Black Poverty - What Our Preachers & Politicians Must Address

Economic poverty remains one of the greatest killers of African-Americans. Poverty is an uncomfortable conversation in the Black Church because it seems to disrupt the plan of material prosperity as found in the hierarchical visions of the denominational Black Church. Black poverty has already materialized itself within the ministry of the local church and community she seeks to serve.   Theologian, J. Deotis Roberts, believes that the Black Church is the one political institution that is poised to provide liberating services to Black people in their bondage of economic deprivation. Roberts surmises, "Black theologians and churchmen must use all of the power at their disposal to liberate and humanize life for black people. The black church is a slumbering giant. The conversation of poverty in the Black community must be taken seriously because it holds cultural currency in sacred institutions and secular environments; especially where the politics of our nation is concerned.   Because of the theoretical shift from economic (wage distribution) and political policy (wage increase) to cultural and behavioral patterns in the everyday life of Black folk, politicians avoid the conversations on how racism and capitalism negatively impacts the social, economic, and political lives of Black Americans.  So, what part has institutional, and historic racism played in the everlasting poverty that continues to exist in the Black community?   Joining me tonight is author, and pastor Dr. Darvin A. Adams I to share excerpts from his recent article Black Poverty: What Our Preachers and Politicians Must Address; in the September issue of Black Politics Today.