“Why does the black underclass still struggle years after the civil-rights movement?” That’s the question Dr. Anthony Bradley tackles in his new book, Black and Tired.

Bradley, a professor of theology and ethics at The King’s College in New York, wonders what happened to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently articulated nearly 50 years ago. But instead of pointing the finger at white oppression and engaging in a racial blame game, Bradley takes a long, hard look at what’s gone wrong inside the black community. That includes modern-day black leaders who, Bradley believes, are more interested in political power than working toward real solutions. Somewhere along the way, those leaders shifted the focus of the civil rights movement away from pursuing social justice to attaining equal socioeconomic status. The reality, according to Bradley, is that “justice” has become synonymous with redistributing wealth. What’s needed, Bradley believes, is a resurgence of values — Christian values — not money and not government programs.

The facts and figures Bradley cites regarding blacks in America are striking:

· Less than two out of six black children in America are born into a two-parent family. In 1950, it was five out of six
· Only 56% of blacks graduate from high school
· Blacks account for 35% of all abortions, despite representing only 12% of the population
43% of all black pregnancies end in abortion
· By age 34, 41.5% of black men are single. Among white males, the number is 28.1%
· Blacks made up 51% of new HIV diagnoses between 2000 and 2003

Many of the issues plaguing the black community center around marriage and family, as reflected in some of those statistics. Putting a high value on marriage, and raising children within a marriage, isn’t something the government can or should force on anyone. The answer lies elsewhere, as Bradley writes:

“[T]his country desperately needs churches to step in and proactively address the issue. America needs a strong witness from Christians who can communicate persuasively and practice God’s design for marriage, family and community. Disconnecting human life, marriage, and family from their correct foundation in God is literally destroying communities and keeping generations enslaved to self-destructive behavior.”

There was a time, Bradley recalls, when the black community revolved around the black church, and when dignity and character were highly valued. Sadly, many black churches have become more focused on racial politics than on the moral teachings of Christianity. They have also lost much of their influence. As a result, communities have lost many of the charities, youth organizations and other support systems those churches offered. That leaves the government to step in, which, according to Bradley is bad in many ways:

“The more Americans rely on government guidance, protection, and financial support, the more their passion to pursue good withers on the vine. When Americans surrender their lives to government control, they no longer need think for themselves … The real ‘opiate of the masses,’ it would seem, is not religion but the lack of it.”

Bradley isn’t afraid to name names when it comes to those he believes have done a disservice to the black community. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, he writes, promote a victim mentality which poorly serves blacks and even promotes a sense of inferiority. Instead, leaders are needed who will encourage and foster higher goals. Bradley is also unafraid to name black leaders who he believes have remained true to Dr. King’s vision of all men living with dignity. He cites Bishop G.E. Patterson in Memphis, Rev. Lance Lewis in Philadelphia, Bishop Eddie Long in Atlanta, T.D. Jakes in Dallas, Rev. Weldon Williams in Chicago and Bishop Charles Blake in Los Angeles. These pastors, he writes, aren’t afraid to address issues of sexuality, marriage, family, education and personal morals. These pastors, he believes, are the new kind of true leadership needed for black America.

Bill Cosby is another voice Bradley praises for refusing to toe the party line when it comes to the future of black America. Cosby’s book, Come On People: On The Path From Victims to Victors, co-authored with Dr. Alvin Poussaint, expresses Bradley’s belief “that black America’s hope for escape from abysmal self-destruction is moral formation — not government programs or blaming white people.”

Bradley articulates his dream for blacks in America this way:

“Imagine a resurgence of dignity that orders unruly passions, impulses, and reason to excel in moral character. Imagine a resurgence of good stewardship to the status of the social norm. Imagine a resurgence that promotes sustaining human life in terms of what is good for nature and human society — a resurgence committed to cultivating practical reason, creativity in the arts and sciences, economics, politics, business and culture. A movement dedicated to fostering dignity instead of self-sabotaging behavior would positively spill over everywhere, from homes to schools, from streets to the criminal justice system.”

Sounds like a dream well worth pursuing.

Black and Tired