What's going on with African Americans???

I'm an Aussie so I find this stuff difficult to understand. This is what I found in the section on "Race distribution" here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism

 

" Overall, U.S. Americans who profess no religion or self-identify as Atheist or Agnostic are more likely to be white non-Hispanic or Asian and less likely to be African American, as compared to the general adult population in U.S."

 

I can't understand how a race of people who's ancestors are forcibly taken from their native countries, enslaved, beaten and killed adopt their oppressors' religion more fervently than their oppressors! And when some do rebel, they choose a religion which is much, much worse - Islam.

 

Any African Americans care to explain? Or are there any Americans that would like to explain this phenomenon to a simple Aussie? 

 

Views: 3

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Park Bierbower on January 13, 2011 at 5:08pm

Its because when they were slaves, they were forced to accept christianity~ but as they started to earn their freedom, they took the few traditions they had, such as religion, to identify with~ almost like stockholm syndrome.  Its essentially taking what little you have, and shaping an identity around it.  Being one of the few things that they "had to themselves" they've held on to it when shaping their new, "free" identity.  This also pertains to "black" culture in the US, event the detrimental parts such as poverty, gun violence, sexism, and lyrical poetry that glorifies all of these things.

~ as far as converting to islam, it could be several factors.  It could be the "exoticism" of a foreign, monotheistic religion... But I see that as unlikely.  Its probably more the powerful rhetoric found in the koran, but I'll have to look into that further.

Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 13, 2011 at 6:12pm

"almost like stockholm syndrome" - yes, i think that can explain much.

 

as for Islam, it is a knee-jerk reaction to adopt a different religion and I guess you're right in that it would seem attractive because of its more powerful, even violent approach.

Permalink Reply by Adam Brown on January 13, 2011 at 9:01pm
Wrote this article recently on the subject: http://www.atheismresource.com/2011/white-male-face-atheism-change-... Lots of research and analysis. Hope this helps answer your question. If you like it, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/AtheismResource
Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 13, 2011 at 10:18pm
Thanks for that Adam. That article explains a lot. I think that the solutions are good ones but I think that another way to increase minority groups is with role models. Black/Hispanic/etc scientists and famous people that are atheists need to stand up and publicly announce their position. That way members of those groups will associate with those role models and use them as a reason to start thinking more about their beliefs and justify their coming out as atheists in their circle of friends and family.
Permalink Reply by Adam Brown on January 14, 2011 at 12:39am
Good point. I think Neil DeGrasse Tyson is that role model for young, black kids.
Permalink Reply by funk Q on January 14, 2011 at 1:02am

I see a rather ironic corollary to this demographic.

 

The African Americans have managed to endow the world with such a diverse range of musical styles stemming from their misfortune (too mild or lame?). They have given us hollers, work songs, gospel, blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B, soul, hip hop and, of course, funk. Fill in the missing and sub-genres yourself.

 

This music, which has influenced all the cultures of the planet (North Korea, maybe not), has been born from an unbroken timeline of supression and suffering for hundreds of years.

Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 17, 2011 at 2:13am
Hey, funk Q, I have to thank you for opening my eyes. I had this discussion with one of my daughters about a year ago. I told her about all the genres that the African Americans developed but I wasn't aware that rock 'n' roll was in this list. I've googled and learnt!
Permalink Reply by Carlton L. Winston on January 17, 2011 at 7:34pm

Speaking as an African American, I think it's because most of us have grown up in homes that are predominantly Christian and find solace in those beliefs. Very few of us tend to look deeper into the flaws that are ever so present in religion. I broke from this mold and couldn't be any happier.

 

Peace,

 

C.L. Winston

Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 18, 2011 at 4:57pm
So Carlton, did you find it difficult to firstly escape from religion and secondly tell those around you? What effect did it have on your relationships with family and friends?
Permalink Reply by Carlton L. Winston on January 18, 2011 at 5:11pm
It wasn't really that hard to escape religion because I had always questioned it even when I considered myself a Christian. As far as telling people around, I do have some friends who just don't care and just see me as the same person no matter what I believe. My other friends have tried to convert me in "subtle" ways by telling me what they've experienced through the magical sky pixie, but I just ignore all that. Relationships with people are also not really a problem. My parents are slowly accepting it, but my dad thinks it is a phase and sees it as some sort of disease; weird, right? Most of my friends just treat me normally and I haven't yet lost any friends.
Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 18, 2011 at 8:32pm
It's good to hear that most of your friends treat you well. From most of the coming
Permalink Reply by Vangelis Stamatopoulos on January 22, 2011 at 1:08am

Huh. My post seems to have been truncated. Damn!

 

I think what I was going to say was that most coming out stories I have read on these forums have resulted in friendships ending over this issue. I think it's silly and that religious adherence should not be a factor for selection of friends.

 

I have close friends that are Hindus, atheists, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim. I base my friendships on the person, not on the religion as true friends should. Sounds like your friends are the same too.

RSS

© 2013   Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service