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THE BLACK CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES:
IS IT DEAD OR ALIVE?
by
Heather Alexandra Hope
A Professional Project Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(BROADCAST JOURNALISM)
December 2011
Copyright 2011 Heather Alexandra Hope
Object Description
| Title | The black church in Los Angeles: is it dead or alive? |
| Author | Hope, Heather Alexandra |
| Author email | hhope@usc.edu;heatherahope@gmail.com |
| Degree | Master of Arts |
| Document type | Thesis |
| Degree program | Journalism (Broadcast Journalism) |
| School | Annenberg School for Communication |
| Date defended/completed | 2011-11-01 |
| Date submitted | 2011-11-21 |
| Date approved | 2011-11-21 |
| Restricted until | 2011-11-21 |
| Date published | 2011-11-21 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Winston, Diane H. |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Birman, Daniel H. Huey, Stanley J., Jr. |
| Abstract | The black church is a sacred institution that has been a pivotal part of American culture since its inception. In many communities, the church serves as more than a place for worship but as a community center, school, daycare facility, homeless shelter and a food pantry. Before black people were considered U.S. citizens, they were taught the basic principles of Christianity while in slavery. Many could not read the Bible and during church services with those of European descent, slaves were forced to be silent and sit in the balcony. The black church was born out of this void of religious expression that identified with the African American culture. ❧ It took on a different look in the 1960s, as the black church was set at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Popular preachers, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth led protests while church secretaries and choir members organized made signs and did sit-ins. The black church was synonymous with political activism and served as the dominant social and cultural hub for the African American community. ❧ In later years to present, as African Americans achieved more rights, gained better jobs, and moved out of predominately black neighborhoods, the black church’s role changed as well. It went from being at the focal point of the black community to just another part of it. More businesses were open on Sundays and technology offered social networking opportunities beyond the church grounds. In addition to a generational shift occurring, a geographical shift also took place. Many black churches moved to the suburbs, causing its members to commute while others remained in old neighborhoods that started to become crime infested. ❧ People familiar and unfamiliar with the black church questioned its relevancy. Recently, one professor at Princeton University, Eddie Glaude, Jr., wrote that the black church was dead in a Huffington Post article. This pronouncement sparked debate among various black clergy and scholars in religion. Glaude argued that although numerous African Americans still attend historically black churches, the black church’s political potency and social advocacy had waned and at a time when rates of unemployment, poverty, and incarceration skyrocketed for blacks. ❧ In Los Angeles, many black churches in the city battle those very issues and others not central to the traditional black church. The majority of historically black congregations are situated in largely Hispanic neighborhoods. A fourth of all black churchgoers in L.A. are members of one of five mega-churches. Hollywood has a heavy influence on aspects of the black church in L.A. as well as the temperate and sunny weather. ❧ This thesis documentary examines the state of the black church in L.A. as a political agent and service to the community. By conducting several on-camera interviews with pastors of prominent churches and experts in religion and African American history, the video shows churches addressing heartfelt needs and local epidemics. It also reveals some congregations’ struggle with maintaining traditional values and relevancy and questions the future existence of the black church in the multicultural city of Los Angeles. |
| Keyword | black church; Los Angeles; pastors; Eddie Glaude; debate; dead or alive; bishop noel jones; fred price; megachurch; community; outreach; service |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Hope, Heather Alexandra |
| Physical access | The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given. |
| Repository name | University of Southern California Digital Library |
| Repository address | USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume6/etd-HopeHeathe-426-2.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 1 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | THE BLACK CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES: IS IT DEAD OR ALIVE? by Heather Alexandra Hope A Professional Project Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS (BROADCAST JOURNALISM) December 2011 Copyright 2011 Heather Alexandra Hope |
