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Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress?
Holy Does the Church Limit Black Progress? Why are there many churches, yet major problems in Black communities? Why are Blacks amongst the most Jesus-Praising people in the world, yet the most fragmented and economically dependent? Is there a correlation between high praising and low productivity? Holy Lockdown addresses the paradox that exists within the Black community. One that reflects the abundance of Black churches coupled with the abundance of Black problems. There are approximately 85,000 predominately Black churches in this country, meaning, we could have 1,700 Black churches in every state! Holy Lockdown takes a critical and long overdue look at the psychological impact the church and sermonic rhetoric has made on the Black collective, and it explores the possibility of the church as being a contributing factor to many social problems facing Blacks.
158 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2004
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About the author
Jeremiah Camara
4 books7 followerseremiah Camara is the author of the best-selling book Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress? and the creator of several DVDs, including Blind Belief: How Religion Divides the Black Community.Camara has appeared on countless radio shows, including The Tom Pope Show, LIBRadio, and has been a frequent guest on the Michael Baisden Show. He has lectured all over the country, and Holy Lockdown has been endorsed by a host of prominent clergy.
Camara is honored to have collaborations with two of his closest colleagues, Dr. Ray Hagins, chief elder and pastor of the Afrikan Village in St. Louis, MO., and Professor Walter Williams, author of The Historical Origins of Christianity and The Historical Origins of Islam.
Camara, a musician and the former owner of Word Up Bookstore, in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, created a videocassette documentary in 1989, titled Psychological Wars, which examined subliminal messages in sitcoms, cartoons and commercials that negatively impacted the psyche of African Americans. The documentary received national attention and endorsements by noted Black educators Na’im Akbar and Jawanza Kunjufu.
Camara was once a member of one of the largest Black churches in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baptized at an early age, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after high school, where he began his quest toward a deeper understanding of spirituality.
While in Cleveland, he began to diligently study the Bible and gave serious thought to becoming a minister, or at least living an active life in the church. During that time, he attended a Baptist church, at least two or three times a week. Despite his heavily Jazz-infused upbringing, the only music he listened to at that time was gospel.
Like many, he felt the church could provide him with the substance he was missing in the way of answers, meaning and purpose in his life.
Growing up, he had not been raised in any one particular church. His parents were not consistent churchgoers, and never insisted that he nor his brothers and sisters attend church. Nevertheless, he did manage to go quite often.
There came a time, however, when he began to distance himself from the church; not because of a particularly bad experience or negative incident, but because he had begun to expose himself to other forms of thought, spiritual concepts and ideas.
“I began to see the church as just one source of guidance and inspiration. The diversity of the world and its kaleidoscopic array of infinite ideas and wisdom would not permit my spirit to be confined only to the teachings of the church. It also disturbed me deeply to witness Blacks praising so much, but producing so little,” says Camara.
Camara returned to church, but this time as an investigator. Visits to churches of varying denominations brought to light a common thread linking the vast majority. Mostly all, in his opinion, were preaching a gospel of powerlessness.
Following a long investigative hiatus, he rediscovered this same theological impotence when he moved to the Atlanta-metro area, where he quickly discovered that church was big business. He knew then the time had come for him to write a book shedding light on the many psychologically crippling aspects within the church that keeps Blacks in a state of “Holy Lockdown.”
Camara is honored to have collaborations with two of his closest colleagues, Dr. Ray Hagins, chief elder and pastor of the Afrikan Village in St. Louis, MO., and Professor Walter Williams, author of The Historical Origins of Christianity and The Historical Origins of Islam.
Camara, a musician and the former owner of Word Up Bookstore, in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, created a videocassette documentary in 1989, titled Psychological Wars, which examined subliminal messages in sitcoms, cartoons and commercials that negatively impacted the psyche of African Americans. The documentary received national attention and endorsements by noted Black educators Na’im Akbar and Jawanza Kunjufu.
Camara was once a member of one of the largest Black churches in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baptized at an early age, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after high school, where he began his quest toward a deeper understanding of spirituality.
While in Cleveland, he began to diligently study the Bible and gave serious thought to becoming a minister, or at least living an active life in the church. During that time, he attended a Baptist church, at least two or three times a week. Despite his heavily Jazz-infused upbringing, the only music he listened to at that time was gospel.
Like many, he felt the church could provide him with the substance he was missing in the way of answers, meaning and purpose in his life.
Growing up, he had not been raised in any one particular church. His parents were not consistent churchgoers, and never insisted that he nor his brothers and sisters attend church. Nevertheless, he did manage to go quite often.
There came a time, however, when he began to distance himself from the church; not because of a particularly bad experience or negative incident, but because he had begun to expose himself to other forms of thought, spiritual concepts and ideas.
“I began to see the church as just one source of guidance and inspiration. The diversity of the world and its kaleidoscopic array of infinite ideas and wisdom would not permit my spirit to be confined only to the teachings of the church. It also disturbed me deeply to witness Blacks praising so much, but producing so little,” says Camara.
Camara returned to church, but this time as an investigator. Visits to churches of varying denominations brought to light a common thread linking the vast majority. Mostly all, in his opinion, were preaching a gospel of powerlessness.
Following a long investigative hiatus, he rediscovered this same theological impotence when he moved to the Atlanta-metro area, where he quickly discovered that church was big business. He knew then the time had come for him to write a book shedding light on the many psychologically crippling aspects within the church that keeps Blacks in a state of “Holy Lockdown.”
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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August 5, 2017I read this book over 7 years ago and I must say that it completely changed my life. The most important thing that I took away from the book is that God lives within! Love it!
December 8, 2020
A Refreshing Read
I enjoyed reading this book. I used to go to church but some things just no longer resonated with me. This book has articulated what I had not put into words about the church.
A read for the open-minded.
I enjoyed reading this book. I used to go to church but some things just no longer resonated with me. This book has articulated what I had not put into words about the church.
A read for the open-minded.
September 7, 2016
This book was well thought out and rendered nurishing food for thought. Camara appeared to have done an intenstive empirical study on the subject. He was the book's authority. His credentials was his sincerity. Nevertheless, he put a great argument for discussion in the court of public opinion.
April 17, 2012
I can not wait to read this!!! I already know it's gonna be excellent. btw, be sure to watch the whole "slave sermon" series on youtube by the author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews