6. African American Christianity since 1980

‘African American Christianity Since 1980’ is concerned with the contemporary phase, beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and the significant demographic and political shifts that have changed the landscape of American Christianity. The neighborhood church is fast disappearing. More and more African Americans are joining large megachurches and are engaged in neo-Pentecostal worship. The influence of celebrity preachers continues to grow as they leverage various media to propagate their message and their brand. All the while the political and economic circumstances of black America continue to worsen, and one wonders what role might this particular expression of African American Christianity play in the lives of so many who suffer in the shadows.