What is the relationship between African-American religion and politics today?
A. I’d say it’s probably a relationship of great mutual respect. African-American churches remain the prime places to reach and organize voters. African-American churches are still the strongest and most present black institution, the most ubiquitous black institution. It’s difficult to imagine a black politician, or at least any politician representing a black community, not having some kind of interaction with the African-American church leadership. They have to. … What I argue in the book is that this really speaks to the dearth of other black institutions, and as long as that’s the case, these churches will hold on to that kind of central place in politics. Originally published Jan.
