The theological principle that undergirds this study maintains that community is a sacred phenomenon and that all African Americans belong to an extended family. Rites of Passage training is a significant first step toward reshaping the way African American men and boys understand their relationship to the sacred cosmos. The challenge facing the African American community is to create formal and informal social systems to facilitate the exchange of positive values between African American men and boys. This study examines Rites of Passage from a biblical and socio-cultural perspectives as a means of achieving cultural integrity and spiritual transformation. The most important conclusion reached is that Rites of Passage training is a viable means to bridge the social distance between African American men and boys. This study goes on to examine the use of Rites of Passage training within the context of Boys To Men.
