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The black church in Los Angeles: is it dead or alive?

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The black church in Los Angeles: is it dead or alive?

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Content 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 ii Dedication I dedicate this project to God for giving me the strength, mindset and ability to do it and finish it. A special thanks goes to my very understanding Thesis Committee for working so patiently with me and never giving up on me. Thanks to my Chair, Dr. Diane Winston, for all the profound religion expertise, points and ideas. You put me in contact with some very influential people, kept tabs on me and really pushed me to think beyond the average with this project. I appreciate Dan Birman for being the exemplary documentarian that he is by giving me succinct notes and shaping my very broad ideas into concrete concepts that could be woven beautifully in film. You helped me see the bigger picture, literally, taught me how to work a big HD camera and gave me great storytelling techniques. Thanks so much to Dr. Stanley Huey for signing on to my project in the nick of the time. Your work and extensive knowledge in American studies and ethnicity brought even greater depth to my thesis, so I am glad to have met you. A big thanks goes to my sister Bianca for accompanying me on my many interviews, driving long hours to various churches, sitting through multiple services, and for letting me stay with you post-graduation. Also, thanks to my friend Eric at USC for helping me out on a lot of interviews near and far by carrying my camera equipment and putting the microphone on my subjects. You guys were such a tremendous blessing and waited patiently as I did hour-long interviews. And thanks for standing up with me as a first-time visitor at all those churches! I extend my gratitude to my supportive family for helping get through this massive endeavor. Your prayers, thoughts and resources meant more to me than you know. Thanks mom for being a fan of my project though telling me to “not get too deep with it.” Thanks to my sister Ashley for checking up on all my pastor interviews and being excited about my work. iii I would like to recognize my aunt, Dr. Mary Johnson, in Ohio for sending me virtually every book known to man on the black church. They came in handy. A special thanks goes to my Uncle Julius for being a vital part of my project. I appreciate you making yourself available and for putting me in touch with so many of your pastor friends. The ultimate thanks goes to every pastor, minister, professor, researcher and churchgoer in the greater Los Angeles area who I interviewed or talked to for this thesis. Your work, life and help made it all possible. Thanks again to everyone! Continue to keep HOPE alive! iv Table of Contents Dedication ii Abstract v The Black Church in Los Angeles: Dead or Alive? 1 Bibliography 18 v 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 vi 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. 1 The Black Church in Los Angeles: Dead or Alive? Choir singing (7 sec.) “..It’s me O Lord standing in the need of prayer…” VO NARRATOR show church choir singing still show Pastor Epps preaching from the pulpit show food pantry at Grace United Methodist church show a group seated in church You may recognize it from the music…. Its message…. The mission… Or its makeup …. The Black Church: Born in slavery, weaned in segregation and raised in struggle. VO NARRATOR show First A.M.E. , 2 nd Baptist church, the Faithdome and Grace United Methodist 1 LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS HOME TO MORE THAN 243 HISTORICALLY BLACK PROTESTANT CHURCHES – SOME DATING BACK TO THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. VO NARRATOR Show Epps walking outside of 2 nd Baptist WILLIAM EPPS PASTORS SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES. IT’S A PRIMARILY BLACK CONGREGATION IN A NOW, LARGELY LATINO COMMUNITY. ((SOT)) William Epps, Pastor, Second Baptist Church Show Pastor Epps, The 2 nd Baptist Church, footage of Central Avenue 46:56- This is a historic church, organized in 1885, we’ve been in this community for 85 years. When this church was built in this community in 1926, this was the hub of the African American community. Central Ave, right down the street from us is where night life took place and this has become a transitional Hispanic community yet we do ministry here, so that’s a challenge. 2 VO NARRATOR Show 2 nd Baptist church wide shot, Picture of MLK at the church HE SAYS THEIR CHURCH IS LANDLOCKED IN LOS ANGELES, MEANING THEY CAN’T JUST PICK UP AND MOVE BECAUSE THEY’VE INVESTED SO MUCH IN THE PROPERTY. THE CHURCH BUILDING IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC MONUMENT. