Is Christianity a Force of
Mental Slavery to Black Christians?
Resources on Black Progressive and Revolutionary Christianity
Op-ed by Kamau Austin, Publisher the Southeast Queens Scoop
Increasingly, some in the Black community are leaving the Church and Christianity altogether, calling it the “white man’s religion” or a tool of mental slavery. While it’s true that certain interpretations of Christianity have encouraged passivity and compliance with oppressive systems, it’s equally true that other expressions of the faith have been profoundly liberating—fueling revolutions, inspiring resistance, and sustaining movements for justice.
Christianity as a Tool of LiberationHistory bears witness to the fact that countless Black leaders rooted their fight for freedom in Christian faith. Harriet Tubman relied on her deep spirituality to guide enslaved Africans to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Nat Turner led one of the most significant slave rebellions in U.S. history inspired by biblical visions. Marcus Garvey invoked spiritual language to rally a global Pan-African movement.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached nonviolent resistance from the pulpit. The Deacons of Defense used their faith as a shield for civil rights workers against white supremacist terror. And long before them, Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church to empower Black Christians spiritually and politically.
Their faith was not a force of submission—it was a force of defiance, vision, and liberation. Without their insights and sacrifices, many of the freedoms we now take for granted, including the ability to openly debate religion and justice on social media, would not exist.
Reading the Bible for ThemselvesDr. Gayraud Wilmore, in his book Black Religion and Black Radicalism, shows that once enslaved Africans gained wider access to literacy and could read the Bible for themselves, rebellions and insurrections increased. Instead of pacifying them, scripture often emboldened them. They drew inspiration from the prophetic voices of Moses, Micah, and Amos—who all called for freedom from oppression and justice for the marginalized.
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It is also worth remembering that Christianity did not begin in Europe. The oldest Christian denomination is the Ethiopian Coptic Church, which predates the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions. Christianity in Africa is as ancient and authentic as anywhere else in the world. For more on this checkout the video of Pastor and civil rights attorney Rev. Augustus Corbett who brings receipts on this issue below...
Revolutionary Black Theology
Modern thinkers and theologians have further challenged the narrative of Christianity as mere subjugation. James Cone, often called the father of Black Liberation Theology, wrote Black Theology and Black Power and Black Theology of Liberation, reframing Christianity through the lens of Black struggle.
Cornel West, in Prophesy Deliverance! - an Afro American Revolutionary Christianity, traced six forms of Christianity in African American history—ranging from the spurious versions adopted by white supremacists to more radical, prophetic expressions that fueled freedom movements.
Today, voices like Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Rev. Stephen Green of Greater Allen Cathedral in Jamaica, NY, and Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III of Friendship-West Baptist Church continue this tradition, connecting faith to social justice, economic empowerment, and grassroots activism.
Resources for Further StudyFor those seeking to explore this legacy of liberating Christianity, here are a few recommended resources:
Black Religion and Black Radicalism by Dr. Gayraud Wilmore
Black Theology and Black Power & Black Theology of Liberation by James Cone
Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro-American Revolutionary Christianity by Cornel West
Sermons and writings by Rev. Stephen Green (GAC, Jamaica NY) and Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III (Friendship-West Baptist Church)
Works by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. on religion, race, and democracy
Final Word
All Black Christians are not naïve or apolitical. Many stand firmly in the prophetic, revolutionary tradition that has long defined Black faith. Rather than a monolithic tool of mental slavery, Christianity within the Black community has often been a wellspring of courage, defiance, and radical hope.
About Kamau Austin, is the award winning Publisher of the Black News Scoop, The Southeast Queens Scoop, and Scoop Publications, a division of AMS Digital Media. He is a long time activist, entrepreneur, podcaster, graduate of Christian Ministry program at New York Theological Seminary, former member of the Black Theology Project and author of 3 books.
Austin has also been featured in Black Enterprise, Fortune Magazine Small Business, CNN, radio, cable, and countless newspapers and blog sites.
Posted by community events coordinator, Nzinga Lonstein Austin, is a prolific blogger who writes on the entertainment industry and issues for people with developmental and physical challenges.She is presently in high school looking to have a career in video, film, and media. You can see more of her entertainment writing on Lonstein Movies.
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