Description
This study examines black clergy political activism in the years since the Civil Rights Movement and tactical and operational changes within American public life during those years that have impacted the public hearing and influence black clergy activists have achieved. Operational changes related to the skills sets, professional profile, and financial resources required for effective political participation within America's contemporary public square are examined, with close attention paid to tactical uses of media technologies and organized lobbying structures. The argument is that while these tactical priorities and institutional resources are essential to influencing public opinion and public policy, black clergy do not compare well with government officials, lobyists, and other political professionals in these strategic areas. Distinctions are made, however, between black megachurch pastors, who tend to emphasize media technologies and organizational structures responsive to social trends, and social justice-oriented black clergy, who place less emphasis on both. Survey data and original interviews of publicly engaged black clergy are primary sources on which the analysis draws.
