Episode 411: Christianity Beyond Whiteness
Transcript! (because accessibility is mandatory)
PDF transcript. Also available via our Buzzsprout page.
Shownotes! (because citations are political)
More HISTORY OF THE WORLD (RELIGIONS), Part 1 coming for you! On this episode, we do another episode on Christianity and race, despite the fact that last time y’all yelled at Ilyse (even though Megan claimed to take responsibility for her own words and script!). Anyway, we’re back for more despite the yelling. Maybe even because of it. And this time, we’re talking Christianity beyond whiteness.
The 101! (in which we did the professor-work)
Haven’t we already talked about Christianity?
We sure have — explicitly in episodes E304: White American Evangelicalism + Racism = BFF, E305: White Evangelicalism Racism with Dr. Anthea Butler, E306: Early Christianity Is Actually Kind of Interesting, and E307: Was Jesus a Wizard? with Dr. Shaily Patel. But, real talk: we are always railing against white EuroAmerican Christian imperialism, and there are few episodes where we aren’t talking about some form of Christian interpretation, influence, or calendar domination.
In this episode, we talked about African, Black, and Latinx Christianities, because the world religions paradigm oh so obviously leaves out Africa (all of it) and most of South America as well as Latinx folks (yup, all of that too) and somehow only sees Christianity as white (even when talking about places like Africa [all of it] or Catholics, whose whiteness was often conditional).
Same basic lesson plan as always this season: knowing that religion is imperial helps us understand why Christianity so often gets portrayed as white and often as Protestant. And, as always, religious literacy requires us to know not just that Christianity exists in multiple forms and for multiple populations, but that non-white Christian practices can be and are liberatory for its practitioners, despite often being influenced by imperialism and, sometimes, stemming from violent, forced conversion.
In short, we’re working against that racism and white supremacy on purpose, and instead, diving into some Christian practices and communities that don’t usually get airtime. Even though Christianity is tied up with modern imperialism and a lot, a lot of violence, maybe especially in communities of color, that doesn’t erase the faith, communities, or practices of Christians of color in the US or elsewhere.
Guest Expert! (because together we are a genius)
The fantastic Dr. Jorge J. Rodríguez V, Associate Director for Strategic Programming at the Hispanic Summer Program, joined us to talk about Latinx Christianity in what’s now the US.
Dr. Rodríguez specializes in the intersections of religion, social movements, race, and economics in the United States and the Caribbean. According to his Twitter bio (and you really must find him on Twitter), Dr. Rodríguez is a “DiaspoRican Theo-Socio-Storian contextualizing systems historically made Divine.” His research focuses on Christianity, social movements, and colonization – and specifically on the Young Lords and their coalition-building efforts in Chicago and New York in the 1960s and 70s.
Dr. Rodríguez is a prolific public scholar, and we’ve got things for you to read in homework.
In his guest spot, he talked about the ways Latinx folks use Christianity to push back against unjust societies. He talks about “lowkey and not-so-lowkey racism,” meaning-making in Latinx Christian communities, and draws upon his work on the Young Lords (among other things). It is a fantastic, crucial listen.
Little Bit Leave It! (in which we leave you a little bit to remember)
Megan wants to remind you—yes, you—that Christianity is what Christians do, and while it’s easy for us as scholars of race and power to get caught up in all the damage done in the name of Christian values, this episode was an important reminder that Christianity, especially among Christian communities of color, can make space for some truly revolutionary and desperately needed change and healing.
Ilyse predictably wanted you to know a thing about Indian Christianities. She likes Indian Christianity as a pedagogical example because there is no way it is present without imperialism. But, Britons were hella confused when Indian Christians turned their Christianity—a gift from them, the Brits—into anti-colonial, anti-imperial theology. (There’s homework, don’t worry.)
If You Don’t Know, Now You Know! (in which we get one factoid each)
Ilyse tried to assure all of you that, even in the soup of white Christian supremacy that impacts her daily life, that she knows # not all Christians. This, too, is a vibrant and multifaceted religion. (So stop bothering her when she’s [rightfully] critical!)
Megan taught us about Santa Muerte, or the Skinny Lady, who is especially beloved by trans and queer Catholics as well as Catholic sex workers. The magisterium is Big Mad about it, but Santa Muerte loves all vulnerable people, especially trans people, and She respects pronouns but not borders – because as Ilyse says, borders are lies we tell on maps and defend with bombs [or in the case of the US/Mexican border, whips and water canons]. And La Niña Blanca definitely says chinga la migra. End of factoid.
Homework! (because there’s always more to learn)
Ilyse, first and foremost, wants to thank our guest Dr. Rodríguez again, and also tell y’all to read his work:
“Lived Religion in East Harlem: The New York Young Lords Occupy First Spanish—The People’s Church” in the book Faith and Power: Latina/o Religious Politics since 1945 edited by Felipe Hinojosa, Maggie Elmore, and Sergio M. González.
Classical Ideas interview with friend of the pod Greg Soden
Jorge’s on another fantastic podcast, Profane Faith, with Daniel White Hodge and friend of the pod James H Hill Jr – these two are thinker-BFFAE goals.
Also truly, you must follow him on twitter [@JJrodV].
Beyond Dr. Rodríguez, Ilyse assigns:
Dr. Todne Thomas is mandatory reading:
Brand-new article in the JAAR, “Black Church Arson in the Museum”
Prior guest expert and permanent rockstar Vicki Brennan’s Singing Yoruba Christianity, which is what the title says–Nigerian Yoruba Christianity! It’s awesome. Get into it.
Classical Ideas Podcast about it, here.
On Indian/South Asian Christianity:
Clara A. B. Joseph’s Christianity in India: the AntiColonial Turn (2020) is a great book that thinks about South India christians engaged in anticolonial work
New Books Network podcast about it, here.
Timothy S. Dobe’s book does smart work too, so check it out, it’s called: Hindu Christian Faqir: Modern Monks, Global Christianity, and Indian Sainthood(2015)
Megan also had homework!
MORE Dr. Rodríguez! Check out his beautiful essay, “Comida de Pobre."
Dr. James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree
James H. Hill Jr. has done some amazing work on Blackness, Christianity, and religion
“Watchmen, Haunting, and the Religious Imagination” for AAIHS
“The Black Church and the Black Fantastic” for the Berkley Forum
Definitely check out Pray the Devil Back to Hell and Gbowee's memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers
Today’s surprise actual primary source, Chavez’s "The Mexican American and the Church"
Dr. Barbara Sostaita’s work for Bitch Media
More information on "No More Deaths"
“Federal judge rules in Arizona that saving lives is not a crime,” Arizona Sentinel (4 February 2020)
For more on Santa Muerte:
Machado, “Transgressing Saint Transgressing Borders”
and while Megan has notes, there are some interesting conversations about Santa Muerte on CNN’s “Believer”
Nerds of the Week! (because we love you for loving us)
Thanks for listening, rating and reviewing. This week’s nerd royalty are Abel Meeropol, PuppyFluffy, & hools2!!