The Power of the Church in the Ghetto

I'm going to make this clear and say I'm a scientist and I'm a Biologist. This doesn't make it very likely for me to have any association with religion. In fact I've had a complicated history with the institution since my birth. I was baptized, and raised in a somewhat catholic family. Although pressure to attend any religious ceremony was never enforced once I reached an age where I could say no.

My mother and father worked all day during the 90s and couldn't take care of me until about 5pm. Most places wouldn't take a baby at the time, especially not one as young as me. The Episcopal church took me in, care for me and I stayed there until kindergarten. I got along quite well with the minister and still talk to him to this day. When I was a little older they tried enrolling me in a Catholic Academy. I had a disorder that caused my hands to write very sloppily. The nuns thought I was "retarded" and would constantly beat me with rulers in an attempt to break my will. Eventually I began telling them in first grade that I didn't know what the difference was between the bible and fairy tales. It was an almost  mutual agreement that both my parents and the school would dismiss me. I was transferred to public school and in third grade given an IQ test and launched into a mentally gifted program. Quite a different outcome in both cases.

For most of my life I noticed the church was the center of life in North Philly. Our traditions from Puerto Rico were kept alive there. As was our language and culture in general. It was often a place to go if you couldn't afford an after-school program for your kids or needed help with groceries. They were often far more helpful than the community centers and were a blessing to many. In a place where you have no hope, no aspirations and see so much death and violence it was a welcome haven.

It was after college that I ended up finding out how much of a hazard the church was to the community as well. I decided to help a friend of mine run for district representative. I was paid by the democratic party to run around and hand out flyers. Hell, I thought I may change this neighborhood for the better. I ended up going to a baptist church and finding representative Tony Payton there. He was preaching to the church on how much money he had contributed to the community. Apparently the guy had just gotten out of Community College. He seemed to have ties with the church leaders, possibly financial that allowed him to speak. I noticed he seemed hellbent on turning the "blacks" on the Hispanic community due to their much greater numbers. The issue in the Hunting Park area was that blacks often voted less than the Hispanic community. However, they were in much greater numbers in the area. So he and other representatives pranced around from church to church noting that the "blacks" pay most of the taxes and they should have a voice. They should not let the "Hispanic agenda" dominate their lives. The day of his election a few fights broke out in the baptist churches that hosted the election services. A few blacks would stand at the door and say "we don't want no fuckin spics runnin this place no more".

I noticed that in the Hispanic churches the same thing was occurring. They told us the whites and the blacks were against us that we needed to reclaim our neighborhood. It was always someone educated with money using them as a tool against easily influenced minds. I remember during one meeting for the democratic party candidates I asked someone from city hall if this was even remotely legal. I remember his smile, "Some people are queens, some people kings and most are pawns. It's just a game go with it, these people are so poor and stupid they wont know the difference either way". I didn't even know how to respond and simply sat in silence as the manipulation and lies were tossed around the room.

I don't know if people had forgotten the events of 1964 that shaped North Philadelphia into what it is today. North Philadelphia was a delicate balance of white "undesirables" (IE, Irish, Italian and Jewish) combined with Hispanics and Blacks. There were factories that made  everything from Go-Karts to pantyhose. Many of the factories still stand, although they're now abandoned and no longer used. Some of these factories had elevators for trucks and tunnels that connected directly to train carts. The efficiency and engineering of these buildings in some cases is quite amazing. Sadly most of them still stand in Philadelphia. No one wants to buy them in North Philly and they're too expensive to demolish so there they stand. In the 60's and 70's the "old timers" tell me everyone used to work in them. They used to go on about how "no one was on welfare, we all worked at the factories".

The collapse of the factory industry began after the 50's and spiraled out of control during the 60's. Racial tension became an issue across the country and in Philadelphia exploded. A woman got into an argument with a white and black police officer. A crowd formed and a man that came to help her was arrested. Rumors began to spread in the churches and by word of mouth that two white police officers had beaten a pregnant white woman to death. As a consequence white businesses were destroyed, looted and ransacked. North Philadelphia never recovered as the owners of those businesses never returned. To this day, I know of only one guy, Mike, who still owns a deli in North Philadelphia. His family never left after the riots and today he keeps his store safe by being a friend of everyone in the neighborhood. Along with a shotgun under the counter and handguns in the pockets of all his employees. You'd never know the history behind his store when you walk in. He stands behind the counter with a huge smile on his face greeting everyone who comes in of any race. Best cheesesteaks in the city too. (Had to say it)

The churches have a power to convey messages to the community. As I speak they're used for manipulation and creating situations that are quite delicate. The last thing North Philly needs is another riot. So why not use some money and power to influence church leaders in a good way? Why not make say, a $50,000 donation and have the pastor give a special thanks to the kind men from the University you should all push your kids to go to? Sure it may be morally reprehensible but it's the fastest way to get the community of North Philly to band together and agree on something.. Of course you may have to forget that whole ten commandment thing as they often do. If there's anything people in the ghetto listen to in the end it's god