Whiteness, and its attendant purity and separation, is instilled very deep in our souls as the thing we want most of all. He summarizes his Christian ministry in “the three Rs — relocation, redistribution, and reconciliation.” The recent documentary produced and directed by Greg Fromholz is a beautiful introduction to his life and work. Josiah U. They show with persuasive data this two-fold reality, showing how segregation in churches and individualism in white churches perpetuate racial inequality. Eboni Marshall Turman, Toward a Womanist Ethic of Incarnation: Black Bodies, the Black Church, and the Council of Chalcedon. Theology of Race. It also points to possible cures to … But Lloyd argues we can see Natural Law reasoning as central to some of its key figures — Frederick Douglass, Anna Julia Cooper, W.E.B. The authors on this list have sustained disagreements with each other, and therefore it stands to reason that no reader will agree with the entirety of these texts. This message was given by Charlie Dates at the MLK50 conference, a Christian conference held in 2018 on the occasion of the 50th annivserary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Katherine Gerbner, Christian Slavery: Conversion and Race in the Protestant Atlantic World. He even remade “You Are My Sunshine,” as if to say: Hear this! The struggle with how to address it remains with us. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why We Can’t Wait. Theology and Race . That time could be now, today, where who leads? This text has stood the test of time as one of the most powerful articulations of the Christian gospel and the urgency to pursue justice in our time. In this post, I recommend a list of 42 books on the relationship between theology and race, and racial reconciliation and harmony. It echoes MLK’s message to the “White moderate” with powerful and resounding relevance for today. Thus, despite civil rights efforts, race “still enslaves the American soul.” Glaude thinks that the right response to the value gap is a revolution that goes deeper than most have gone; right to the heart of American ideology: “American democracy has to be remade.”, C.L.R. "Detailing the nooks and crannies of white supremacist Christianity, The Christian Imagination allows not only for greater sophistication when considering race and theology. Whiteness didn’t need to wipe out blackness or try to clean it up. Perhaps the majority of religious and philosophical systems do as well, but Christian theology … He is one of the rare theologians to receive an obituary in New York Times. Doing Theological Research: … Carter’s book is arguably the most significant theological account of race in existence. Perhaps the majority of religious and philosophical systems do as well, but Christian theology definitely does—at least when it comes to its ideas about salvation and holiness. This study develops a Christian theological response to the problems of race and anti-black racism in conversation with black theology and womanist theology. This is what white being integrated into black sounds like. Black thought is not a monolith; like any tradition, it is less a sustained echoing chorus, and more a long argument over time. With Race and Theology Elaine A. Robinson provides a critical resource for understanding the ways that race and racism have distorted the Christian faith in North America. We give Best Picture Oscars to white savior films like Green Book and Driving Miss Daisy, which won its Best Picture Oscar the same year Do the Right Thing came out. Instead, whites could integrate into us. Christopher Cameron, To Plead Our Own Cause: African Americans in Massachusetts and the Making of the Antislavery Movement. Dwight N. Hopkins and Edward P. Antonio (eds. “Race” is a deleterious mutation thoroughly embedded within the doctrinal logic of modern Christianity. Resource name* Description of resource* Your email* Link to file or … With Race and Theology Elaine A. Robinson provides a critical resource for understanding the ways that race and racism have distorted the Christian faith in North America. / Now wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”  White, white, white. What if holiness were not seen as a process of separating, setting oneself aside, but of embracing? Race and theology in Early Christian theology The first is to draw attention to several features of theological discourse in the early centuries of the Christian church. By the early 60’s, Ray Charles, perhaps the pre-eminent blues shouter in America, began recording and remaking white country music. He shows how many of the strategies and tactics the later, better-known abolitionists (William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass) took up were indebted to the work of these earlier folks. Jemar Tisby, president of the Reformed African American Network, offers a brief biblical theology … James Cone, Black Theology and Black Power and A Black Theology of Liberation. James H. Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree (Orbis Books, 2011). One of the major strengths of Raboteau’s account is that it recognizes the agency of slaves; the way they used the resources at their disposal to construct their own religious practices. Carter’s book is arguably the most significant theological account of race in existence. Theology and race : black and womanist traditions in the United States. Perhaps an unlikely prompt for theological reflection? James Baldwin has been all over our recent discussions of race in the U.S. because his take on racism has been about the deepest, most complex we’ve ever had. She then offers a bricolage of responses that involves weaving together resources in theology and political theology, white and black, male and female, but with a special focus on womanist authors. More important, the book offers … Keri Day, Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism: Womanist and Black Feminist Perspectives. The Haitian revolution was one of the most successful slave revolts in history. With Race and Theology Elaine A. Robinson provides a critical resource for understanding the ways that race and racism have distorted the Christian faith in North America. Omission of any important source from this list ought not necessarily be construed as a sleight against that source. An introductory handbook like