Over time, I have seen various black-oriented social media handles, articles on the internet, or even heard some black folks of mine speak ill about religion. Their anger always stems from the fact that religion was used to exploit and impoverish blacks. It also was a tool that was used to encourage slavery, racism and hate crimes.
To be frank, this view is justified. Having occured more than three centuries back, slavery still brings deep, emotional pains to the mind of every black man. No amount of reparation, or apology can take away the ugly experience which our ancestors have faced, and seeing as we are past the period of retaliation, we turn our anger to one of the tools that was used to put us in this position in the first place.
Religion was one of the reasons why most European ‘merchants’ came to Africa; to ‘enlighten’ us and show us the true path. However, this was nothing but a ploy to rid the continent of her natural resources (human inclusive), install their own favourable leaders (colonialism), and still continuing to interfere in our internal affairs (neo colonialism), despite us being independent.
Just like Kenyatta said’ “When the white man came, we had the land and he had the bible. But he told us to close our eyes to pray, and by the time we opened our eyes, he had the land, and we had the bible. So yes, the anger is justifiable. The need to do away with the beliefs of the ‘white man’ has become one of the ways to restrore the pride and identity of the black man.
However, this ‘anger’ has grown soft or has almost completely disappeared in the minds of most black men. Despite the outrage, blacks are, arguably, the most religious people in the world. In Africa, the percentage of religious persons, outnumber those of the atheists or African Traditional Religion (A.T.R) worshippers. There are more churches than business establishments, schools or hospitals.
More persons would have a better chances of securing jobs, admission into institutes, access to basic amenities, and so on, if they are affiliated with a particular religion. This may not be the fate of the black man in the U.S or in any other State, but considering the fact that Africa is the home of the black man, this is the burden of the black man any where, and everywhere.
So the big question is, How should the black act towards religion? The same religion that had practically thrown him into turmoil, has turned out to be one of the very tools for his survival. What should he do, at this point?
If you buy a fruit, say like an apple and you find out that part of the apple appears to be spoilt, but the other half is completely good, the logical thing to do is to cut out the affected part, and enjoy the rest of the fruit. This should be the action of the black man.
Despite the fact that religion was used as a tool that brought him pain and took away his joy, most teachings of religion can help him live a rather peaceful and fulfilled life. The Bible, for instance, contains an array of messages and teachings which if practised, can help shape the life of the black man for good. The same goes with the Quran; and other religious books.
Religion might have been used to pull us down, but its teachings can help us to be better people than we are. There are lots of crimes out there, lots of ill-behaviours which are harmful to the existence of our race; embracing the teachings of religion can help us remarkably.
