(ThyBlackMan.com) Even if not a regular churchgoer themselves, many Black men under the age of 50 were raised with patriarchal socially conservative Christian beliefs about women—often through the religious teachings of their parents or grandparents. From the very first book of the Bible, the man has been categorized as being superior to the woman, “And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23).
In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, the woman is viewed as being less than the man and responsible for the downfall of the man. In the book of Genesis, the woman (Eve) was responsible for the man (Adam) eating of the forbidden fruit, “And the man said, (to God) the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (Genesis 3:12).
In the book of Revelation, the woman is represented as the mother of harlots and abomination of the earth, and responsible for killing the saints, “And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of The Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (Revelation 17:5,6).
According to the Gospel of Paul
Some Black churches’ organizational structure is based on the teaching of the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes several comments stating that the man is the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11). “… and the head of the woman is the man” (1 Corinthians 11:3), “For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:8). “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Corinthians 11:9).
Paul also stated that a woman should not be allowed to even speak in church:
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14: 33-35).
Even today, in some ultra-conservative Black churches women are not allowed to wear pants in church or sit on the pulpit. In an attempt to debunk these patriarchal misogynistic traditions that are prevalent in some Black churches, Dr. Wesley Knight, pastor of Revision Church in Atlanta, preaching to his church denomination, stated, “There are traditions of men, that were made up to keep us under control. ‘Women can’t wear pants in the sanctuary. Women can’t pastor churches. Women can’t be ordained. Women can’t lead our church organizations.’ You do know it’s not just in this denomination we have this problem. Southern Baptists are fighting like cats and dogs over this. And it’s interesting—watch this—that all these so-called laws are to control the agency and power of women. This is why some people are really struggling with a woman running to be president of these divided states of America.”
Dr Knight added, “I get it! Why it’s half quiet sometimes when we mention it because brothers are struggling ‘cause you were taught—and sisters are struggling too—’cause you’ve been taught, can’t no woman lead you! But my Bible says the first resurrection preacher was a woman named Mary, who went and got the scared disciples and said, ‘Guess who I just saw?’ Ooooh! God! I feel like preaching.”
Dr. Jamal Bryant, of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta, stated, “I understand why the Black church seems to be doubting the ability of Kamala Harris to be President. I know why! Because they were raised in churches that didn’t trust women. Didn’t trust women to preach. Didn’t trust them to pastor. Didn’t trust them to lead. But they did trust them to cook the food. They trusted them to do the bake sales. To raise the money. To pay for pews that the Black men are sitting on.”
One in Four Black men Under 50 Support Donald Trump
Although they may not say it in public, some Black men have a problem voting for a woman. Adding to this is the fact that young Black men’s constant and daily consumption of rap music that degrades Black women as sex objects—calling them hoes and bitches—should we be surprised that a recent NAACP poll found that one in four Black men under 50 support Donald Trump over Kamala Harris?
While speaking at a recent Kamala Harris campaign rally in Pittsburg, former President Obama said to the Black men in the audience, “We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running.” He added that the lack of energy appears, “to be more pronounced with the brothers. You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. I’ve got a problem with that. Because part of it makes me think—and I’m speaking to men directly—part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives, and other reasons for that.”
Patriarchal Biblical Beliefs
Some Black men strongly agree with the patriarchal writing of the Bible on matters such as gay marriage, homosexuality, and abortion. “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination” (Leviticus 20:13 NKJV). Some even interpret Exodus 21:22-25 to mean that a person should be punished for an abortion. These men disagree with Kamala Harris’ position on these issues, and will not vote for her as a result.
On October 10 on NPR Morning Edition, in the city of Detroit, Michigan, seven Black men under the age of 50 were interviewed regarding who they plan to vote for in the upcoming election. Of the seven, five stated they were going to vote for Trump. One of the men who identified himself simply as “J” said he is voting for Trump because he opposes gay marriage. He said he stopped voting for the Democrats after gay marriage was legalized. “This stuff (gay marriage) is on daytime TV, said J. “That’s when I left Democrats alone.”
Another Black man featured in the NPR interview, named Stokes, remarked that he doesn’t believe that a woman is strong enough to be the representative of the United States on the world stage. “When you look at the world, when they had these meetings, it’s going to be, like, representing China–a man, representing Russia–a man. So, then the big, bad strong U.S. going to have Kamala. In my opinion, I don’t think the world is ready for it.”
Dr. Basil Smikle, Professor of Practice at the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University, summed it up by asking the following questions, “As a Black man, what does this (presidential) race mean to you? What does it mean that this incredibly qualified African American woman is being attacked by such an unqualified white male? As a Black man, what are you going to step up and do?”
RJW is a retired Professor of Education. He is a prolific writer and the author of 12 Characteristics of an Effective Teacher.