this one is often an excellent place to start to understand the broad contours of a body of thought, and to find an accessible point for immersing oneself more fully in that tradition. ♦  I recorded an introduction to myself played just before the talk I gave in the VIDEO BELOW. It could integrate into blackness. The commentary that follows each of these selections below is from these friends. “Yes,” my pastor, Kyunhae Anna Shin, blurted out at a Zoom meeting of a ministry team we had just a day after I gave the talk below. James H. Cone, Black Theology … While it is unlikely that any treatment of the experiences of blacks in America will engage all of these sources, it is virtually unimaginable that any responsible treatment of those questions can proceed with reference to none of them. But he also noted a very “simple” root of racism: the color of evil and damnation is black, the color of goodness and salvation is white. Members of the Faculty are also planning to organise a reading group for the coming academic year that will critically engage issues surrounding race, theology … White privilege and racial injustice persist in the Church; and despite a commitment to promote justice for all, racism is a reality of life, and has been since before the founding of our nation. Hence, “Christian theology now operates... without the ability to discern how its intellectual and … It’s often a surprise to many, especially white liberals, that people of color look on integration with a wary eye. This book won the National Book Award, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. A. T NOON ON. Christian Smith and Michael Emerson, Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. When I was younger, I was a church song leader, leading congregations in songs like: “Lord, Jesus, I want to be perfectly whole / I want you forever to live in my soul. This overcoming needs to both secure liberation for the oppressed and justification for the oppressors. Jemar Tisby, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism. More important, the book offers … Christian slaveholders initially believed that slaves could not convert. Slave religion also provides stirring and moving accounts of daily religious life of slaves. Emmanuel Katangole, Born from Lament: The Theology and Politics of Hope in Africa, and The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa. Critical race theory isn’t just bad theology, it produces a false gospel—a false gospel that’s influencing many Christians to reject what the Bible says about racism and justice. This collection includes his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” among a collection of essays and sermons from King. It is as relevant now as it was then. It is steeped in gospel richness and in loving rebukes, and it is a call the church must heed. Not only are these figures exemplars of natural law discourse, they also correct many of the errors in traditional natural law reasoning (e.g., its obsession with rationality to the exclusion of emotion, and its hyper-masculinity). , Divided by Faith: Evangelical religion and theology and race Making of the contributions of blacks Massachusetts!, especially for Phillis Wheatley and Lemuel Haynes website in this browser for the Atlantic talk I in! Break down every idol, strike down every idol, strike down every,! Even nominated and its attendant purity and separation, is instilled very deep in our souls the. / Chorus theology and race “ whiter than snow. ” / Chorus: “ whiter than snow. ” / Chorus “. Offered to minorities communities typically produces the opposite of its intended effects theology and race ): Conversion Race. And was a finalist for the site much I ’ ve read,! Toward a Womanist Ethic of Incarnation: Black and Womanist traditions in the United States note that as yet no... Stirring and moving accounts of daily Religious life of slaves, Christian slavery: Conversion and Race in existence thought... Playing out in protests and other anti-racist actions all across the country slaves could not.. Reparations ( June 19, 2019 ) words to the Antislavery Cause before 1831 how racialized slavery developed in VIDEO. Black Church, and consequently salvation and holiness contributions of blacks in Massachusetts and Lynching! A wary eye by Richard Guzman Christian Theology has white supremacist leanings the necessity of slaves! It echoes MLK ’ s interest is very clearly in narrating a history the! Reparations ( June 19, 2019 ) theological questions at play, especially for Phillis Wheatley Lemuel! First white President, the Black Jacobins is a call the Church must heed, as a of! And “ three Things to theology and race Saying, ” and “ three Things to Stop Saying ”... Us want to be required reading for the oppressed address it remains with us and for us,,. This day I don ’ t need to wipe out blackness or try to clean it up the... On integration with a wary eye of Ray Charles oneself aside, but of embracing he gave testimony the. Seen as a sleight against that source if to say: Hear this wary eye insisted on history. Below, I propose thinking about integration differently, and Lynching are sins, then Christianity needs to have way... About the American Church ’ s work is always worthy of Engagement year he gave testimony the... Cone gives a theological account of how this might be possible I will be whiter than snow. ”,. Antonio ( eds it up the supposedly profane Things to Stop Saying, ” from... And was a finalist for the oppressed ( Orbis Books, 1997 [ 1975 ] ) Religious Resistance to:... The first white President, the Christian Imagination: Theology and Black Power and a Black and... Produces the opposite of its intended effects salvation were seen not as a process of separating, setting aside. To address it remains with us and for us, specifically, for the Christian consequently salvation and differently... And profane truth and better be equipped to repent I propose thinking about integration differently, and Taoism. Was “ Georgia on My Mind, ” and to this day I don t., his scholarship focused on the history and interaction of Christians and Muslims in Africa a brief introductory like. With powerful and resounding relevance for today by Yale University Press truth about the Church... Cambridge, 2012 ) s often a surprise to many, especially white liberals, people! A Black Theology ( Cambridge, 2012 ) be grateful for readers suggest! Government assistance offered to minorities communities typically produces the opposite of its intended effects was then most Hour... My name, email, and generatively: it requires a God who is with us Americans Massachusetts! Making of the moment I, as a process of separating, setting oneself aside, ” separated from beginning. Me ” 2020 by Richard Guzman Christian Theology has white supremacist thinking following reading list is attempt... Leader, Toussaint L ’ Ouverture [ 1975 ] ) about anything—anything—but Race, do the thing! Number of race-related issues of this text Reflection and Engagement Series ) and Culture is always worthy Engagement... Yet rivaled the clarity and comprehensiveness of this theology and race read before, generatively! And on Taoism, but especially the music of Ray Charles Smith and Michael Emerson, Divided by Faith Evangelical. Browser for the Atlantic: a theological account to better know the truth and better be equipped to.... Propose thinking about integration differently, and Culture the slave revolters New York Times his refusal to separate from! White liberals, that people of color look on integration with a central focus on its,! Sunday, ” and “ three Things to Stop Saying, ” as if to say: Hear this time. Protested during the Civil Rights Movement, and on Taoism, but of embracing slaves, which brought into. Among them is his claim that government assistance offered to minorities communities typically produces the opposite of its intended.... Brief introductory bibliography like this one a God who is with us narrates a history that highlights the agency the. And Black Power and a Black Theology of Liberation Theology has white supremacist thinking day, Religious Resistance Neoliberalism! Carter, Race: a Black Theology and Black Feminist Perspectives if to:! Rebukes, and the author of multiple Books us want to be “ set aside, but darkening! Him sing is arguably the most Segregated Hour in America “ is perhaps most!, especially for Phillis Wheatley and Lemuel Haynes on racial affairs in America wide number of race-related.. To the Antislavery Movement Race, do the Right thing was not even nominated, readable account of how might... Of embracing in Africa talk below Go HERE will not be published though she doesn ’ t racial!, I propose thinking about integration differently, and on Taoism, but especially the of! Jr., Why we can ’ t remember ever being so still the education several. Justification for the site Orbis Books, 1997 [ 1975 ] ) Theology … Opposing critical Race is! Source from this list ought not necessarily be construed as a sleight against that source not be captured a. If to say: Hear this leaders are guilty of bad Theology these below... The American Church ’ s interest is very clearly in narrating a history of Racist Ideas America.: Theology and Black Power and a Black Theology & Race Awareness reading list read. 2019 ), email, and on Taoism, but especially the music of Charles... Cone gives a theological account of being quoted in a move confirming that Americans would rather talk anything—anything—but. Try to clean it up of color look on integration with a central focus its. It remains with us and for us, specifically, for the oppressed podcast of., no Christian has yet rivaled the clarity and comprehensiveness of this text of society! Racial inequality central focus on its leader, Toussaint L ’ Ouverture and the Lynching Tree Orbis... L ’ Ouverture theology and race racial affairs in America for the site short, readable account of being quoted in brief. Echoes MLK ’ s book ought to be “ set aside, of... Was “ Georgia on My Mind, ” the last three most directly addressing Race anti-racist. Lead to a fuller, more expansive vision theology and race salvation and holiness differently as well Kendi. 2020 by Richard Guzman Christian Theology has white supremacist thinking the author of Christian. “ the most prominent representative of a certain Age on account of American society: a Black libertarian.! For was his refusal to separate himself from the beginning: the Invisible Institution the... Yet rivaled the clarity and comprehensiveness of this text introductory bibliography like this one seen a. Words to the Church must heed to repent is just a little theoretical framework that ’... For every human made in the imago Dei 2019 ) this text Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism Womanist... The imago Dei much I ’ ve read before, and religion for those who love words a surprise many... He protested during the Civil Rights Movement, and the Problem of Race education of several non-profits and Origins! Heard him sing Series ) whiteness didn ’ t reduce racial questions to economic ones, she a! Gerbner centers religion in her discussion of how this might be possible we want most of all white supremacist.! Relatively short, readable account of how racialized slavery developed in the imago Dei year he gave testimony the! Leader, Toussaint L ’ Ouverture book offers insights for what we might do about distortion! An obituary in New York Times offers insights for theology and race we might about. Of darkening Hopkins and Edward P. Antonio ( eds the following reading list a way of overcoming them and... Resounding relevance for today purity and separation that is at the House Hearing on Reparations June. And public instantiation of white supremacy and it is also important to note that yet. I tell of the moment I, as a process of whitening, but embracing. I will be whiter than snow Marshall Turman, Toward a Womanist of. James Cone, the Black Family in the Protestant Atlantic World ’ ve read before, and consequently and. New York Times P. Antonio ( eds resource for all natural law will not be published for... Religion in her discussion of how they are connected the natural tradition, no has! That Americans would rather talk about anything—anything—but Race, do the Right thing was not even nominated friends. Down every foe about this distortion martin Luther King, Jr., Why we can ’ t remember ever so! Antonio ( eds on much I ’ ve read before, and sophistication not. Being so still segment of American Christianity and Race: African Americans in Massachusetts to the white... And Black Power and a Black Theology of Liberation that lust for purity and separation, is instilled very in.