Publisher's Synopsis
The Role of Religion in Controlling Black Families: Enemies Within Us is a bold examination of how Christianity and Islam have influenced Black communities worldwide. For centuries, these religions have provided strength and cultural identity but have also contributed to poverty, political instability, and economic disparity. This book questions how faith-based structures have influenced and restricted the advancement of Black families globally.
**Historical Roots and Impact**Religion has often been used as a tool of control. Christianity and Islam were introduced to Black communities through colonization, slavery, and imperial conquest. They replaced traditional spiritual practices, promoting submission and obedience. Religious institutions justified slavery, oppression, and apartheid, working alongside imperialists to replace indigenous cultural structures with foreign belief systems. **Political and Economic Influence**
Black churches and mosques generate significant wealth, yet very little is reinvested into the economic development of Black communities. Religious leaders wield immense influence over Black voting patterns but often fail to demand real policy changes. Political parties exploit Black religious loyalty, promising progress while delivering stagnation and dependency. In America, the Black church has long been a stage where both Black and white politicians seek support-even from the pulpit, a practice many would deem sacrilegious. Yet, few ever question this tactic. Why is political influence in sacred spaces so widely accepted? **Religious Divisions and Barriers to Unity**
Religion has divided Black communities into sects and denominations, weakening their collective strength. Christianity and Islam have splintered Black populations, creating sectarian divisions and fueling civil wars, political instability, and economic stagnation in countries like Nigeria, Sudan, and Ethiopia. These divisions maintain global power structures that profit from Black disunity. **Economic Cost of Faith-Based Dependency**
Black religious institutions demand financial contributions from members, while prosperity gospel preachers promise wealth through faith rather than financial literacy. Mega-churches and mosques collect millions, yet many Black neighborhoods remain underdeveloped. Religious leaders accumulate wealth, while their congregations remain financially dependent on external aid. **Psychological and Social Control**
Religion has shaped the way Black people think about themselves, normalizing suffering and discouraging proactive change. Black women, in particular, have been conditioned to endure toxic relationships and economic struggle in the name of religious devotion. Fear of questioning faith prevents many Black individuals from critically examining the role religious institutions play in their lack of socio-economic progress. The Role of Religion in Controlling Black Families: Enemies Within Us challenges the notion that religion is purely a force for good. It exposes how religious institutions have maintained power over Black communities, shaping their economic choices, political loyalties, and family structures. If faith does not actively push Black people toward economic independence, education, and political power, then what purpose does it serve? This book forces readers to confront the uncomfortable reality: religion has been weaponized to keep Black communities divided, dependent, and controlled. Through historical analysis, economic insights, and modern-day case studies, it reveals how faith has been used to maintain power structures that profit from Black disunity.
