarital sex unacceptable, according to the Gallup data. But, according to data from a study by the Guttmacher Institute, blacks are 26 percent more likely than any other race to have had premarital sex by age 18, and the pregnancy rate for black teens is twice that of white teens. They still have premarital sex, but they do so uninformed and unprotected...."

"...black women have an abortion rate that is three times that of white women."

"...blacks overwhelmingly say that homosexuality isn't morally acceptable. So many black men hide their sexual orientations and engage in risky behavior. This has resulted in large part in black women's becoming the fastest-growing group of people with H.I.V."

Blow paints a picture of hypocrisy, irrationality, resentment and plain ignorance. Blacks are much more likely than whites to attend church, he says, and much more likely to engage in behavior that their churches and their own religious codes condemn as immoral. I'd say this calls for a closer look at those churches and their teachings. If abstinence-only education leads to higher pregnancy rates, you don't politely ignore that fact and recommend chastity belts; you attempt to change the educational paradigm.

There are two issues at play here, but Blow is loathe to separate them. First, there is the issue of gay rights. Blow is trying to steer a course by which blacks are brought to accept homosexuality and, by association, gay marriage. But why would religious blacks be more persuadable than white evangelicals? If Blow is correct, they are not. The movement for gay writes should write them off, just as we write off devout Mormons or Catholics.

The second issue is one for the black community: black religiosity, which conservative political correctness insists we must not question. Black preachers who railed against gay marriage used arguments as Biblically specious as those that insisted blacks were cursed in God's eyes and meant to serve white men. They also displayed a rigorous ignorance of black history. Both Brown vs. Board of Education (which gave black children the right to attend schools previously reserved for whites) and Loving vs. Virginia (which gave blacks the right to marry the person of his/her choice) were highly unpopular with the majority. Should the majority will have prevailed? What if public sentiment should turn against blacks once again? Should our right to live where we choose be abolished if the majority thinks so?

The gay rights movement needs to move on when it comes to the black religious vote. It is as remote as the white evangelical vote. There is no brotherhood here.

The black community needs to question the unquestionable--the continuing perversion of its religious traditions that promote irrational, self-destructive path devoid of reason and drunk on revivalist hysteria. When churches lead their followers down self-destructive paths, it is time to do what Charles Blow insists we must not: It is time to "go there." It is time to question the cultural value of some black churches. It is time to call them on their ignorance and bigotry. It is time to suggest that their followers seek more constructive pastures of faith.

Comments

[Benton]

The fact that people insist on framing black religiosity in the context of race is the problem. Black people have the same cultural-religious tendencies as the white people who turned them from Ibo's, Hausa's and Fulani's into negroes, coloreds and mulattos. Black people are socialized as souther rural whites steeped in Scots-Irish religious and moral sensibilities. This cultural transfusion occurred as Africans learned language and religion in the fields working along Scots-Irish indentured servants. Evidently, progressives are too cowardly to confront the massive number of white southerns who refuse to accept progressive views and would rather rail against and/or psycho-analyze blacks. Progressives realize that if they come at white southerns with this kind of talk they are likely to get punched in the face.

[Lisa-G]

I enjoyed your post, Leonce. My opinion is that religious folks need to have their hat handed to them. Religion needs to be treated like sex; keep it in the privacy of your home. No more tax-exempt status to practice your beliefs. If you like to do it in groups, then you can go to your "church," but you have to pay out of your pocket. No more help from the government.

[dryrock]

1) I agree, trying to argue religion gets no where.
2) "Gay liberation is not a biggie amongst Black people who are still fighting in many ways for Black liberation". >>> An unpopular truth.
3) My black gay friends tell me they are feeling really conflicted right now.

[I'm just a middle aged white gay guy looking in from the outside, take what I say with that in mind]

[robXdion]

Religion gets no where for those on the wrong side of it because they can't win. And most using it either way don't know what they're talking about. Also your gay black friends should ask their gay white friends why is there so much racism in the gay community before white gays try to equate themselves to the civil rights movement.

[dryrock]

I don't debate magical thinking. It ends up in name calling. And obviously you are unaware that just such a conversation has been going on for some time. It is no less intractable an issue for gay people than for any other demographic. Inform yourself before you stick your nose in. bbye

[jazzpotato]

Black or white, people see in religious text whatever validates their prejudices, if they are so inclined. Bottom line: religion needs to get out of law and politics, and civil rights are not to be subverted by the majority, whatever they think their moral justification may be.

