Credit: Clarendon Fire Department
The tragic domestic terrorism that occurred when a white man, Dylan Roof, sat in a bible study meeting and killed 9 people in Charleston, South Carolina has recently spotlighted how racist violence is very much present in 2015. For many the crimes that Roof committed against black church members is reminiscent of a not too distant pass.
Inciting and perpetuating terrorism against African Americans in this country is nothing new. During slavery, many black churches were founded as religious, political, and social place where blacks could come and rest against the violence of their masters. Black slaves closely saw their own lives of bondage mirror the bondage of hebrew slaves in Egypt. They were waiting for their Moses. Moses came as a result of the grassroots effort of the black church. In many cases, slave rebellions and even some revolts were planned and coordinated during this time. The most famous case probably linking to that of Nat Turner, who was seen as a prophet by his fellow black slaves on the plantation. Turner would go on to lead a slave revolt that killed up to 70 white master's families on plantations. Because of the political, social, and spiritual movement that surrounded black slaves and their churches, laws were passed that blacks could not worship without the presence of white individuals.
Inciting and perpetuating terrorism against African Americans in this country is nothing new. During slavery, many black churches were founded as religious, political, and social place where blacks could come and rest against the violence of their masters. Black slaves closely saw their own lives of bondage mirror the bondage of hebrew slaves in Egypt. They were waiting for their Moses. Moses came as a result of the grassroots effort of the black church. In many cases, slave rebellions and even some revolts were planned and coordinated during this time. The most famous case probably linking to that of Nat Turner, who was seen as a prophet by his fellow black slaves on the plantation. Turner would go on to lead a slave revolt that killed up to 70 white master's families on plantations. Because of the political, social, and spiritual movement that surrounded black slaves and their churches, laws were passed that blacks could not worship without the presence of white individuals.
Nat Turner Rebellion, 1831 Credit: Stock Montage/ Getty Images
During the Civil Rights Movement, anti-black terrorism continued. The most famous being the attack on the 16th Street Baptist Church when four Ku Klux Klan members planted sticks on dynamite beneath the steps of the church killing four young girls and injuring two dozen others. During the Movement many churches were the foundation for change. Congregations were active in registering people to vote, hosting Head Start programs, and organizing protests against segregated schools. Church burnings were an act to silence the movement. By attacking on church and one foundation, whole black communities felt targeted. Anti-Black terrorism existed as a way to scare active blacks and the community into silence with violence.
In the 1990's there was also a new wave of church firebombing that were perpetuated against the black church.
So many in fact President Clinton created the National Church Arson Task Force (NCATF) to investigate numerous church fires in the south and connections between arsonists. The force helped to take the some of the burden off state and local police forces. The Taskforce ids now disbanded, but the ATF continues to investigate church burnings that occur.
Both the ATF and FBI are now looking into the seven black church fires that have occurred across the south since June 21st. The investigation has yielded that some of these church fires are a result of arson and others are still being investigated. It seems the tactics of those who perpetuate anti-black terrorism has not changed. The question is how long do will we accept it? How long does our generation sit still and not galvanize? Why are we still asking the question, "Who Is Burning Black Churches?" The same thing that these anti-black terrorist feel, is that same thing that needs to be restored as our foundation. The black church can be a political, social, economic, and spiritual awakening. There must be a time where we don't have to ask ourselves: How Long Will Black Churches Burn?
Written By: Lauren B. I @laurenbeal
RSS Feed
