Black Protestants
Kamala Harris holds private meeting with Rev. William Barber
By Jack Jenkins — February 15, 2024
(RNS) — The vice president sat down with Barber and the Rev. Kazimir Brown, head of Repairers of the Breach, to discuss poverty and Israel's ongoing assault into the Gaza Strip.
Lenten cease-fire campaign includes Ash Wednesday Mass outside White House
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 14, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘As there’s ashes on our head, there’s also blood on our hands because we cannot exempt ourselves from what this country is doing,’ said the Rev. Graylan Hagler, pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.
Peace pilgrimage takes up war in Gaza as a civil rights issue
By Yonat Shimron — February 13, 2024
(RNS) — Many Black Americans view the Palestinian cause in the context of the African American experience of oppression. This has on occasion strained relations with American Jews.
With George Floyd in mind, Bible co-editors created Breathe Life Bible
By Adelle M. Banks — February 13, 2024
(RNS) — After the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer, the co-editors of the new Bible say they felt compelled to do something.
For Black ‘nones’ who leave religion, what’s next?
By Kathryn Post — February 12, 2024
(RNS) — When Black Americans leave religion, they rarely leave it altogether. But even as they retain elements of Christian culture, what other communities are they embracing beyond the church?
Dexter Scott King remembered during memorial as keeper of his father Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream
By Mark Thiessen — February 12, 2024
The memorial service for Dexter King was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his father once was pastor.
In ‘Gospel’ docuseries, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores Black church’s music, ministers
By Adelle M. Banks — February 9, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Gates reveals early tension within the genres as some musicians held to music only of faith and others were comfortable far afield from gospel music.
Meet ‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick: Preacher, author, cancer warrior
By Kathryn Post — February 8, 2024
(RNS) — Hardwick recently retired as lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in East Point, Georgia, as he receives ongoing treatment for stage 4 cancer.
We need more Howard Thurman in our politics
By David B. Gowler — February 7, 2024
(RNS) — The theologian and often-overlooked civil rights hero would have warned us against politics as a zero-sum game.
‘Genius: MLK/X’ docudrama depicts the personal lives of the two civil rights activists
By Adelle M. Banks — February 1, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The series includes scenes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, at home with their families and discussing their faith.
Historic sermon by Gina Stewart at joint Black Baptist meeting draws cheers, controversy
By Adelle M. Banks — January 30, 2024
(RNS) — After many in the room cheered her on and stood as she preached, the session featuring her sermon temporarily disappeared from the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc.’s Facebook page.
Biden praises Black churches and says the world would be a different place without their example
By Zeke Miller — January 29, 2024
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The president is trying to spread the message that he's loyal to South Carolina, which saved his campaign in 2020.
Agriculture Department, COGIC make plans for funds to add trees to urban centers
By Adelle M. Banks — January 23, 2024
(RNS) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said ‘structuring this program so that it's empowering more tree planting and more workforce development gives us the opportunity to partner with the church.’
William Barber on recruiting low-wage voters, Biden’s record on poverty
By Kathryn Post — January 19, 2024
(RNS) — 'If you leave this many people in poverty and low wealth, you open up the door for demagogues and people who will use people’s fears and hurts against them,' said the Rev. William Barber.
MLK summit for Gaza highlighted historic ties between civil rights and Palestinian liberation
By Ben Norquist — January 17, 2024
CHICAGO (RNS) — Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson and his longtime friend and collaborator James Zogby helped convene the gathering of nearly 2,000 faith leaders over MLK weekend.