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING MADE IT HIS WEST COAST PULPIT DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. VO NARRATOR Show Pastor Epps at the pulpit preaching Show people in Epps’ church sitting and listening during the service EPPS DESCRIBES HIS CHURCH AS LIBERAL POLITICALLY YET CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUSLY. HIS SERMONS INCLUDE THEMES OF BLACK EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. VO NARRATOR Show church attendees at 2 nd Baptist sitting in the pews A MESSAGE THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THE PEWS WHILE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WALLS, A DEBATE TAKES PLACE OVER WHETHER THE BLACK CHURCH OVERALL IS DEAD. ((SOT)) Julius C. Hope, NAACP Director of Religious Affairs Show church balcony and pan of sanctuary 39:12- That’s a phrase that we have to look at very closely because there’s no such thing as the black church. It’s the church of Jesus Christ. We somehow say the black church because we identify with the black church because of segregation. We used to be in the balcony, now we’re all over the church. ((SOT)) Darnise Martin, Professor of African American Studies, Loyola Marymont University 59:36 This thing called the black church that suggests we’re monolithic, we’re the same, all black people are doing the same thing religiously. Well, we’re really not. ((SOT)) Darnise Martin, Professor of African American Studies, Loyola Marymont University Show shots of various churches, worship styles and people Show historical photos of blacks during slavery and a black church then 59:51- We end up with this thing the black church because we have this historical tradition in America of African people coming here and becoming Christians through a long process of enslavement and reformulating that Christianity into a freedom focused African American folk religion. 59:42- So we’ve seen the black church develop around that idea that this group of African Americans has a certain need here, and the church has to perform a number of roles not just the salvific, the after-life. 3 VO NARRATOR Show the inside of a church service AND IT’S THE ROLE OF THE BLACK CHURCH THAT’S IN QUESTION BY SOME RELIGION SCHOLARS. ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, Professor of Religion, Fuller Theological Seminary 11:12- Dr. Eddie Glaude announced that the black church is dead. VO NARRATOR Show outside FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY and then inside of the Pastors Brunch Show image of the Huffington Post article and picture of Eddie Glaude AT A PASTOR’S BRUNCH IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, PREACHERS AND PROFESSORS OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA MET UP TO WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF THE BLACK CHURCH. THE CONVERSATION WAS SPARKED BY AN ARTICLE IN THE HUFFINGTON POST LAST YEAR BY PRINCETON PROFESSOR EDDIE GLAUDE JR., PROCLAIMING THE BLACK CHURCH’S DEATH. ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, Professor of Religion, Fuller Theological Seminary Show him speaking at podium at the event 26:58- The question Glaude is raising is as African Americans still experience all forms of discrimination and disparity, how are we going to speak, how are we going to act? What is going to be our proactive response? ((SOT)) Carolyn Gordon, Professor of Communication, Fuller Theological Seminary Show her speaking to the crowd 45:22- The question is Why are you asking and who are you asking for? One problem I find as the black church, as was so eloquently put is that we’ve got to decide who we are. The problem is we are very busy letting other people tell us who we are. We have to ask ourselves who is actually setting the agenda for the black church? VO NARRATOR Show choir members walking down the aisle of Grace United church. A GALLUP POLL IN 2010 SAID BLACKS WERE MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND CHURCH THAN ANY OTHER RACE IN THE U.S. VO NARRATOR Show church members hand in hand singing at Christ Our Redeemer Church. Show each of the churches listed. End with 2 BUT IN LOS ANGELES, NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF ALL BLACK CHURCHGOERS ARE MEMBERS OF JUST FIVE CHURCHES— CRENSHAW CHRISTIAN CENTER, FAITHFUL CENTRAL BIBLE CHURCH, WEST ANGELES CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, FIRST AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL AND THE CITY OF REFUGE – EACH 4 showing a crowd of folks at the City of Refuge BRINGS IN CLOSE TO FIVE TO TEN THOUSAND CONGREGANTS A WEEK. ((SOT)) Richard Flory, Research Director, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture