Read the book
African Americans and Religious Freedom
African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities is a collection of essays that provide novel interpretations of religious freedom informed by African American culture, history, ideas and religious experiences.
Edited by Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Corey D.B. Walker, the second edition released in 2025 includes a new preface addressing the need for religious freedom to undergo a deep interrogation in our perilous times.
African Americans’ knowledge traditions, religious practices, political cultures and ideas are rich resources that facilitate new conceptions of religious freedom. In doing so, religious freedom speaks to our contemporary moment with a freshness and boldness that can serve the best attempts to broaden and deepen our democracy.
Join us February 28 for a launch event!
The second edition of the book includes a new preface addressing the need to reimagine religous freedom and listen to lived experiences, and we are bringing authors and leaders together for a special event to re-introduce this collection of insightful essays on Friday, February 28, at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT.
Dr. Dent and Dr. Walker will provide remarks, and the event includes contributing authors and thought leaders, including Rahmah Abdulaleem, the Rev. William H. Lamar IV, and Elizabeth Reiner Platt.
The book will be free to all, and this page will provide ways to access the book once it is released.
Editors
Sabrina E. Dent
Sabrina E. Dent, D.Min., is the director of the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. Click here to read her full biography.
Dr. Dent is the co-editor of this book, and she co-wrote the introduction with Dr. Corey D.B. Walker. Dr. Dent also co-authored chapter 7 with Keisha Patrick, titled “Race, Advocacy and the Limits of Religious Freedom.”
Corey D.B. Walker
Corey D.B. Walker Ph.D., is dean of the School of Divinity and Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities at Wake Forest University. Click here to read his full biography.
Dr. Walker is the co-editor of the book and co-author of the introduction, alongside Dr. Sabrina E. Dent, and he is the author of the book’s conclusion, titled “Beyond a Politics of Nostalgia: Religious Freedom and the Ends of Democracy.”
Contributors
Rahmah Abdulaleem
Rahmah A. Abdulaleem, J.D., is co-chair of the Religious Freedom Committee of the American Bar Association, Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice.
She is the author of chapter 6, titled “Race, Religious Pluralism and Religious Freedom.”
Suzan Johnson Cook
The Honorable Suzan Johnson Cook was appointed by President Barack Obama as the third United States ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.
Ambassador Cook is the author of the foreword, titled “With My Brothers and Sisters at the Table.”
Sharon J. Grant
Sharon J. Grant, Ph.D., is associate professor of history and director of African American Studies at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas.
Dr. Grant is the author of chapter 4, titled “The Black Church and Religious Freedom.”
Faith B. Harris
Faith B. Harris, D.Min., is Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.
Dr. Harris wrote chapter 1, titled “On African American Perspectives on Religious Freedom.”
William H. Lamar IV
The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.
He is the author of chapter 5, titled “Religious Freedom and the Black Church Today.”
Keisha I. Patrick
Keisha I. Patrick, J.D., is special counsel at the Federal Reserve Board.
She is the co-author, alongside Dr. Sabrina Dent, of chapter 7, titled “Race, Advocacy and the Limits of Religious Freedom.”
Teresa Smallwood
Teresa L. Smallwood, J.D., Ph.D., is dean and vice president of academic affairs at United Lutheran Seminary.
Dr. Smallwood is the author of chapter 2, titled “Race, Law and Religious Freedom.”
Eric Lewis Williams
Eric Lewis Williams, Ph.D., is assistant professor of theology and Black Church studies at The Divinity School at Duke University.
Dr. Williams wrote chapter 3, titled “African American Religious Thought and the Politics of Freedom.”
Featuring torn paper with text from David Walker’s Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World, the new cover symbolizes the ongoing quest by African Americans to realize a truly just and equitable American democracy for all people. The torn edges serve as a visual reminder of unfulfilled justice — a theme central to this collection of essays. Just as Walker’s vision outlived him, this book’s second edition continues the urgent conversation on religious freedom, drawing from African American history, culture and ideas to reimagine its meaning today.
