1619: “Church,” by Anthea Butler
Plus: I’ve heard great things about last Sunday’s discussion. Thank you so much!
Happy Wednesday. Hope you enjoyed last Sunday’s discussion. I heard it went great! A big thank you to Telannia and Elise for facilitating the big group and to Trevor, Molly, and Toronzo for facilitating the small groups. My niece says hi and wants everyone to know that her college GPA was higher than mine.
Before getting to this week’s reading, I’m happy to report that I have made a $594 donation to The 1619 Freedom School, thanks to your generosity.
All right, it’s time to get back to reading! Here’s our schedule.
This week, let’s read “Church” by Anthea Butler. The essay is outstanding not only in its organization but also in its quality of writing. It explores the development and power of the Black Church as a “voice of condemnation of America’s ills” from slavery to today. Particularly impressive is how Dr. Butler highlights the tension in the church as Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and the Black Power movement challenged nonviolence in the 1960s – and how Black Liberation Theology emerged as a result.
Dr. Butler writes:
The Black church has not only been a forum for righteous anger. Forged out of slavery, it was also a place of protection and practicality. For many decades it was one of the few places Black people could gather for educational purposes, to arrange mutual aid groups, or to form political organizations. As a result, it has always been a target. As an independent institution operating free of white control and oversight, the Black church had inherent revolutionary potential that often made it an object of white fear and anger.
This week
Read “Church,” by Anthea Butler.
RSVP to our July 10 discussion when I email you the calendar invite.
Also, please feel free to reach out. Let me know if you need anything or want to chat. All you need to do is hit reply. Thank you and have a great week!