In the black comm. the church has been historically, a center of the community and does certain sorts of things that the church in the white comm. Just doesn’t do, and some of that is about cultural differences between Af am comm. And in the way that that comm. Has developed over time and that way that whites as the dominant race and power in the US have dev over time, slightly different. VO NARRATOR THOUGH NATIONALLY, THE BLACK CHURCH COULD APPEAR TO BE IN A SLUMP, HERE IN LA, CHUCHES ARE DOING A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO STAY ALIVE AND WELL. ((SOT)) Fred Price, Jr., Pastor, Crenshaw Christian Center Show Price at his desk with assistant reviewing some paperwork Show Price on-camera interview My name is Fred Price Jr. Pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center… 44:52- We meet the needs of our community to the best of our ability with the resources we have available to us. VO NARRATOR Show the front of Crenshaw Christian Center Show Faithdome and the sign for it PASTOR PRICE’S MEGACHURCH, OR CHURCH HAVING TWO THOUSAND OR MORE AVERAGE ATTENDEES, RESIDES ON THE OLD CAMPUS OF PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. IT’S HOME TO THE ICONIC FAITHDOME WHERE THEY HOLD TELEVISED WORSHIP SERVICES. VO NARRATOR Show inside of the church with Price preaching Show outside of the church a mother with young child FROM THE PULPIT, PRICE TEACHES A MESSAGE OF PROSPERITY AND SAYS THE CHURCH IS NEITHER CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL – JUST BIBLICAL. THE MAIN ISSUES HE SEES FACING THE BLACK CHURCH ARE FATHERLESSNESS, POVERTY AND HOMOSEXUALITY. 5 ((SOT)) Fred Price, Jr., Pastor, Crenshaw Christian Center 8:12 Now, I could be perceived as archaic, a fundamentalist and traditional in my views on it but…we have to love people, but loving does not mean tolerate how they want to live..if how they want to live goes contrary to what the scripture says. VO NARRATOR Show mentoring group with police officer talking to folks. Close-up of one of the mentor groups. Show parents in the class and hear sound from instructor leading the class CRENSHAW CHRISTIAN CENTER HOSTS PROJECT ACCOUNTABILITY, A MENTORING PROGRAM TO HELP KEEP YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS OUT OF TROUBLE. SO WHILE THE KIDS MEET UP MENTORS, THEIR MOMS AND DADS GO TO A PARENTING CLASS. VO NARRATOR Show front of Grace Church then Rev. Hill greeting people at the door JUST FOUR MILES AWAY FROM THE FAITHDOME, REVEREND PAUL HILL OF GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HELPS THOSE IN HIS COMMUNITY WHO NEED IT MOST. ((SOT)) Paul Hill, Pastor, Grace United Methodist Church Show church workers boxing food while line of people outside grows 1:21:00- We have a pantry that we provide food, and we also provide some financial support for persons who are unemployed or whose living wage is not adequate to meet all their needs. VO NARRATOR Show people outside the Church waiting to receive boxes of food. Show people seated at the Church’s AIDS Health Seminar 3 WITH 14 MILLION AMERICANS OUT OF WORK, 16.7 PERCENT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN – THE HIGHEST OF ANY ETHNIC GROUP. IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED. 4 AFRICAN AMERICANS ALSO ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF THE U.S. POPULATION LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS. 6 ((SOT)) Paul Hill, Pastor, Grace United Methodist Show older church members at the AIDS/HIV event and Signs for the HIV testing Show the panel of Health speakers and people living with AIDS talking 1:24:00- We’ve become aware that the numbers of seniors, people fifty years of age and over, who are becoming infected is greatly increasing, so we thought it was very important to be intentional about developing a training time that’s specifically earmarked for empowering, informing, enlightening people fifty plus years of age and older ((SOT)) William Epps, Pastor He gives a walking tour of the buildings 21:45- They’re Garden Apartments as you can see, at the corner we have Kilgore Manor. It’s another 52 units. VO NARRATOR He points out one apartment WILLIAM EPPS IS WORKING TO SOLVE HOUSING CRISIS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. ((SOT)) William Epps, Pastor Show him talking about Kilgore Manor then pan of apartment building Kilgore Manor was erected in 1992, it's named for the 7th pastor of the church, Dr. Thomas Kilgore, and these are 52 units of low-income senior and handicap housing. VO NARRATOR Show people walking outside on different streets surrounding the church. Show a house with a hoarded front porch, then kids coming down it steps. 