| THE WORLD SATAN AND THE BLACK CHURCH | | | | "The Negro Church In America," here Professor |
| (Ungodly Blasphemy) | | | | Frazier discusses a topic entitled, "The Negro |
| Part 6: How Did Rap & Hip Hop Get Into the | | | | Adopts Christianity to His Experience In The New |
| Black Church? | | | | World." |
| The FreedomJournal declares that your Black | | | | Frazier argues that the slaves found in theology |
| mind is the only thing that you really have. Artistic | | | | and Christianity a new orientation to the world. |
| expressions are a product of the ultimate | | | | Thus, he adopted Christianity to his psychological |
| Freedom one can have, yet we sell it to the | | | | and social needs. Frazier notes that the old Negro |
| highest bidder. | | | | Spirituals were songs in which you would find the |
| IS FREEDOM ONLY NOTED IN MATERIAL | | | | peculiar social and psychological needs of slaves |
| WEALTH? | | | | revealed in song. |
| In the name of God, Master of the universe, | | | | As we digest the previous statement, we note |
| Ruler of the earth. | | | | that the Negro Spirituals eventually paved the |
| The word of God is a message that is everlasting. | | | | way for the radical Gospel music. However before |
| Thus, it will stand the test of time. God is time | | | | we move to the impact of Gospel and Rap and |
| and has declared that time and place for | | | | Hip Hop we note another crucial statement noted |
| everything that exists. To those confused, lost | | | | by Frazier. |
| and those that deny the existence of the Creator | | | | In the following statement we see an on-going |
| we appeal to your soul and mind. | | | | pattern to confuse, distort, manipulate and exploit |
| We bear witness that man in the Spiritual realm | | | | Black creative art forms. |
| and man in the world (scientific realm) cannot | | | | "In recent years there has been some efforts on |
| always explain everything about the earth and the | | | | the part of Negro intellectuals, encouraged |
| universe. The believers also know that everything | | | | sometime by white radicals, to invest most of the |
| should not be explained, especially many things | | | | spirituals with revolutionary meaning or, to claim |
| that relate to God. However, the Spiritual man can | | | | that they represented disguised plans for escape |
| explain many things lost to the scientific world. | | | | from slavery." |
| Surely the world did not just appear, appear from | | | | The FreedomJournal argues that those that have |
| what? Surely man did not evolve from a lower | | | | very little knowledge of God and the unbelievers |
| animal? Is it purely emotions that drive the | | | | have few if any skills to interpret Negro Spirituals. |
| Christian experience of shouting and the Holy | | | | We also argue that the Bible is a book of |
| Ghost dance? Have you ever thought of | | | | liberation. Thus, the Black experience rendered a |
| supernatural power? What, who, brings the rain, | | | | natural attraction to the aspects of liberation and |
| snow, thunder and the flashing light in the sky? | | | | freedom as noted in the Bible. However, the slave |
| Can man bring the rain, can man change the | | | | masters often suppressed these feelings and |
| seasons? | | | | emotions of liberation. Nevertheless, they did not |
| Pardon me, but we note a word to the wise. The | | | | destroy these feelings. |
| world is in great trouble and confusion. However, | | | | Frazier adds to our discussion: |
| if man could do all things, we would be in bigger | | | | "The sacred folk-songs or spirituals were |
| trouble. Man would sell sunshine, rain, snow etc. He | | | | essentially religious in sentiment. We are aware |
| would also destroy the world with his greed for | | | | that the Spirituals and folk-songs have undergone |
| money and power. Thus, if man really had the | | | | changes which make it impossible to know what |
| Power of the Creator he would have destroyed | | | | they were originally. We are also aware of the |
| the world long ago. Think about it? Is it so difficult | | | | interpretations which often reflect the biases of |
| to perceive the lust of man for money and | | | | whites. We know that some songs were |
| power? Thus, if he had the power to change, the | | | | composed for special occasions and, therefore |
| seasons' he would only change them for his | | | | cannot be understood completely outside the |
| friends and those that paid him the most money. | | | | framework of a particular time and place. |
| Of course this would constantly change and in the | | | | Nevertheless, the sacred folk-songs express |
| process humankind would cease to exist. Just | | | | sentiments regarding the life and death of the |
| think about this power in the hands of | | | | Negro. These spirituals also reflect on the |
| Hate-Mongers. Aren't you glad, happy and | | | | complexity of this existence and his desire to |
| overjoyed that God exists and is in control? Even | | | | escape from the uncertainties and frustrations of |
| the atheist and agnostics and Hate-Mongers must | | | | this world." |
| see the logic here. More than 90% of those that | | | | There are several key words in the statements |
| say any last words have the Creator on their lips, | | | | made by Frazier. His use of the word sacred and |
| is that right. What will you say? | | | | the phrase "religious in sentiment" are very |
| We believe that God is not only real but, He is | | | | important. We argue that it is for sure that the |
| alive. Thus, God is very angry with the defilement | | | | original music in the Black church was sacred. In |
| of the churches throughout the world. Again who | | | | fact no church should allow anything but sacred |
| has allowed Satan and the world in the church? | | | | music within its walls. |
| Will the Preachers and church leaders stand up? | | | | As we continue this series, we see that the world |
| Sadly many Preachers and church leaders are | | | | and Satan challenge sacred music in the Black |
| part of the problem, but why? | | | | church. Why have Black Preachers allowed the |
| We have noted several crucial attacks on the | | | | churches throughout America to become dens of |
| Black church in this series of articles. However, | | | | sin? Have these ungodly Preachers promoted the |
| the impact of Rap and Hip Hop music on the | | | | commercialization of the church? How can the |
| church is one of the most serious attacks on the | | | | singing styles of the streets and nightclubs also |
| church. This attack is very serious because it is | | | | become a part of a religious experience? How can |
| also destroying our youth. Most if not all of the | | | | any Preacher have the nerve to allow Rap music |
| Rap and Hip Hop music is a negative influence in | | | | sung by ear-ring attired, backward ball-cap |
| the Black community. Nevertheless, when they | | | | wearing confused youth into the church? Have |
| bring this music into the church, it becomes | | | | these Preachers gone crazy or has Satan |
| ungodly blasphemy and a high crime against God | | | | compromised them with money? |
| and the church. | | | | Cont. Part 7: Sacred Music Challenged: Spirituals |
| We will briefly look at one of our intellectual's | | | | Gospels vs. Contemporary Rap & Hip Hop |
| giants for some historical background information | | | | Peace, Carl A. |
| on music in the Black church. E. Franklin Frazier, | | | | |