Essay On Churches In The Civil Rights Movement

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Civil Rights Church Involvement African American churches greatly relied on churches during the Civil Rights movement for many reasons, the number one being that the church was their society as they were not granted access to the white society. The church was extremely important because of segregation from whites depriving blacks so much of their society and throughout history, black churches had more than just worship going on, it was a community within itself, a court for the people helping to solve issues, a group of support, and specifically political activism. This activism was greatly shown in the Civil Rights Movement during the fifties and sixties. Churches provided many minister leaders who would aid in this peaceful fight for equality, …show more content…

Their communities began to have churches while slavery was going on. Their churches continued to pray and sing the same way, with soul that could be traced their ancestors who were chained and forced into labor by horrid men who beat them every chance given. Due to the absolute depression their lives were because of the gruesome life they led they turned to their Almighty God for help and hope in the darkest moments. Within these churches great leaders were born and raised who would fight even to their deaths until their people held the same rights as those given to the whites, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being one of them. Churches during the Civil Rights Movement had so much to do with the how everything played out as the “spirit” of the church kept them going, at this point it was not even about religion, it was the hope that held so many hearts captive and faithful that one day things would change and equality would be shouted off of every rooftop and mountain side in the nation. Many of the Civil Rights leaders preached freedom with the gospel right off of the pulpit, encouraging the entire congregation with words of hope in those times of desperation. The church basically ran the Movement, if noticed African Americans only did “peaceful protesting” because as Christians they were encouraged not to engage in physical harm to others. Violence was highly discouraged within