Charles Blake

By most accounts and opinions, the response to problems underlying the civic eruption of 1992 was vigorous and ambitious. On Saturday after the riots, people took to the streets with brooms and shovels for a multiracial cleanup campaign that found white Westsiders shoulder to shoulder with black residents of the Crenshaw district. A commission, headed by former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, was formed to recommend changes in the city’s law-enforcement policies. Police Chief Daryl F. Gates was forced from command of the Los Angeles Police Department, and replaced by Willie L. Williams. Corporate Los Angeles created Rebuild LA to pump up the economy of the inner city, and there was much debate about the need for meaningful social and economic reform.

In spite of all the effort, many problems underlying the 1992 riots continue to fester five years later. The O.J. Simpson double-murder trial tore at attempts to heal racial wounds, and economic gains have been offset by continued cutbacks in government assistance to the poor. It’s clear that providing concrete improvements in social and economic justice require more than just a little hard work and good intentions.

Yet, there are those who refuse to be intimidated by the enormity of the problem. Consider Bishop Charles Edward Blake, pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. A man of undeniable energy, for more than three decades he has built a church that now serves a congregation of 15,000. A powerful preacher, Blake fills four services every Sunday. And he seems blessed as an administrator as well. Committed to serving all the needs of his flock, his church provides a menu of spiritual and corporal services that fills an entire page, from solo-parenting support groups to bowling.

A native of Arkansas, the 57-year-old Blake has become a potent political force in Los Angeles. He sat on the committee that chose Williams to head the LAPD, and has been one of the chief’s most vocal supporters. He has worked actively for economic development in the Crenshaw district, where his church is located. Key to his plans is the construction of West Los Angeles Cathedral, a $42-million temple to be built at the corner of Exposition and Crenshaw boulevards. In an early morning interview last week, he talked about the changes of the past five years, his concerns about the future and urban black America’s resurgence of interest in religion.

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Question: What things do you see as having improved since the riots, and what things remain problems?

Answer: Following the riots, there was a sensitizing on the part of almost every element of Los Angeles society, and a desire to alleviate the conditions that led to the riots. It was a tragedy that created a real longing in almost everyone to eliminate the kind of racism and insensitivity that caused the riots in the first place. There was the creation of Rebuild LA; the report of the Christopher Commission; the selection of Willie Williams as chief of police, and the departure of Chief Daryl Gates. Rebuild LA was successful in helping many businesses rebuild. Chief Williams led a change within the Police Department, which created a change in the attitude of the community toward the Police Department. These things were all very positive.

But we are far from recovering--even after five years. One-third of the structures that were destroyed have not been replaced. Manufacturing jobs continue to disappear. And there is now a political and social climate that is affecting not only Los Angeles, but the entire nation, and which is reducing our level of compassion. I think we’re going backward in our concern for those who have been incapacitated by their environment.

And closer to home, the removal of Willie Williams is an indication that there are those who feel that we had a crisis response to the riots; that we placated the intense emotions that were aroused at that time, and that now that the fire is out, it’s time to get back to business as usual. Perhaps the flames have subsided, but the emotional embers are still smoldering. And they will erupt again unless we continue to input compassion into the political and economic life of this city.

Q: You said there had been a positive change in the community’s perception about the police since Williams took over. Now that he’s agreed to leave, will that change for the better leave with him?

A: I certainly hope not. But Willie Williams was a very popular leader in this community. I’m sure the officer on the street was aware of who his leader was; how he felt about the relationship between officers and the community, and what his response would be to certain kinds of behavior. We didn’t see young men being laid down and beaten on side walks. We didn’t see the arrogant, belligerent, invasion-force mentality that had existed before. And, of course, crime has gone down.

But, for Williams, it was a setup from the start. There was, I believe, a pattern of inappropriate dialogue and relationships between subordinate executive officers within the Police Department and the chief’s bosses. These officers repeatedly circumvented procedures and took their complaints directly to the people in charge. I believe these subordinates received encouragement from people in civic life, and were advised that if they would persist in circumventing the chief’s authority, ultimately the chief would fall.

Q: While matters of the spirit are your primary concern, you’ve been active in trying to create jobs in your community. How interrelated do you see spiritual fulfillment with economic achievement?

A: We must minister to the whole person. You don’t have to have every disease to die--one is enough to make you sick or even kill you. A disease in an individual’s economic life can be as bad as a disease in that person’s spiritual life. Our ministry demands we be concerned about every aspect of every individual within our congregation. Being a moral person means reaching out to help others. The greatest economic development program I can imagine would be if we were all to simply live by the words of Jesus Christ and help and love others.

