"After Obama Victory, Test for the Black Clergy" By Samuel J. Freedman

Obama's victory meant many different things for many different people. This article discusses the challlenges his victory presents to black clergy. While Obama presents hope for their community, the older clergy is facing the challenge of relating to a younger generation and using the opportunities Obama's election has given them.

I am not very familiar with black Christianity, as the article calls it. I found this all very interesting. The older clergy come from times of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement while younger people like Obama grew up when the world presented many more opportunities to blacks. They are from two different times. Younger generations like Obama see the world differently from their elders. Younger ministers also see the world differently from their older counterparts. According to the story, this has presented the black churches "with both an opportunity and a challenge."

While I never thought about any of this before, it makes sense. The older ministers have seen things the younger ones would have a diffcult time imagining. I'm not saying younger blacks have no idea what generations before them have gone through, I'm just agreeing with the article's point that these younger people see America differently. Now all the clergy are presented with the challenge of holding onto their heritage while still moving into the future. I think this is a struggle encountered by all religions, as society becomes more and more secular.

The reporter talked to both young and old clergy, which helped to provide different voices. It showed, however, that the generations both agree that there is a need to carry the past with them as they journey into the future.

One thing that I found very surprising was that in the Democratic primaries, many leaders of black Christianity either supported Clinton or remained neutral. I did not remember this. I just thought it was strange that these leaders would not put generational differences aside, but they now obviously have.

The kicker quote at the end was great. It questions whether they'll be able to present the hope exuded by Obama to their congregations. It sums up the entire story with a powerful question right at the end. The question is especially appropriate because the entire story was about the questions older clergy is asking themselves.

Overall, I really liked this story. I hadn't read about anything addressing this issue before, but I thought it was very pertinent right now. Obama's election affects all Americans, and this story showed how he influences one group of Americans specifically.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/15religion.html