BLACK TEENS AND CHURCH

One national study showed that black teens are more likely to attend church.
By VALERIE BANNER
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Ruth Mosher and Micah Anderson have never met, but they have quite a bit in common. Both of these Youngstown-area young adults say their morals and their lifestyles have been shaped by their religion and their belief in God.
Anderson said he might smoke, curse or spend time at bars, if it weren't for church.
"I'd be doing a lot of things that I don't do now," he said. "Church kept me out of trouble. It kept me on the straight and narrow all my life."
Mosher believes her life would also be very different.
Without religion, "I would have pursued the things that the world normally goes after. I would have tried to find completion in alcohol or cigarettes or sex," she said.
They both said they found strength in God to help after the death of a parent. For Anderson, it was his father. For Mosher, it was her mother.
"A rough time was the passing of my father," said Anderson. "I took it rough for a little bit. God was someone that I was able to turn to."
Mosher also turned to God. "He has comforted me tremendously. It's not that I don't grieve or haven't grieved, but God has offered me peace that the world could not bring me," she said.
Yet there is one thing that Anderson -- a burly, muscular black 20-year-old male -- gets from his religion that Mosher -- a slim, delicate-looking blond 19-year-old female -- doesn't need.
"Church is also kind of where I found my culture," said Anderson.
As the only black student at otherwise-white Jackson-Milton High School, Anderson said his predominantly black church, True Vine Outreach in Campbell, was where he met and associated with other blacks.
Through his contacts at high school and at church, Anderson said, "I was able to experience something that most people can't, to experience two different worlds."
Explanation
Anderson's experience of bonding with other blacks in a church setting is not uncommon, said Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah, professor of religious studies and Africana studies at Youngstown State University.
Wan-Tatah said the black experience in the church is tied directly to "the nature of the black experience in the United States, going back to the enslavement of blacks in the United States. [Church] is one of the places for blacks to congregate and seek support. ... Black people can always find comfort in the church. It's continued from generation to generation."
It's not surprising, then, that at least one study showed that black teens are more likely to attend church -- and enjoy it -- than their white counterparts.
According to the National Study of Youth and Religion, 45 percent of black high school seniors go to church weekly, compared with 31 percent of whites.
One reason may be that for some, the black church offers more than just an opportunity to socialize on Sundays.
Look at Dr & eacute; Kelley, 7, Damaris Harrison, 11, and Patrice Henderson, 10, all of Campbell, and their friend, Jason Jamison, 9, of Struthers.
These youths, all of whom are black, spend nearly every day together in the basement of St. John's AME Church in Struthers.
Much of their time goes to church-related activities such as choir practice and rehearsing religious plays. But some of it is just for fun -- playing kickball and dodgeball, skateboarding and, for Damaris and Patrice, whispering about boys.
In between bites of bologna sandwiches, the kids explained the importance of their time at St. John's.
If it wasn't for the church, they'd be at home, probably with a sitter. They get lunch here every day during the summer and can play together and with the others who join them regularly.
They like learning about God.
"He'll help you through trouble," said Jason.
Learning the Bible
From her purse, Damaris produces a piece of paper -- it's folded and a bit worn-looking. It contains questions about names and places in the Bible that she, Patrice and Jason are studying. The more they know, the better they'll do at the Bible Bowl competition in Cleveland.
They also enjoy singing songs, doing arts and crafts and working on lessons.
Evidence of a recent Bible lesson hangs on the walls. There are brightly colored drawings of Cain and Abel, of Noah and his ark, of God creating the world, of the creatures he created.
Dr & eacute;, Damaris, Patrice and Jason each eagerly point out their own crayon creation.
They also are in charge of church services once a month. Damaris reads the Scripture then, and the children's choir performs.
These children may not yet realize it, but the chance to organize a religious service, to speak or sing in front of a group are skills that Wan-Tatah said are an invaluable part of the black church experience.
"Many talented young people have been nurtured in the Sunday school," he said. "The power of the black church is not limited to a religious context. ... It's where they learn the first lesson in being accountable in avenues that are not available in the rest of society."
Sharpening skills
Anderson said attending religious services helped him become outgoing. When he was young, he said he had to learn speeches and recite them in front of the congregation.
"It helped hone my skills. I discovered that I like speaking in front of people, and I'm pretty good at it," he said.
Today, Anderson, his older brother and his best friend operate a Web site music production organization, and they represent a gospel hip-hop artist.
It's one way, he said, to share his belief in God with others.
"I'm not one to run up to someone and say, 'This is what I believe and you should too,'" he said.
Anderson said he can see how the church would help open up new experiences to some people who may feel they do not have a lot of power.
"It is very easy for someone who isn't noticed outside of society to become a part of the church," Anderson said.
He also noted that he didn't need religion for that reason. "I've always been quote unquote 'noticed' in my life," he said.
But Wan-Tatah said that for many blacks, being a part of a church is about more than just being noticed.
"When you're constantly confronted with obstacles, you have to seek new avenues that enable you to fight to survive," he said. "One of those struggles comes from the racist nature of our society. ... People who are left out of corridors of power have to seek other ways to find them. Those are plentiful within the spiritual realm."
The church's importance is evident even to the youngest of its participants.
Looking around at the basement of St. John's church and watching her friends talk and laugh with each other, Patrice spoke up again.
"I think I learn more important stuff here," she said. "I learn about the Lord here. ... He's our holy father and stuff. School is important in life, but the Lord is more important. And we learn about life here, too."