The make up of a congregation follows the make up of the territory. If the cong. is in an all black neighborhood, than it will most likely be all black. This is very much the case in downtown New Olreans. Very much of the downtown area is inhabited by all black people. They are also very poor. Many live in housing projects. The congs. reflect this. In fact, about 20 years ago a white CO was serving these cong. and had to be replaced by a black CO. It's virtually impossible for a white person to go into a NO housing project and not get harassed at best, killed at worst.
Are there still 'segregated congregations' in the US?
by AK - Jeff 13 Replies latest jw experiences
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changeling
I also know of areas outside of NO that are more rural and "white". I know of black pioneer sisters who were run off at gunpoint. After that the cong. was more careful about territory assingnments.
Sad but true, we live in a racist society.
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HappyDad
Jeff,
I got drafted into the Army in 1966 and other than my basic training at Fort Benning, GA.......I spent my entire 2 years at Fort Belvoir, VA. For a few years before that, my mother was trying to get me to become a JW. My mind was very confused.
I started attending (sporadiacally) the Rosemont Congregation in Alexandria, VA once I was settled at Fort Belvoir.
That's when I found out that in VA, there was STILL segregation. The whites attended Rosemont and the blacks attended their own congregation ( where....I don't know)
I do recall that somewhere about that time period (could be from 1967 or so......to a year or two later) that Virginia made history with their first legal interracial marriage. It was a JW couple.
Back then, I was told that it was necessary for the protection of the brothers. I can understand that because the whole Civil Rights movement was in swing at that time. Seems really hard to believe that our country felt that some people were/are inferior because of race. But that's the way it was and in many places still is.
Yes..........there was segregation within the WT Society. When I got involved in my first Cong. after my discharge in 1998...........racial tension was there in an older sister in my cong. She was HIGHLY upset when a black bro. married a white sis. in the cong. She would not talk to them for years. Another case was another white sis. whose son married a black sis. In the 1980"s. She disowned her son and from what I hear she still doesn't acknowledge him. And she is still in good standing. She made quite a verbal statement about that for many years and nothing was done about her "causing divisions" in the cong.
Sure glad I'm not part of that anymore.
HappyDad
PS.........there was a post just yesterday or so stating that Charles Taze Russell didn't want any "coloreds" burried in the plot at the cemetery.
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AK - Jeff
I have several mixed race couples within my family. Of all people, Jehovah's witnesses, who represent the Most High Jehovah in all aspects of Integrity, should have no problem with it, should they?
I am very white - but I would have no problem being married to a very black woman, or having my children do so. Notice of this problem among Jw's years ago, created an 'early' and unresolved doubt for many years with me.
Resolved now however. Amen.
Jeff
