A Tale of Two Religions; One Black, One White

By Minister Paul Scott <operationmedia@yahoo.com>, 26 September 2001

I remember Grandma walking around the house singing, Heav’n, Heav’n ev’ry body talkin’ ‘bout Heav’n ain’t going to Heav’n every time some white man had gotten her pressure up. She would always give a sarcastic grin as the final verse would pour from here lips in the form of a soulful hum. These protest statements, in the form of songs, have served as an inspiration for Black people since slavery. While it is easy to write these songs off as some tired ole ‘negro’ spirituals on closer examination, the songs are a reminder that our enslaved ancestors knew that the religion of the oppressor could never be the religion of the oppressed. This is very important for Afrikan people to remember during times of national turmoil when the descendents of the enslaved and the descendents of the enslavers are asked to stand side by side and sing Kumbya as they pray for the nation.

Although, some attempt to say that religion has no color and cuts across all socio-economic lines, those in the Black community know better. The European version of Christianity (commonly known as the white man’s religion) has been used to enslave and exploit Afrikan people since the first white missionary set foot on the shores of the Motherland. Our history is full of images of white men who saw no contradiction between hanging a Black man on Saturday night and singing in the church choir on Sunday morning.

While it is fairly easy to discuss the differences between the different spiritual belief systems whether it be Judaism, Christianity, Islam etc, it is problematic for some to discuss the theological differences within Christianity. While the terms Afrikan and Christianity (a Greek word) may be somewhat contradictory, we will put aside semantics in an attempt to make a point. Even though, all who follow Christianity claim to follow the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus Christ is again derived from Greek), the Christianity practiced by Black people (especially those of an Afrikan consciousness) and the religion practiced by Europeans are at polar opposites of the religious spectrum.

I have always wondered what happens when two people are praying to the same God and one prays for Him to be FREE from the shackles of oppression and the other prays for the ability to dominate and enslave all of the nonwhite people of the planet. To which prayer does God respond? Or, if one person is praying for PEACE and HARMONY and the other death and destruction, how can they possibly have the same concept of religion?

Black folks have always seen the Messiah as someone who is on the side of the poor and oppressed: the Prince of Peace. The European, on the other hand, has seen Him as the defender of colonialism, capitalism and all things white. Someone who will forgive all of their sins (slavery, murder, exploitation; etc) This is why they painted a man, who was obviously Black in their image. While the Afrikan understood the cross as a symbol that said can’t no grave hold my body down the European saw it as a sign by which they would conquer all of the nonwhite people of the planet.

Although, the European has so intertwined Christianity with white supremacy it is imperative that we as Afrikan people draw a line of demarcation between the Eurocentric version of Christianity and Afrikan Liberation Theology. The only religion that the European recognizes is the religion of European nationalism and all the symbols and customs that go along with it. We must realize that the TRUTH and a LIE cannot coexist as they are in eternal opposition to each other. The Black Messiah who will lead you to FREEDOM is in a battle with the White Jesus that will lead you back to the plantation. The two theologies cannot live side by side, one must conquer the other. We must choose one side or the other, we cannot be caught between two opinions

So as we pray, we must never loose sight of the struggles that Afrikan people faced yesterday, are facing today and unless we decide to make a change, will face tomorrow. It is by our FAITH that we have made it thus far and by our FAITH we will continue. As Afrikan people, our prayer is for FREEDOM, JUSTICE, HARMONY and Universal PEACE. We have always looked forward to the day that the Lion will lay down with the lamb and justice will roll down like a mighty stream. We look forward to the day when the world will be at peace while the European looks forward to the time when there will be no opposition to his rule. As it has been said by others before the white man’s Heaven is the Black man’s Hell.

Our ancestors would sing how nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen and how It’s been a long time coming, but a change is going to come. So hard times are nothing new for Black folks, as since slavery we have had to live under the constant threat of being persecuted by the forces of white supremacy. But through it all we learned to mourn, pray for strength and keep on moving towards FREEDOM.