Monday, August 13, 2018

Segregation in Chicago Churches in 1960's









22 comments:

Unknown said...

I like and recommend colored briefs.

Anonymous said...

In my forlorn 13 years in the Worldwide Church of God (well, Church of Armstrong), I think, to a degree, I experienced what being a disparaged minority person must have felt like in that organization.

I became a baptized member, against the wishes and desires of my wonderful wife. With great strife she tolerated my membership (and reduced economic resources). Finally, but not ever with full resolution, I left when the Tkatch’s changed things. Back with my family now. But the scars are unhealed.

From day one in WWCG, it became obvious that something about me was “wrong,” deficient, even sinful. I was married, but my wife never came to services, never once “participated” in anything. There was really something sinful about the “way I lived.” Never stated outright; but the attitude and perception could not be disguised.

I shall never forget a 90 minute sermon, preached intently, telling “good members” why no one should ever anticipate or allow “becoming un-equally hitched.” Being married to an “unbeliever” would be just about the worst, God-smearing sin one could commit. Marrying an unbeliever would jeopardize every possible blessing and outcome, even one’s salvation. For an hour and a half the minister told how bad this would be, citing examples he knew of.

I waited for him to bring up my name, saying, “Now take the case of Mr. So and So. We’ve all noticed his bad attitude. He’s an example of just what I’m talking about.”

But he ran out of time; didn’t get to me. Nor did he ever even look in my direction. I crawled out to my car, and as so often after services, I wept bitterly.

The Worldwide Church of God, and all of its spawn — where for except the most righteous the recurring themes and lessons and altitudes cause only “tears and fears.” Such a loving crowd. So understanding. Such high-mindedness. So “Christian.” (Well, Pharisaical.)

DennisCDiehl said...

HWA spent a number of years in the Portland area which even to this day is "the Whitest City in America" I have clients who have shown me the deeds and such to their homes from the 1960's which still said to the effect "This property shall not be sold to Blacks, Japanese, Hispanic, Chinese etc..." It would be easy in those days to develop a lifelong racism which back in the day just seemed to be "the way God wanted it to be."

The Shem, Ham and Japheth mythological baloney did not help the church either.


R.L. said...

Admittedly not your focus, but: "Fifth bachelor to be taken out of circulation" ?!?!

Not even a supermarket tabloid could get away with that kind of writing! LOL

Anonymous said...

All of these posts on segregation and how Blacks were treated in Armstrongism sure burns Bob Thiel's lily white butt real good. He now has to answer to his African members as to why his idol and prophet was such a racist piece of dirt. Bob will spin doctor it like he always does. It is better to lie than it is to tell the truth.

Dumbhead said...

I remember Elbert Atlas speaking in my area back in the 70's. I remember him talking about it being fun or something wearing a "super fly" hat. The NY ministers back than sure seemed to have interesting comments. Jim Rosenthal,Keith Thomas, Elbert Atlas. Does anyone remember Maceo Hampton, who I believe was in NY and then went to NJ?

Lake of Fire Church of God said...

The news clips do bring back some memories. The segregated Chicago Black congregation existed when my family entered the Radio/Worldwide Church of God in 1968. Harold Jackson, of course, was the Pastor. Clarence Bass and Elbert Atlas I remember. Mr. Atlas, I heard speak in Mt. Pocono FOT.

By the 1970s, the number of black ministers and black leaders grew. My local Washington - Baltimore WCG congregations alone had black ministers Ben Wesley, Curtis May and Arnold Hampton. The Philadelphia, Pa WCG congregation had Abner Washington. In Baltimore, the leading deacon was Andrew Jackson. Edwin Marrs was a black minister in North Carolina who preached in Washington once as Ken Westby was a District Superintendent that included the Carolinas.

My family used to provide transportation to Bible Study every other week to a black woman studying to be a teacher at the historic Black College, Bowie State Teacher's College (now Bowie State University). She had good common sense - we were always impressed by her. Her name was Connie Thomas.

Once when I was running an errand for the radio station I worked for, I got lost in downtown Washington, D.C. Almost by divine intervention, I spotted one of my black teenage friends from the Washington WCG riding his bicycle along the street. I called out to him from my car, and he responded. He told me this was not a good neighborhood for me to be in and he helped navigate me out of the neighborhood on his bicycle and back to streets I knew. His name was Derick Coleman.

I guess my point in posting this is that in spite of all many warts and the bad baggage of Armstrongism, a flourishing Black community of COG black brethren grew. They were the nicest people you would ever want to meet!

Richard

Anonymous said...

Connie said:

"I like and recommend colored briefs. "

I know you're making a funny but I have to say -

I'm a dude and my undies are definately not tighty whities.

Wouldn't that have gotten me dis-fellowshipped years ago???" :p

Anonymous said...

Talking of marriage, I watched a YouTube documentary on WW1 where it said that the single soldiers were encouraged by the army to get married. The reason given was that one year of marriage would toughen them up for the front. I kid you not.

Dumbhead said...



Maceo Hampton was a black minister. I am curious if he is related to Arnold Hampton.

Anonymous said...

and, your point is???

nck said...

Interesting to see that Mr Clarence Bass was a "Paul Quinn" graduate.
I mentioned the other day on the "Hoeh 1958 thread" that in the late fifties both "Paul Quinn" and "Huston Tilletson" in Texas were recommended by Kenneth Hermann for black students wanting to attend ambassador.

Both all black colleges seemed to have the bible correspondence course introduced in their theology program.

For completeness sake it is also interesting to note that many black members, like others also faced family, employers, neighbors, in their community for having joined such strange religion in a "white neighborhood???????......say what.......watch yur neck bro......and better be back in time for work taking this "2 week vacation" every year that I can't even afford. Other colleagues waving them godspeed on their way to Jekyll or Gladewater, thinking, "a strange but blessing god they have.........."

Clarence Bass, probably related to Stan Bass, the late Caribean director.
For all reports that I read, there was quite a good atmosphere within these churches.
I love that how the women made the wedding dresses. Good old time community spirit.

nck

Jerry said...

You’re sick! Let’s be friends. O

Jerry said...

I remember a holy day in the early sixties somewhere in L.A., Harold Jackson preached a sermon. Even as a ten year old I could see the condescension towards him.
By the way. My parents were baptized with Pinky Olive of Los Angeles who was “colored” and one our best friends from then on.

Dumbhead said...

10:54,

I'm curious if Arnold Hampton is Macro Hampton's brother or relative. And YOUR point is?

Anonymous said...

this kind of carnal behavior has been a problem for the cogs literally from the beginning, e.g., when the apostle peter showed bias against the gentiles...

its one of the consequences of God choosing israel to lead His Church, but it also shows why only 144000 of them will be among the end time first fruits while a countless number of gentiles will be among the first fruits of the Children of God...

c f ben yochanan

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Dumbhead said...

10:54,

I'm curious if Arnold Hampton is Macro Hampton's brother or relative. And YOUR point is?

August 14, 2018 at 7:59 AM




when a post appears directly under one of yours, it doesn't mean it's a reply to or references your post in any way.

Dumbhead said...

OK. Got it.

Kevin said...

"when a post appears directly under one of yours, it doesn't mean it's a reply to or references your post in any way.

August 14, 2018 at 11:03 PM"


And when a poster asks "what's your point?" without mentioning who or what post they are referring to and they don't sign their post I guess one is to think the poster is just stupid!

Kevin

Anonymous said...

It was a much different time in all of the USA, not just the church.

Anonymous said...

an evil spirit transcends time, which is why we see the current regression in race relations playing out in the 21st century...

c f ben yochanan

Anonymous said...

ARMSTRONGISM always was and still is a SHAM!! They RUINED people’s lives and they continue to do so!! The solution is to REPENT of putting men above God!! “For one is your Master, the Christ, and ALL of you are BRETHREN”. (Matt. 23:8) ”! Somehow Winnail and Weston NEVER GOT THE MEMO!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!