5 HIS CHURCH COMMISSIONED A REPORT LAST YEAR FROM USC’S CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION. HE LEARNED THAT MANY IN THE AREA ARE LIVING WELL BELOW THE POVERTY LINE IN OVERCROWDED HOMES AVERAGING CLOSE TO 6 PEOPLE PER HOUSE. ((SOT)) William Epps, Pastor, Second Baptist Church 23:43- We do this in order to provide affordable housing for people, otherwise they may not have the affordable housing that they need, so that they can have a decent place to live. VO NARRATOR Show outside of Fuller then inside office AT FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, DR. RALPH WATKINS STUDIES THE GROWTH OF THE BLACK CHURCH. 7 ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, Professor of Religion, Fuller Theological Seminary Show Watkins at desk on the computer Show Rev. Cecil Murray on an old NBC clip with Arsenio Hall speak about helping the homeless Pictures of Murray preaching at rallies 21:10- I think there are areas where the church is thriving and doing well. We have areas where the church is suffering and I think Eddie Glaude’s pronouncement of death is accurate in some ways. :25- I think Eddie Glaude’s key issue is that the African American church has lost its prophetic edge. The voice of a Rev. Cecil chip Murray he was the prophet of our day. He was the one leading a movement in the city. The voice of a Chip Murray no longer exists in the city of Los Angeles. ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, Professor of Religion, Fuller Theological Seminary Watkins on camera Show shots of LA schools and teachers, a boy being mentored, man in library, kids at park and in a recreational facility, LAPD officer walking by police car So I think in many ways our churches have become points where politicians pass through to wave to be prayed for and to receive votes. 26:01- What we don’t see from our pulpit are these radical voices asking crying for change, I mean when have you seen in the city of LA a pastor leading a much about anything? We’re closing schools, we’re laying off teachers, we’re cutting back social services, we’re cutting libraries, we’re closing parks, we’re closing rec centers, we’re increasing our prison population. What pastor have you heard on the news saying, ‘Hey this is an issue?’ ((SOT)) Noel Jones, Pastor, City of Refuge Show outside of the City of Refuge with people walking in the church. Cut away shot to Jones talking to church staff 11:44- What I say is that just leading causes is not the real answer today. 12:10 Because today everybody’s got a cause and after civil rights, the whole thing got muddied. We went from civil rights to women’s rights to gay rights, and now, everybody’s got rights. And to just go up and march up and down the street is really a lesson in futility. VO NARRATOR 6 BISHOP NOEL JONES PASTORS CITY OF REFUGE IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA – ONE OF 8 Show the front of City of Refuge, parking lot full, show the sign. More people walking into church, Show inside sanctuary with Noel Jones preaching at the pulpit and on the church‘s big video screens. THE LARGEST CONGREGATIONS IN THE AREA. WITH ITS UNITED JOBS CREATION COUNCIL, THE CHURCH GAVE 4,000 EX-OFFENDERS JOBS. ON A TYPICAL SUNDAY MORNING, JONES PREACHES ABOUT HOPE AND OVERCOMING STRUGGLES. HE FEELS THE BLACK CHURCH’S BIGGEST ISSUE IS TRYING TO TAKE ON TOO MANY ROLES INSTEAD OF JUST BEING A CHURCH. ((SOT)) Noel Jones, Pastor, City of Refuge Show woman walking down church aisle with her two little daughters 09:50- It can only partner because our message has to be spiritual. We can’t go to Detroit and take on the school system that has fallen apart because of a lack of finances. We can’t do that. 10:05- What we need to do is deal with primarily, young people, families because what’s central to an upstanding community is family. (SOT) Cecil Murray, USC School of Religion professor Show Murray at desk going through papers, Picture of him as “The Godfather” “I’m Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, I’m in my 5 th year of service at USC. They brought me on board when I retired with the African Methodist Episcopal system (SOT) Cecil Murray Murray on camera Picture of Murray with LA City Councilman Bernard Parks 1:45:32- Sometimes the Black church is saying we don’t want to get too political here. Well, you can‘t be in a political environment without being involved. There is separation of church and state but the separation does not mean a divorce. VO NARRATOR Shots of Rev. Mark Whitlock pictured with Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and President Barack Obama Show Martin in her office POLITICS AND THE PULPIT HAVE OFTEN GONE HAND IN HAND. DR. DARNISE MARTIN OF LOYOLA MARYMONT UNIVERSITY SAYS FINDING THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BLACK CHURCH AND