Black Churches and Local Politics: Clergy Influence, Organizational Partnerships, and Civic EmpowermentR. Drew Smith, Fredrick C. Harris This book on black churches and urban politics uses case studies from various cities to examine the strategies and tactics of activist clergy and congregations. These case studies illustrate how black activist clergy and congregations negotiate the political terrains of their respective cities. The cases show that the political culture of a city--whether that culture is shaped by machine politics, a legacy of political protest, racial and ethnic factionalism, or a city whose power resides in the mayor's office rather than the city council chamber--can influence the tactics of activist clergy and congregations. These cases also show how strategies and tactics vary across congregations as well as within and across cities. Not only do activist churches emphasize political empowerment or economic development, their tactics to pursue their goals may take different forms. They can form coalitions with other churches and/or political organizations, lobby public officials, use personal appeals to persuade politicians, or mobilize voters for candidates who support the congregation's agenda. By taking stock of the strategies that activist black clergy and congregations adopt and the tactics they use to research their goals, the cases in this book highlight nuances in black clergy and church activism that are captured beyond a single case or a focus on national politics. The three sections of Black Churches and Local Politics examine the many ways that black activist clergy and congregations voice their concerns in urban politics. The tactics explored are the use of personal influence by activist ministers, the formation of coalitions with churches and community organizations, and pressure groups that lobby government institutions and leaders on behalf of minority communities. |
Contents
Black Churches Black Empowerment and Atlantas Civil Rights Legacy | 3 |
Black Clergy and Models of Civil Rights Activism in Miami | 23 |
Bennett W Smith Sr and Ministerial Influence on Political Life in Buffalo | 43 |
Black Ministers and the Politics of Personal Influence in Columbus | 57 |
Black FaithBased Coalitions in Boston Civic Advantages and Challenges | 79 |
Black Churches and Electoral Politics | 97 |
Black Churches and Electoral Engagement in the Nations Capital | 99 |
Black Churches and Machine Politics in Chicago | 117 |
Black Clergy Electoral Involvement in Cleveland | 137 |
Black Churches and the Formation of Political Action Committees in Detroit | 151 |
Party Politics and Black Church Political Organization in Queens New York | 171 |
Epilogue | 185 |
Black Clergy and the Governmental Sector during George W Bushs Presidency | 187 |
201 | |
About the Editors and Contributors | 217 |
Other editions - View all
Black Churches and Local Politics: Clergy Influence, Organizational ... R. Drew Smith,Fredrick C. Harris No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
AACCC activist black churches activist black clergy activist churches activist clergy activist ministers affirmative action African American African American community Atlanta Auburn Avenue Baptist Church Barry black church politics black community black ministers black political Black Slate black voters Boston Globe Buffalo Bush's campaign candidates Center chapter Chicago church-based political city council city's civic civil rights movement clergy and congregations Cleveland Coleman Young Columbus Daley Democratic Party Detroit District election electoral politics empowerment endorsed erend FLH-PAC Floyd Flake funding Harold Washington housing influence institutions involvement issues Jesse Jackson leaders leadership Liberty City Marion Barry Martin Luther King mayor McMickle ment Miami mobilization munity NAACP neighborhood organizational PACS participation percent political action committees political activism political organizations politicians programs protest PULSE racial religious Republican residents social capital social services SQCCE strategies tion Union Temple UPIM urban vote Wheat Street