During Reconstruction, the black church was the center of the community, delivering messages of hope for a better future and boosting the morale for a people that had little to be happy about.  In the years of the civil rights struggle, we saw the church become more assertive about social and political injustices, becoming a force within the civil rights movement. 

In both eras, the church was, in many ways, the voice of the Black community.  Can this still be said today?  Many believe the church is fading as the cornerstone and voice of the community.  It has been said that the unity and collective identity that started in the Black church is not as strong as it once was. 


What must the Black Church do in order to regain its relevance in today's society? Share your comments below and engage in the discussion.

We, as African-Americans, know all too well the struggles our families have faced throughout many generations.  From the initial separation of our families during the slave trade to today's extremely high divorce rates, the list of reasons why African-American families are in its current state seem insurmountable.

However, I am a strong believer in the idea that you have to start SOMEWHERE...and, in my opinion, that somewhere is with the presence (or lack thereof) of the African-American father figure in the household. 

The statements you hear in the clip above reflect the attitudes and mindsets of many African-Americans, young and old...that the presence of the African-American male in the African-American family has no value. This ideology leaves one burning question in my mind: "HOW DID WE LET THINGS GET THIS BAD???"

In other cultures, the male is the centerpiece of the family...the unquestioned leader.  The father is respected by his wife and children, and the way he leads his household and provides for his family shape the way his children lead their households, setting a pattern for future generations to follow. 

Whenever the father was absent, uncles or other men in the community would serve as role models, grooming young boys to become men, and giving young girls a shining example of the type of man they should want to marry and be led by.

No matter what culture or ethnic group you study, while the role of the female may vary in its importance, the unwavering figure in family governance is the male.

Why can this not be said about today's African-American culture? There are many different things we can point to, but, realistically, we are past the finger-pointing stage.

Being real with ourselves and taking meaningful action has been LONG overdue for African-American people. We must realize that before we talk about America's discriminatory practices or what the Obama administration can do for us, we have to get our own house in order, starting with addressing the role of the African-American male.