Video: Why do Blacks Still Practice Christianity?
White Jesus hasn’t done anything for us, according to the pro-black non-Christian communities as they call for an awakening among their fellow people.
They urge them to put the crucifix and holy oil away because Christianity is not for black people as it was brought by the slave master to Africa to oppress Africans, and we should opt for our own African gods.
And if you don’t, unfortunately, you’re not ‘woke’ enough.
In fact, you’re fast asleep.
The church is a huge part of black identity. Parliament Research briefing files show that 56.7 percent of the UK’s population describes themselves as Christians.
Black British/Black make up 3.1 per cent of the UK’s population, according to the most recent census. Ethnic group figures indicate 69 per cent of blacks are Christian, 13 per cent are Muslim and seven per cent are of other faiths or are non-religious.
Pantheist and student, Pauline Aphiaa, 20, told us: “[if black people] wish to set their eyes on a higher power and bend their knee to pray to and worship something then perhaps our own African gods are the best way to go. At least we thought of them ourselves, we worship them ourselves, we tell their stories ourselves, they are gods made by us and for us and I think that’s the best it’s ever going to be.”
Aphiaa explains the newly coined term ‘woke’ as being “educated. I’m not talking about the education you receive, but the self-education you have taught yourself.”
Being ‘woke’ relates to one being aware of what is going on in community, in terms of social inequality, racism and also being aware of oneself and one’s heritage.
“[It’s] the understanding of the world, and people without being ignorant. The injustice, true history, racism, sexism and having the desire create a difference to change inequality and educate people,” she adds.
However, this coined word doesn’t apply to all, as some believe that you cannot be pro-black and pro-Christian.
“Christianity was brought to Africa for no other reason than to lift up, glorify and sublimate the white man into a position of power over black people. Christianity was brought to control us, oppress us and keep us controlled and oppressed long after the white man had left Africa,” says Aphiaa.
She adds: “Christianity was used as a tool not only to speed up the process of slavery by getting black people to align themselves with a common belief (of something that was both above them and above the whites) but also to justify the slavery & ill treatment we suffered at the hands of white men.”
There’s a famous saying by the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, that reads: “When the missionaries came to Africa, we had the land and they had the bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed and when we opened them, they had the land and we had the bible.”
The slave trade has left a bitter taste, as blacks express how the beliefs of African gods have been demonised and replaced with the Christian God. When the slave masters imposed their religion and rules banning Africans from worshipping African gods.
However, Olivia Masengi, 20, argues: “If you are woke and a Christian I think it should come from a place of loving everyone the same and treating everyone with love and respect. With this, the basic of valuing everyone’s opinion but knowing what the word of God says takes that oxymoron away.”
By Sqweekie Jones