{"product_id":"black-is-a-church-christianity-and-the-contours-of-african-american-life-9780190615130","title":"Black is a Church: Christianity and the Contours of African American Life","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eIn Black is a Church, Josef Sorett explores how Protestant ideas and practices have shaped black American culture and identity, reinforcing discourses of racial authenticity and religious orthodoxy. He shows how Christianity, white supremacy, and colonialism coalesced in the modern category of religion and formed the emergence of black identity in North America. The book examines the alliances, performances, and institutions that shape black life in the US, highlighting the role of Afro-Protestantism in the establishment of black literary forms and the organizing logic of the color line for religious innovations. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 256 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 01 June 2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Oxford University Press Inc\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his book \"Black is a Church,\" Josef Sorett explores the intricate ways in which black American culture and identity have been shaped by a specific set of Protestant beliefs and practices. By tracing the mutually reinforcing discourses of racial authenticity and religious orthodoxy that have made Christianity integral to the concept of blackness, Sorett reveals how Christianity, white supremacy, and colonialism converged in the modern realm of religion and played a crucial role in the formation of black identity in North America.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack is a Church delves into the surprising alliances, unique performances, and sometimes conflicting ideas and complex institutions that define the landscape of black life in the United States. The book begins by asserting that Afro-Protestantism has relied on literary strategies to articulate its essence since its early years of formation. Through a comprehensive examination of slave narratives and spiritual autobiographies, Sorett demonstrates how Protestant Christianity played a vital role in establishing the earliest black literary forms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSorett then traces the heterodox history of Afro-Protestantism, highlighting its convergence with literature, politics, and religion in the late 19th century. He illustrates how religious aspirations fueled early calls for race literature and how the color line provided a framework for religious innovations, ranging from pluralism to Pentecostalism. From the earliest literary productions of the 18th century to the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the 21st century, religion, specifically Protestant Christianity, remains at the core of black life in North America.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Josef Sorett offers a profound exploration of the complex relationship between blackness, religion, and culture. \"Black is a Church\" sheds light on the ways in which Protestant ideas and practices have animated black American identity, contributing to the formation of a distinctive and resilient cultural heritage. This book is a valuable addition to the field of African American studies and provides valuable insights into the historical and cultural significance of Christianity in shaping the lives of black Americans.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 406g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 217 x 256 x 22 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780190615130\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"JosefSorett","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44293162991866,"sku":"9780190615130","price":22.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1685719412662_book.jpg?v=1687422030","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/black-is-a-church-christianity-and-the-contours-of-african-american-life-9780190615130","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}