Chris Juszczyk Source 3

For this journal entry I'm looking at what the differences are between blacks and whites and their effect on political participation.

McClerking, Harwood K., and Eric L. McDaniel. "Belonging and Doing: Political Churches and 

     BlackPolitical Participation." Political Pscyhology 26.5 (2005): 721-32. Print. 

Research indicates that certain number of black churches that get involved politically are labeled as "political churches". These black Churches support political activism and these political churches encourage participation among blacks with lower incomes. McClerking argues that political churches that require to participate in the church generally have higher impacts politically. This political engagement and these networks promote electoral participation at higher rates than churches that aren't political. Listening to a political leader at church are significant in increasing political participation.

This source changes my thinking in some ways. This source specifically makes me look more directly at black political sources since they seem to have the most impact on political activation. A new idea that this source brings up is that maybe black churches are much more political than white churches. This makes me wonder why this is. I agree with the source that listening to a political leader would make an influence and cause political mobilization. I disagree with the point that just having to volunteer in the church has an impact politically because what if this service is just as a usher, barista, etc. This resource answers how black churches affect political participation but it doesn't quantitatively compare it to white political participation. I really didn't consider all the ways this source brings up how someone could be impacted politically.

McClerking here is in conversation with both Djupe and Campbell. This source talks directly to Djupe because McClerking takes his argument ant takes it a little bit deeper and looks at it in a more broad way. Djupe believes black ministers have a considerable impact over his members politically. McClerking takes this research further my understanding that this isn't the only way that black churches promote political activism. I agree with both authors here because they both have a similiar way at looking at the issue of black churches and political mobilization. McClerking has more specific view than Campbell. Whereas Campbell is looking at evangelical protestants as a whole McClerking just looks at black political churches. McClerking agrees with Campbell in the way members can become politically mobilized. They also discuss how the social networking within the church can have an impact on political activism.

A new question this source has got me to ask is how these political black churches specifically affect politics? Also I'm wondering why its hard to find anything specific about how elections can be affected. Next my research should deal with further research into black churches and their political mobilization. So far I know that black churches members tend to be more politically impacted but religions with a high commitment in the church still have higher political activism than those who are less involved. My research question might change to what's the role of black, political churches in terms of contemporary American politics?