Black Americans' Perceptions of the Sociohistorical Role of the Church

Both historically and contemporaneously, the church has had an impact upon virtually every aspect of black American life. The importance and influence of the church on the social, economic, and political development of black communities has been well documented (Drake and Cayton, 1945; Frazier, 1974; Morris, 1981; Woodson, 1939; Young, 1932). The significance of the church may be attributed largely to its position as one of the few institutions within the black