“Christian Science” in Ebony Magazine

Unknown Author. “Christian Science.” Ebony Magazine, Vol 6. No. 1, November 1950, 58-63.

This brief unsigned article in Ebony Magazine (1950) begins, “[A] paradox of U.S. religious circles today is the increasing attraction of the Christian Science [CS] Church to Negroes.” What follows are statistics about Black membership and participation in the church, without footnotes, mentioning pockets of interest in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. An appeal was the CS theological view of spiritual equality, which would characterize race as neutral. Although church attendance was mixed in many places, segregation did exist in many southern CS churches. The few Black practitioners or CS healers and a few separate Black churches were identified with a special notation “colored” or “C” in the church’s official public listings. The author noted that it was unusual for Blacks to be attracted to the relatively unexpressive liturgy and lack of social activities but rather appreciated the quiet dignity of the more conservative “staid” denominations like the Presbyterians or Episcopalians. Accompanying the article are photos and brief comments about several notable Black adherents, including, possibly, the entertainer Pearl Bailey. Photos of six Blacks who worked at the Mother Church headquarters in Boston listed their occupations, and all were service jobs. None were in administrative positions.

ISSN: 0012-9011

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Ebony Magazine archives are available through EBSCO.