Black Religious Activism: Exploring the Issues

Explore the background and contemporary significance of Black religious activism in the USA.

In 1787, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones left the predominantly white St. George Methodist Episcopal Church to protest the racism and discrimination they faced. A few years later, both men created their own African American Christian denominations to meet the political and spiritual needs of Black communities. Over the following 200 years, Black leaders created countless religious organizations to meet those same needs, and contemporary Black religious communities continue to play an important role in local, regional, and national politics today.

An overview essay provides readers with a broad understanding of the movement, while a chronology situates key events in their historical context. Alphabetically arranged reference entries follow, providing objective and fundamental information about the people, organizations, and events that have shaped Black religious activism from Harriet Tubman to Raphael Warnock, the birth of the megachurch to the Black Lives Matter movement. Readers are encouraged to extend their understanding of the topic with cross-references and suggestions for further reading after each entry.