Racist Jesus Lovers
This research will explore race relations within Christianity. The project serves to answer the question: how did the development of race relations within Christianity produce the racism experienced by the author of this text as a child? Through autoethnograpy I will connect research on race relations in the Christian church, to personal incidents of racism within two main Christian institutions: my predominately white grammar school and black church. A qualitative approach will benefit the academy with personal introspection by one who experienced racism in segregated Christian bodies. Consequently, both scholars and the general public will better appreciate the direct effects racism in the church has on individuals, particularly children. This question will require examination of the church's approach to race in the past, and how it affects contemporary social practices. Such information will be attained through study of church history, particularly how they became segregated, along with the development of racism in the United States. Knowledge of current race relations within the Christian community is found in studies that critique the church, and the manner in which it deals with race. Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith present the main study that supports this research in their book, Divided by Faith. This study will connect concepts presented by Emerson and Smith to memories of the author that involved race and Christianity. Finally, the prose inspired by this research will present a biblical perspective on race. Poetry will offer personal interpretation of scriptures, along with reflection on race as presented by Bible scholars and church officials.
School:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department:
English Literature / Rhetoric
Research Advisor:
Vernon Burton
Department of Research Advisor:
History
Year of Publication:
2003