A debate sparked by Erykah Badu’s purported critique of tithing has reignited questions about faith, financial literacy and systemic inequality. At stake: whether a cornerstone of Black church tradition supports community survival — or complicates efforts to close the racial wealth gap.
Erykah Badu: If Tithers Had Invested the 10%, They’d Now be Millionaires
The Black church has long been the place where faith and survival meet; where generations gave what they had to build what they were denied.
LEARN MORE: ‘Spend in the Black’ Turns Faith Into Economic Power
So when Erykah Badu suggested there might be more Black millionaires if Black churchgoers stopped tithing — giving 10% of one’s income directly to the church — she wasn’t just talking money. The Grammy-winning, neo-soul pioneer touched a nerve about how traditions intersect with economic realities. For others, it underscores the enduring role of the Black church as both a spiritual and communal anchor.
And it raises questions about whether one of the Black faith community’s most sacred traditions is helping close the wealth gap, or quietly widening it.
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