Race and religious liberty
BOOK: African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities, edited by Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Corey D.B. Walker. The second edition released in 2025 includes a new preface. Click here to access a PDF of the book for free.
Religious Liberty Has Been White Too Long: Voices of Black Scholars
Video and discussion guides
Video of the presentations in April 2021 from Dr. Nicole Myers Turner of Yale University, Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Dr. Anthony Pinn of Rice University, and Dr. David Goatley of Duke Divinity School.
Full five-session discussion guide
Abridged single-session discussion guide
White Christian Nationalism: How Racism Undergirds Christian Nationalism
Webinar from July 2021, featuring Dr. Jemar Tisby, Dr. Robert P. Jones, and Amanda Tyler
Discussion guide
Voices of Black Faith Freedom: Four Facebook Live conversations in February 2021
1. What can America learn from the Black Church about faith freedom? with the Rev. William Lamar IV
2. What does faith freedom mean to Black Nonbelievers? with Mandisa Thomas
3. What does faith freedom mean for your generation? with Maya Boddie and the Rev. Dr. Timothy “Tee” Boddie
4. What does faith freedom mean for minority religions in America? with P.J. Andrews
Voices of Asian American Faith Freedom: Three Facebook Live conversations in May 2021 and companion discussion guide
1. How does my identity inform my theology? with the Rev. Lauren Ng
2. How do minority religions gain equality in the face of Christian privilege? with Dr. Khyati Joshi
3. What can America learn about religious diversity from Asian Americans? with Tahil Sharma
Discussion guide for Voices of Asian American Faith Freedom
Voices of Hispanic and Latin American Faith Freedom: Three Facebook Live conversatoins in September-October 2021 and companion discussion guide.
1. ¿Que significa la libertad religiosa para los hispanoamericanos? con Jesse Rincones y Anyra Cano (en español)
2. What is our identity in the community? with Rev. Alyssa Aldape, Erika Perez, M.Ed., LPC, and Rev. Aurelia Pratt
3. What can the religious community learn from a Latinx Humanist? with Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera
Discussion guide for Voices of Hispanic and Latin American Faith Freedom
Voices of Native American Faith Freedom: Two Facebook Live conversations in November 2021:
1. What does manifest destiny mean to a Native American Christian? with the Rev. Dr. Mitch Randall
2. What is the continuing legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery? with Mark Charles
Event videos:
An introduction to the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, released during the 2023 BJC Luncheon introducing the work of the BJC Center.
Indigenous voices on faith freedom, a conversation during the 2022 BJC Luncheon featuring Dr. Kyle T. Mays and Mariah Humphries in conversation with the Rev. Dr. Mitch Randall.
Fierce Freedom, the 2021 BJC Luncheon event featuring the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis calling on the church to dismantle racism.
A national conversation on white supremacy and American Christianity, the 2020 BJC Luncheon event. (Click here to watch just the conversation with Robert P. Jones and Adelle Banks)
Addtional Resources:
Podcast: Black America’s changing religious landscape
Dr. Sabrina Dent and Dr. Anthony Pinn join Holly Hollman for a conversation on misconceptions and how they brought together Black Church leaders and Black nontheists for key conversations. (released Feb. 8, 2024)
Podcast: White supremacy and Christian nationalism: A conversation with the Rev. Dr. Jay Augustine
Dr. Augustine joins Amanda and Holly for a wide-ranging discussion (released Feb. 23, 2023)
Column: Religious freedom has been white too long
Amanda Tyler reflects on James Baldwin’s remark that we “have been married to the lie of white supremacy too long” and the devastating impact that has had.
Facebook Video: When ministers become candidates
A look at the race and religous liberty issues in the U.S. Senate contest in Georgia between the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Sen. Kelly Loeffler
Facebook Video: A response to the national conversation on white supremacy and American Christianity
Featuring BJC Director of Education Charles Watson Jr. and Dr. Alphonso Saville IV of Georgetown University
Column: Violence against DC churches is an attack on religious freedom
Amanda Tyler on the destruction of Black Lives Matter signs at houses of worship in December 2020
Podcast: When religious liberty covers racism
Discussion from June 11, 2020, featuring BJC’s Charles Watson Jr., Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman
Podcast: Christian nationalism, race and white supremacy
Author and historian Jemar Tisby joins Amanda Tyler for this conversation from September 2019
Podcast: Christian nationalism and white nationalism
The Rev. Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggins joins Amanda Tyler for this conversation in 2019
Column: Reflections in solidarity: Our work to do
By BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler (June 3, 2020)
Article: Juneteenth and the promise of religious freedom
By BJC Fellow Kathryn Freeman
Video: Address to BJC on the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth
From the Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle on June 19, 2015
Facebook Video: A conversation on Juneteenth
Discussion with BJC’s Amanda Tyler and Charles Watson Jr. on June 19, 2020
Video: Highlights from Religious Liberty and the Black Church: A BJC Symposium
From the event featuring the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The Nov 10, 2016, event was co-sponsored by Howard University School of Divinity. Learn more at BJConline.org/HowardSymposium.
Video: An inclusive approach to religious liberty
2019 BJC Dinner, featuring Amanda Tyler, Dr. Corey Walker, and Linda McKinnish Bridges
BJC statement honoring the Emanuel Nine
Statement released on June 17, 2020, marking five years since the murder of worshippers by a white supremacist