THE GOVERNMENT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO DO THESE DAYS. 9 ((SOT)) Darnise Martin, Professor of African American Studies, Loyola Marymont University Show inside a church with people walking by Obama picture on the wall, Hands of a pastor during offering time accepting money 35:44 While you might not see a minister walking down the street protesting against something anymore, what you do read a about or see on the news is ministers who are invited to the white house. There are political alliances being made. 37:15- I tend to think that there’s still a strong political and religious bond it just doesn’t look the same way it did during the civil rights movement VO NARRATOR Wide shot of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, then show girl dancing down the church aisle, Choir singing: “Hold on just a little while longer…” Members acting in the play as slaves HERE AT MOUNT MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH, MEMBERS PUT ON THEIR ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY PLAY. SINGING OLD SPIRITIUALS AND REENACTING THE HARDSHIPS THAT SLAVES ONCE FACED IS HOW THE CHURCH CONNECTS BOTH YOUNG AND OLD WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. VO NARRATOR Show saxophone player doing a solo, Pastor Wade at the pulpit Little kids sitting in the pews IT’S THAT CONNECTION TO THE CHURCH AS THE CENTRAL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HUB IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT PASTOR MELVIN WADE SAYS COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE U.S. LACK BECAUSE OF A GENERATIONAL SHIFT. ((SOT)) Melvin Wade Wade on camera Cut away to a side shot of the church with young people walking in front of it 55:35- we’ve got so much they used to didn’t have back in the day when I was young. See on Sundays, stores were closed all over town, you couldn’t go to the mall. There was nothing. 56:01- See, the church didn’t have a lot to compete with years ago but now, we have so much. Sunday Brunch now, is becoming the real issue….watching the football games… getting on the tailgate parties.. 10 VO NARRATOR Show outside of church with people walking AND THE OTHER ISSUE, HE SAYS, IS GEOGRAPHICAL, WHERE THE ONCE EASY-TO- WALK-TO COMMUNITY CHURCH IS NOW, A FAR AWAY COMMUTER CHURCH. ((SOT)) Melvin Wade Show area down the street from Wade’s church with people walking and cars driving Wade on camera Show Map of location distances 16:59 So you don’t have a lot of neighborhood churches anymore 17:43 Simply because the people were just around the corner. 17:09 so with all of that, it’s a real effort trying to get people to come. 17:20 We do have people who come from Temecula, from Riverside, from Rancho Cucamonga, from Palmdale ((SOT)) Najuma Smith-Pollard announcing during quilt auction 45:02- Going once, going twice…Sold! VO NARRATOR Show woman walking up to claim her quilt and other church members shouting out bids for the next quilt PASTOR NAJUMA SMITH-POLLARD OF ST. JAMES A.M.E. HELD A QUILT SALE AFTER CHURCH SERVICE. EACH QUILT HAD ARTWORK THAT TOLD A STORY OF EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. ((SOT)) Najuma Smith-Pollard, Pastor Show Smith-Pollard explaining the meaning of one quilt’s design 55:08- And the shoe fly symbol let them know that there was either s conductor in the area or a place or safe haven for them to reside. And since this is our last one, we’re going to start the bid at $20. VO NARRATOR Show St. James AME sign in front with Najuma’s name on the marquis 7 SMITH-POLLARD IS ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF FEMALE PASTORS IN LOS ANGELES. 11 (SOT) Najuma Smith-Pollard Show Smith-Pollard standing up in her office getting a picture and then going through a newspaper 44:49- I see my role like any other preacher’s role, which is to minister to the communities spiritually as well as practically. 45:00- being an individual who gives hope to others who want to engage in ministry or who want to seek leadership roles knowing that it can be done. It can be done successfully, and it can be done successfully as a woman. VO NARRATOR Show inside Smith-Pollard’s church, shot of the pews with people up dancing and a woman playing tambourine. Woman preacher at the pulpit WOMEN MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF MOST BLACK CONGREGATIONS. RESEARCHERS SAY THE BLACK CHURCH HAS COME A LONG BY ALLOWING MORE WOMEN BEHIND THE PULPIT BUT STILL LAGS A BIT WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN REFLECTED IN LEADERSHIP OVERALL. ((SOT)) Darnise Martin, Professor Show female usher in the aisle directing people were to sit. Some ladies walk in Martin on camera Show female clergy member seated up front clapping her hands 12:30- There