We’re involved in emotional rehabilitation--we have a counseling center that offers help in child development, family relationships, the whole works. We have a unique program which trains people in the art of conciliation and peacemaking. These people go into schools and train others how to resolve conflicts. We provide financial assistance, housing assistance; we coordinate delivery of meals to home-bound AIDS patients. We found jobs for 100 people last year, and helped others establish retail businesses.

Q: You’re also well on your way to building a new cathedral in the heart of the city, at Crenshaw and Exposition. What do you see as the effect of such a structure on the community?

A: Perhaps I can make a prediction by looking at the past. We started buying property in the Crenshaw corridor in 1976. The community was economically depressed. It was an area that had been home to a host of auto dealerships, but by then, all but two or three had closed shop. Buildings were boarded up and property was selling for $4 a square foot. We began to buy property and rehabilitate those buildings. A few years ago, that $4 land was worth $50 a square foot. To date, we’ve invested some $10 million in the Crenshaw district in land purchases alone. Most of these lots contained businesses that had moved out, and there was nothing to replace them, so without us, they would have remained boarded up and a blight on the neighborhood.

Some people have estimated that our cathedral will have a total economic impact of $100 million on the area. Just the construction alone will make an enormous contribution. But even without our new church building, we are a major economic force in our community. We have 125 employees. There are not many corporations in our area with that sort of work force. We had more than 10,000 individual events at our church last year--many were more related to community needs than to a primary spiritual focus. We are much more than just a church. We are a community center.

Q: Why are black churches in urban areas showing such a resurgence, and what have you done to make yours so successful?

A: Over the past 20 years, there has been an ever-growing religious revival in the black community. There has been a renewed emphasis in many churches of Pentecostalism--of the experience of the Holy Spirit--and an appreciation for a very intimate connection with God. I think there have also been social changes that have led people back to spiritual teachings. Preachers have returned to giving sermons based on the Bible, and the people have responded.

I believe worship should be purposeful. You should have an objective when you worship, and you should eliminate those things that stand in the way. Our objective is to create a connection with God, and we do it with enthusiasm. I tell my congregation that the Lord is no less worthy of enthusiastic praise than is a basketball star who scores 40 points or a boxer who knocks out an opponent.

So if you visit our church, you will find a service that is jubilant, loud and filled with emotional expression. Our services are relatively short, a bit more than an hour--we don’t ask people to spend their whole day in church. We have the very best music, and we do everything we can to make people comfortable--including offering four services every Sunday. I try to preach sermons that are biblical and spiritual, but also related to the problems and needs of today’s individuals. We believe that we simply usher individuals into the presence of God, and then they communicate directly with him--we don’t try to get in the way of that.

And so people come. And I guess they stay because they know if they invest in us, we will use that investment to the maximum in enhancing the quality of human life--both theirs and others.

Q: You’re also politically active, serving on committees, addressing the City Council and sometimes endorsing candidates. What is the role of the modern church leader in politics?

A: Very little happens in our community without political or governmental involvement. The government is the only institution which has the right to demand money from people. Thus, it becomes literally the richest entity in our community, and it’s spending very little to help a poor, single woman who’s taking care of a child by herself. Meanwhile, it’s spending a lot on the military and foreign aid and assistance to bail out corporations. So if a person has influence, it’s their duty to make sure that people who need assistance get it, and that political leaders are responsive and are held accountable. I do this for the sake of my community. I already have more than enough to do, but if I can exert influence for the good of my community, I must do it.

This fits my philosophy that if the church can help, then it must. We have over 80 different entities within our church assisting people in a host of ways. We have an academy with 400 students, a 500-seat theater to provide positive family entertainment and a bookstore for our community. We have a youth center, athletic programs, camping trips out of town--anything we can think of that will help people, we do it.

Q: A recent survey of Angelenos found some 60% feel the city could explode again within the next five years. Do you harbor the same fears?

A: I will do everything in my power to prevent such a thing. But the current mentality of the political leadership is to reduce government services. They are demanding that people get jobs--but jobs are harder and harder to get. The perception is that the political establishment remains insensitive to the economic and social realities within the black community. And it’s not just blacks, but poor folk of every color who are feeling this.

Whenever there is a perception of injustice and unfairness, that creates kindling for a flame-up. I hope that it will not occur. I plan to stand firmly with the mayor and the council and everyone else to build a tomorrow for Los Angeles. That is my sincere hope and wish.