Essay 6 - A PDF

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This Essay was based on the reading assignment regarding the African Methodist Episcopal Church....

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Essay 6

The reading assignment was a rather interesting read. It   was   definitely   fascinating   to  know how difficult it was to actually break out of white churches and to set up the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I realize that prior to this reading, I have not really given the  origins of black churches much thought. This reading easily gave me a sense of gratitude for  these churches,   even   if I don’t   identifiy as Christian. What sort of surprised me though,   was how many black   people   were   actually   against   a  separate   denomination   from   white   people   and   the  literal creation   of   an   AME   church.   I expected   the   idea   to   be   opposed   by many whites   but   the   fact that Richard   Allen   was   faced   with   opposition   from   black   people   as   well,   definitely   gives   me   a new perspective and a deep appreciation for his efforts. It is evident that white control was vast  but I had   no idea   that   the   spiritual   life   of   black   people   was   affected   so   much   that   even   the mentioning of a separate denomination would   cause some black people to be completely  opposed to it. Simply reading the way   black people were treated in some of the white churches made me think   that   black people would be particularly eager to separate and form their own.   The  fact that   some   people   were   truly   against   it,   displays   to   me   that   many   possessed   a  white  i s r ight mentality that apparently transcended fair treatment. White control seemed to dominate every  aspect of   the lives of s ome b lack people. I find that it is always interesting to see   how   the same experiences or similar experiences, such   as slavery, created a plethora of different mentalities  within the   black   community.   With   some   black   people   basically   embracing   white   control,   other black people promoting separatism from white people or in complete opposition to white control, 

and then   others   living   with a  duality   of the two. ...