is a pushing from the fact that there’s so many women, who have always been the back bone of the black church :42- We are just not going to be the ones who are the office secretary anymore, and you know, picking up pastor’s clothes from the dry cleaner. We’re probably very close to seeing a woman in the White House, then we cannot continue to have this religious narrative that says that women have to be silent. (SOT) Rev. Stacy Evans, Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church Show her preaching at Smith-Pollard’s church ..If you’re not going forward, you are indeed moving backwards, Amen. 12 ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, professor at Fuller Watkins on camera 11:46- You can just look at the sheer numbers, I would still argue that the black church is one of if not the most sexist institution in the country. I think we still give privilege to men. We still discriminate women based on the sake of gender. A woman can out-preach you. Out-think you, out-lead you, but she will not get the appointment that an African American male will get. VO NARRATOR Show front of COR, Christ Our Redeemer Church outside. Mark Whitlock speaking to someone and then walking down the aisle. Close up of event flyer AT CHRIST OUR REDEEMER AME, REV. MARK WHITLOCK HOSTED AN ANNUAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. HE ADDRESSED HOW ONE WOMAN TOLD HIM SHE WASN’T TOO PLEASED WITH THIS YEAR’S MAJORITY MALE SPEAKER LINEUP AS IT WAS PRINTED ON THE FLYER. ((SOT)) Mark Whitlock, Pastor, Christ Our Redeemer A.M.E. Show Whitlock addressing the crowd while holding up the event’s program book. He waves it, then stares at book Cut away shot to wide angle of church sanctuary to see the full room 11:02- She said you have Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you have all of them at the top of the list, and then look at Mary and Martha. (crowd laughs) She said Reverend, isn’t it about time we change the paradigm a little bit? (claps) I had to really deal with that as if we have really changed. VO NARRATOR AND CHANGE IS A CENTRAL THEME AT WHITLOCK’S CHURCH. ((SOT)) Mark Whitlock, Pastor, Christ Our Redeemer A.M.E. 08:11:25 Our church is progressive why because the average age of our church is 25, but the average congregant is about 55 to 60 in most churches particularly African American churches 13 VO NARRATOR Show youth choir singing and dancing HERE, CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP MUSIC IS PLAYED AND TECHNOLOGY IS FULLY ENGAGED. ((SOT)) Mark Whitlock, COR church pastor Show Whitlock on the screen preaching during one of his church services Whitlock on camera Show church’s Facebook, Web site 08:08:41- We're a bunch of Technocrats. We use a database where we email people on a regular basis. we have our own Facebook page. We also stream our worship service and we do pod casting 09:25:01- We try our best to hit every opportunity to communicate with people. ((SOT)) Fred Price, Faithdome pastor Show pastor price on laptop while his assistant holds up her phone Show Price’s church website with him holding a bible His church’s Twitter page 45:46- I’m all about technology 46:20- I no longer use the bible I use my iPad, and it’s amazing how many ppl in the congregation are using some form of tech whether it be their laptop, their cell phone or whatever it is to follow along as I’m teaching. ((SOT)) William Epps, 2 nd Baptist Pastor Show the outside of Epps’ church Epps on camera ((SOT)) William Epps, 2 nd Baptist Pastor 5:45 So for the traditional churches, particularly a church like this one has a pipe organ or had a pipe organ and did sacred music, anthems and hymns and if you go to churches today, you don’t get that 6:02 so it’s a challenge to introduce music to a bygone era to a contemporary society that’s tweeting and texting and wants to see everything on a screen. 6:27 so what you find lost would be the oratory that used to go along with the black church. 7:06 there’s some of us who might be locked in a time warp, but I believe 7:30 there will always be an interest with people standing up with language 14 commanding attention, and painting pictures that are etched in people’s imagination that leave a distilled essence in their spirit that causes them to say yeah. VO NARRATOR WHILE MANY BLACK CHURCHES WORK TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY, OTHERS MAKE THE MOVE TO BECOME MORE MULTICULTURAL. ((SOT)) Mark Whitlock, Pastor COR church Whitlock in office with two women at his desk Show a range of churches outside Whitlock on camera 54:18 I think the movement for the 21st century is to desegregate churches 07:53:50 Martin Luther King said, "The most segregated day of the week is on Sunday" 54:10 where you got a Black church, you got