[robXdion]

Your Biblical argument as a way to condemn AA Christians is as specious and vapid as you pretend Charles Blow's is. A vague Old Testament story was used to condemn and curse all blacks to slavery as justification for American brutality. This was a mere interpretation. King Solomon and several other key figures were black and the Bible specifically says so. It's been noted on HuffPost that there are serious differences between black and white churches. Most notably is the fact that AA Christians adhere to the words of Jesus in the New Testament that address inclusion among the various races. White Christians (Baptists mostly) seem to follow the Old Testament as a means to judge others and avoid conflict resolution, specifically regarding racism. But as Christ said, He didn't come to change the Law. And that includes gay marriage. Homosexuality is specifically and repeatedly condemned in the New and Old Testaments. That doesn't mean people hate gays or what to see harm done to them. They just believe in marriage defined as between heterosexual couples. Condeming black Christians as "serving the white man" is a weak racist substitute for your lack of understanding Scripture.

[BonnieBeeMee]

Keep reading. same book, same chapter, verse 22 "whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire". Since you seem to be an expert, quote to me chapter and verse where Jesus said ANYTHING about homosexuality. Stop the cherry picking, that's just lazy.

As for Paul, there's nothing more dangerous than a convert. I know, I was one once. And for pete's sake, read a contemporary translation - even Paul wasn't talking about homosexuals - the concept did not even exist in his time - he was talking about going to pagan temples and participating in their fertility rites (usually referred to a temple prostitution), mistranslated 500 years ago as homosexuality.

[robXdion]

First, I never stated, "Jesus said" anything. I stated it was in the New Testament. Secondly, I didn't name a chapter, so what are YOU quoting??? Never said anything about Paul either. Thirdly, I won't go tit for tat with you quoting scripture. THAT is forbidden too. Lastly, before you go off because something offends you, you might wanna get the context correct and address people better than this. Because your rant has NOTHING to do with my post, o' angry one. There's a lot of ground between Paul and Jesus's writings and words in the New Testament. So try again. Better yet, just stop.

[Nommo]

Seriously, white people need to get a handle on this projection thing. It is absurd and it does neither community any good to keep worrying about Black people when whites continually avoid dealing with the sickness that pervades their communities. Do they know anything else but to castigate others? Are gay white people not supposed to be as racist as other white people? Are Black people missing out on something altogether here?

The idea that Black people have anything in common with Republican notions is patently absurd. It would be more correct to just note that Gay liberation is not a biggie amongst Black people who are still fighting in many ways for Black liberation. Period. Waiting for the day that white people realize that the hidden agenda in Black liberation is white liberation. One may look at that literally and figuratively, whatever one is able to handle.

[Catothemuchyounger]

From what I can see, the op is correct that a significant segment of the black community has views on social issues that are very close to those of white Christians and that, in political terms, could be viewed as more "Republican" than "Democrat." I understand why blacks are reluctant to vote Republican, but I have never understood why they have not pulled the Democratic party in a more socially conservative direction. Same for the membership of the industrial unions, most members of whom are not "progressive" on social issues.

It may be that a new era in the place of the black community in the Democratic party is coming on. If so, we may see a more socially conservative Democratic party, and not just in the South.

[Nommo]

See further. And then some. Such terms as "socially conservative" are fundamentally meaningless. It may be loosely translated as "mind your business". Whites have traditionally voted for segregation, indulging in all sorts of gerrymandering to prevent Black and other "minority" communities from consolidating any real political power. Black votes have been aimed at, as much as possible, progressive political forces in an attempt to stem the tide of attacks on our communities.

When the money runs out, services are first removed from Black communities. Schools, hospitals, banks and other essential services disappear overnight. Thus, gay Black people are affected as they tend, as most Black people do, to live, for the most part, amongst other Black people.

In point of fact Blacks have attempted to move politicians towards a progressive outlook. A more humanistic approach. White voters tend to make a fetish of social conservatism, all with the intent of keeping Black people particularly "in their place". As I pointed out originally, "gay liberation" is not a rallying cry in Black communities as much as we realize that nothing happens unless Black people become liberated.