Segregated Church?

I live in Deerfield Illinois. We are criticized often for our lack of diversity. The overwhelming majority is white and Jewish.  There are few members of minority groups represented in our schools and town.  Being that I am also Jewish living in this town I know very little about what happens in churches here or anywhere in our nation. While browsing through the race related articles we were presented with I was alarmed by this one article from CNN. The article is titled “Why Many Americans Prefer their Sundays segregated.”  I was curious about this concept and the reactions people had to this idea. As far as my knowledge goes the Christian faith is observed by many races and ethnicities. I know that church is a place for worship. At church I know that Christians pray, ask forgiveness for their sins, learn, teach, and have many programs. It startles me that a place for worship, where all people have the same beliefs, is often segregated by the members. They are all Christians, they are all going for the same propose, why do they prefer to be segregated by race? I had to read this article to understand. The article stated “Some blacks as well as whites prefer segregated Sundays, religious scholars and members of interracial churches say. Americans may be poised to nominate a black man to run for president, but it's segregation as usual in U.S. churches, according to the scholars. Only about 5 percent of the nation's churches are racially integrated, and half of them are in the process of becoming all-black or all-white, says Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-author of "United by Faith," a book that examines interracial churches in the United States.” Why do both parties prefer segregation in a world progressively working on integration and equal opportunities? “They say integrated churches are rare because attending one is like tiptoeing through a racial minefield. Just like in society, racial tensions in the church can erupt over everything from sharing power to interracial dating.” What is the tension composed of? Aren’t they all attending church because they have the same beliefs? Religion is such a predominant role in our individual selves. How can people with such a strong spiritual connection feel tension among one another when observing their religion? Wasn’t it the white Europeans and early Americans that forced Christianity on the black African population? Why would they influence them to follow the same religion if they didn’t wish to share it with them? The author investigated “DeYoung says he encountered many blacks who said they wanted a racial timeout on Sunday."They would say, 'I need a place of refuge,'" he says. "They said, 'I need to come to a place on Sunday morning where I don't experience racism.' ". Why did they feel the scrutiny of racism at church? Advocates for integrated churches shared my curiosity and criticism “But interracial church advocates say the church was never meant to be segregated. They point to the New Testament description of the first Christian church as an ethnic stew -- it deliberately broke social divisions by uniting groups that were traditionally hostile to one another, they say.” Although I do not practice the catholic faith I do believe that stand for respect, understanding and love. The majority population of the U.S. is catholic. I believe that this tension in integrated churches cripples our progress towards acceptance, equality, and integration. If church can be enjoyed by all, equal for all, and free of racial tension and segregation I believe the entire nation would benefit in a positive way. For anyone who is reading this do you think that church should be forced to integrate and learn to appreciate and like it? Or do you believe people should practice their religion in whichever way is most comfortable for them? I am conflicted by this question because religion is a personal choice, is it right for anyone to judge how people interoperate or practice it?