a white church, you got an Asian church, you got a Latino church, well i don't think God meant that I think Heaven is fully integrated. ((SOT)) Noel Jones, Pastor, City of Refuge 22:11 we take our tapes we translate them into Spanish, what we do is we do our books into Spanish, what we do is we have Spanish pastors to come and have services in our building when we’re not using it :26 and that helps us to bridge the gap ((SOT)) Mark Whitlock, Pastor COR church Whitlock on camera Cut away to footage of Joel Osteen’s Megachurch in Texas 28:42- The church must come to realize that major churches like Joel Osteen and others are very multiracial, ethnic plurality. So the Black church must move in that direction. We've preached the liberation theology message for a long time, nothing wrong with that, I'm with that, but at the same time, everybody needs liberation, so it's not a race issue as much as it is a human issue. 15 VO NARRATOR BUT SOME RESEARCHERS THINK MANY BLACK CHURCHES ARE MISSING THE MAIN IDEA OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MULTICULTURAL. ((SOT)) Carolyn Gordon, Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary Show outside of Fuller University Club then inside to Carolyn speaking at the Pastor’s brunch Show a group of male church leaders kneeling to take communion Show two older women sitting in the choir stands Carolyn speaking 3:25- A lot of times when churches try to become diversified, they’re really not trying to be diversified, they’re just really trying to have people that don’t look like them to do the same things that they do. 3:39- So you have a leadership that’s pretty much all the same, all male or whatever color. Then you have positions of non-power, and then you have the people and they all have to come and be like you. 3:51- if you want to diversify and you’re going to reach Caucasians and Latinas and Koreans and Chinese, you got to have some Chinese ministry up in there, and that doesn’t always look black. VO NARRATOR Show people in Los Angeles then focus on a Black church LOS ANGELES STANDS AS A MULTICULTURAL CAPITAL FOR THE NATION ACCORDING TO NEW CENSUS DATA. SO AS DIVERSITY CONTINUES TO SOAR IN LA, WHAT WILL THE FUTURE OF THE BLACK CHURCH LOOK LIKE? ((SOT)) Najuma Smith-Pollard, Pastor 00:18 the black church much like the Anglo church much like any other church, doesn’t have a choice to be more multicultural :31 because the demographics themselves are changing, we don’t have a choice, but to embrace the change, really, not only embrace it, but invite it in. 1:05 Because the truth is, we have a little bit of everything in our families anyway 16 ((SOT)) William Epps, 2 nd Baptist Pastor Inside 2 nd Baptist, Epps standing, flipping through pages of his neighborhood study. Epps on camera 58:16- I think the church is the best entity that God ever created, black, white, blue, green, yellow, polka dot or peppermint stripe. 55:19 I would not say you would ever see the extinction of the black church 57:18 I think there are a variety of models that we will see emerging in the future, but in terms of ethnic groups just becoming so homogenous that you lose your identity, I don’t think that will take place :32 and I don’t think that would be a good thing anyway because then what you’re doing is throwing out your history. VO NARRATOR Show wide interior shot of a church service, Grace United’s food pantry, Homeless man on Adams Boulevard THE STATE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN L-A SHOWS THAT MANY CHURCHES ARE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT MANY STILL HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM. ((SOT)) Fred Price, Faithdome pastor Show outside kids walking into his church’s Community Outreach center 22:50- Let’s just say South Los Angeles churches got together what if we pulled some resources together and eliminated poverty between Florence and Manchester on Vermont? I believe we could definitely do those things. ((SOT)) Ralph Watkins, professor Watkins on camera Cut away to extreme close up of “Dead or Alive” sign from Pastor’s brunch 38:41- When the black church wrestles with this very question: Are we dead or Alive, it at least allows us to have a conversation. :57- I think the black church much look in the mirror and say who are we. Have we, have we taken care of the legacy we inherited? VO NARRATOR Side shot of empty church parking lot A AN ND D I IS S T TH HE E B BL LA AC CK K C CH HU UR RC CH H I IN N L LA A D DE EA AD D? ? 