I have personally known hundreds of black people over the course of my adult life. They've been my patients, my coworkers and my friends. They are a very diverse group, some poor, others quite affluent, some uneducated, and some highly educated with advanced degrees. With very few exceptions, they were/are Christians. Imo, a good part of the reason that more black people cling to religion is because their churches are extremely important to them. Let's not forget that black churches were often used as centers to organize protests during the civil rights movements of the 60s and these days, some black churches are still used to help get out the vote. Black churches provide community and a respite from what is often a racist world.
I have told at least two very educated black professionals that I am an atheist. Their reactions were far more intense than most of the reactions that I get from most white people. One invited me to her church and tried to understand how a nurse that she liked and respected could possibly be an atheist. She sometimes told me she would pray for me. I usually took that with a sense of humor. The other one told me that he didn't believe me when I told him there was a black non believer group in Atlanta. He told me that right to my face. It seemed almost impossible for him to believe that "the brothers" ( his term not mine ) would abandon god. Both of those folks were health care professionals, one a PA and the other a hospice chaplain. I have black friends that are not as educated and I've always avoided discussing my atheism with them, but I often hear them speaking about their churches. I guess I want to avoid any conflict or negative feelings so I just stay silent when they speak of their beliefs. There is one very sweet woman who told me that if we pray, God will help us overcome Trump. I just gave her a hug and remained silent.
I think what some of you may not understand is that religion isn't just about holding on to certain mythological beliefs, it's about culture and community. I have only known a few black atheists. One of them, who I haven't seen in a few years, used to attend church with his wife. I don't know if this was to keep the peace in his family or because he enjoyed his wife''s community of friends. The other man is more of an agnostic, and his white wife is a very strong atheist. I've met a few other black atheists that are members of the Black Nonbelievers of Atlanta, a small group in a city that is majority black. Since I'm an atheist and not an anti-theist, I can understand and respect what the church offers the black community. Sure, there are some terrible black pastors that take advantage of people, but there are also some very decent ones that offer their congregations hope and community.
Anyway, that's just my own perception of the black church. I've only been in a few black churches for funerals, so there is probably more to it than I understand. I do remember attending a funeral for a former coworker who was murdered by her apparently disturbed grandson. I was very impressed by the service and by the way the family was able to openly grieve. I was impressed by the size of the crowd and by how the white attendees were warmly embraced. If black folks all lost their faith, what would there be to replace the community that they share with each other? That's something that we atheists rarely seem to understand.
