Spring Break
New research links black suicides and religious community
Religion
J. Claire Wilson
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: News
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Black suicide can be lessened through the influence of religious communities, according to new UA research.
The study done by UA sociology professor Kevin Fitzpatrick intended "to focus the question on whether or not religion was important, particularly in a community where religion has been, and often still is, playing a central and unifying raole across generations."
"Historically, we know that the church has been an incredibly important institution around which the Black community has unified," Fitzpatrick said.
For examples of this, history professor Calvin White points to the leaders who emerge out of the Black community such as Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.
"It's no coincidence," White said, "that these men are all ministers and the position of the church as a leader, although perhaps declining slightly, is still huge among Blacks."
White, whose research deals specifically with Blacks and religion, said it is the "unique struggle of Blacks in this country" which has made religion so powerful a factor.
Facing hardships and overcoming obstacles was central to day-to-day existence of Blacks and, in many cases, still is, White said.
"You may be barefoot on Earth, but you've got shoes waiting in heaven," and suicide is a denial of the struggles essential to the Black identity, White said.
Mary Margaret Hui, a UA senior minoring in Black studies, said she believes "the church community is tight among African-Americans because the church offered a new family of welcoming, supportive people with the similar life struggles," and because faith "gives Blacks a place to belong."
Hui notes that the long history of discrimination and hardship gave the church a position of prominence in the Black community.
"Blacks are so strongly religious as a whole because of their ties to slavery. Most often, when people are oppressed and mistreated, they turn to faith to escape the physical reality and enter into a euphoria all their own," Hui said.
The study done by UA sociology professor Kevin Fitzpatrick intended "to focus the question on whether or not religion was important, particularly in a community where religion has been, and often still is, playing a central and unifying raole across generations."
"Historically, we know that the church has been an incredibly important institution around which the Black community has unified," Fitzpatrick said.
For examples of this, history professor Calvin White points to the leaders who emerge out of the Black community such as Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.
"It's no coincidence," White said, "that these men are all ministers and the position of the church as a leader, although perhaps declining slightly, is still huge among Blacks."
White, whose research deals specifically with Blacks and religion, said it is the "unique struggle of Blacks in this country" which has made religion so powerful a factor.
Facing hardships and overcoming obstacles was central to day-to-day existence of Blacks and, in many cases, still is, White said.
"You may be barefoot on Earth, but you've got shoes waiting in heaven," and suicide is a denial of the struggles essential to the Black identity, White said.
Mary Margaret Hui, a UA senior minoring in Black studies, said she believes "the church community is tight among African-Americans because the church offered a new family of welcoming, supportive people with the similar life struggles," and because faith "gives Blacks a place to belong."
Hui notes that the long history of discrimination and hardship gave the church a position of prominence in the Black community.
"Blacks are so strongly religious as a whole because of their ties to slavery. Most often, when people are oppressed and mistreated, they turn to faith to escape the physical reality and enter into a euphoria all their own," Hui said.
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Blackatheist
posted 8/28/07 @ 3:33 PM EST
That's BLACK FOLK'S PROBLEM. Religion has made us delusional.
We embrace the slave mentality and philosophy that LIFE BEGINS AFTER DEATH!
How sad!
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