17 ((SOT)) Julius Hope, NAACP Religious Director Show him on camera Cut away shot to a bible Show man in sad position waiting in the food pantry line 11:02- It might be on life support, but it’s not dead. It will never die. Because I believe what the Bible says, “Upon this rock, I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it..” :19- This economy and all that kind of thing going on…the church has been in worse shape than this. The communities have been in worse shape than this, but God brought us back. ((SOT)) Cecil Murray, former pastor, USC Show a woman and child cross the street near a church, Close-up of boy in church pews, shot of Choir singing, Close-up of 2 nd Baptist cross at the top church, Whitlock shaking a man’s hand, Murray on camera extending hands out 21:49- Where do we go from here? And wherever we’re going it’s beyond people in pews, in your choir. It’s beyond your denomination. It’s beyond your payroll or your budget. It is reaching out, for if we fail to reach out, we fail period. (Natural Sound) Show Epps talking to a lady outside in car 15:57- "I’ll look to see you this week ok?" The lady says, ok ((SOT)) William Epps, 2 nd Baptist Pastor Show a black church with people standing in front of it. Show church doors opened with a family walking in together 33:12- Travel around on a Sunday morning to any black church and see if the doors are closed and if the sign has been hung up that says: “Gone out of business because we died.” I think that it can speak for itself. (Natural Sound) 2 nd Baptist Choir director motions the end of the song (piano plays softly) Time duration: 18:31 18 Bibliography 6 "Bishop Noel Jones on Jobs the City of Refuge Provides." Personal interview. 31 Mar. 2011. Bridges, Leander. Building the Black Church: 7 Curses Facing the Black Church. Mustang, OK: Tate Pub & Enterprises, LLC, 2010. Print. Crouch, William H., and Joel C. Gregory. What We Love about the Black Church: Can We Get a Witness? Valley Forge, PA: Judson, 2010. Print. 1 "Demographic Reports of United States 1790 to Present." Social Explorer. Data Collected by InfoGroup, Organized by the ARDA, 2009. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. <http://www.socialexplorer.com/pub/ReportData/htmlresults.aspx?ReportId=R100442 91>. 7 "Dr. Ralph Watkins speaks on female leadership in the Black Church." Personal interview. 28 Jan. 2011. Gibbs, Adrienne Samuels. "Shifting Faith." Ebony Apr. 2011: 97-100. Print. 4 HIV among African Americans. Rep. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 9 Sept. 2010. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/>. 5 Terriquez, Veronica, and Vanessa Carter. “Celebrating the Legacy, Embracing the Future: A Neighborhood Study for the Second Baptist Church. Publication. Los Angeles: Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration at the University of Southern California, 2010. Sept. 2010. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://csii.usc.edu/documents/2nd_Bapt_Report_web.pdf>. 8 United States of America. Census Bureau. State & County QuickFacts. Los Angeles, California. Population Estimates, American Community Survey, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0644000.html>. 3 United States of America. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Situation Summary. Division of Current Employment Statistics, 7 Oct. 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm>. 2 Walker, Daniel E. The Black Church Next: Challenges and Opportunities Facing African American Congregations in 21st Century Los Angeles. Publication. Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California, 29 June 2011. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <http://crcc.usc.edu/docs/NEXTPTMbrochure2011_finalSP.pdf>.

Abstract (if available)

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.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Hope, Heather Alexandra (author)

Core Title The black church in Los Angeles: is it dead or alive?

School Annenberg School for Communication

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Journalism (Broadcast Journalism)

Publication Date 11/21/2011

Defense Date 11/01/2011

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag bishop noel jones,black church,Community,dead or alive,debate,Eddie Glaude,fred price,Los Angeles,megachurch,OAI-PMH Harvest,outreach,Pastors,Service

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Winston, Diane H. (committee chair), Birman, Daniel H. (committee member), Huey, Stanley J., Jr. (committee member)

Creator Email heatherahope@gmail.com,hhope@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c3-192993

Unique identifier UC11291170

Identifier usctheses-c3-192993 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-HopeHeathe-426-2.pdf

Dmrecord 192993

Document Type Thesis

Rights Hope, Heather Alexandra

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions 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 a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA