How does Black Christianity operate as a nation within a nation?
In this scholar profile, we talk with Marla Frederick, a religion scholar and the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Religion and Culture at Emory University. Dr. Frederick talks about her experience growing up Baptist, how she became an academic, and her research on Black Christianity, media, and HBCUs.
The episode kicks off with a reflection about the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC that was the site of a massacre back in 2015. How has the community healed? How have others shown support for the congregation?
You can find Marla Frederick on Twitter @MarlaFrederick.
Black Christianity & Social Justice
Dr. Frederick grew up in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and talking about this denomination’s history kicked off our social justice conversation. Listen to the episode to hear about the big to-do that led the PNBC to split off from the National Baptist Convention in 1961.
Activism was a part of Dr. Frederick’s childhood with religion. She says, “faith required you to be civically engaged on many levels.” The importance of social witness and justice also comes through in her book Between Sundays. In this study about Black women and the daily work of faith, Frederick writes: “religion serves as both social relief and social protest”(5).
Our conversation then turned to contemporary protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. We discussed differences in leadership style in comparison to the 1960s and how this shift makes it appear as if religion is not as central. In particular, the 1960s was “top-heavy” led by male clergy, while today “the movement is much more diffuse.”
“What people do from Monday through Saturday is their witness in the world.” –– Marla Frederick
Historically Black Colleges & Universities
Dr. Frederick is currently working on a project that looks at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). This is also the topic of ep. 21’s “rewind” segment. Here is a list of resources for learning about HBCUs and their fascinating history.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Their Place in American Higher Education
America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Narrative History, 1837-2009
“Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities”
“5 Things to Know: HBCU Edition”
Book Corner
Dr. Frederick provided us with this episode’s “Book Corner” content.
