Race & Ethnicity
In the US, Black survivors are nearly invisible in the Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis
By Lea Skene and Tiffany Stanley — November 30, 2023
BALTIMORE (AP) — Cases of clergy abuse among African Americans are underreported, experts say, and the U.S. Catholic Church generally does not publicly track the race or ethnicity of victims.
Poll: Less than half of Jewish college students feel safe on campus
By Yonat Shimron — November 29, 2023
(RNS) — The poll of 3,084 American college students, of whom 527 were Jewish, comes amid an alarming rise in incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia as Israel and Hamas wage war.
250 years later, ‘Amazing Grace’ has filled churches, concerts, even commercials
By Adelle M. Banks — October 31, 2023
(RNS) — Says author James Walvin: ‘its words speak to a human condition of suffering, and people coming out of suffering, and its music has a kind of haunting refrain that soothes.’
Florida faith leader: Black history toolkit gains interest outside the state
By Adelle M. Banks — October 13, 2023
(RNS) — What the Rev. Rhonda Thomas started as a state-focused response has attracted interest in a far wider stretch of the country than she ever imagined.
In new book, James Baldwin emerges as a prophet for our time
By Yonat Shimron — October 12, 2023
(RNS) — Greg Garrett, a professor at Baylor University, wants to introduce a new generation of readers to the writer of short stories, novels and plays who believed America can do better.
AME Bishop Silvester Beaman named chair of White House council on African engagement
By Adelle M. Banks — September 27, 2023
(RNS) — ‘Bishop Beaman’s extensive experience and deep roots in Africa will enable him to lead the Council to achieve its full potential,’ the White House said.
National Association of Evangelicals launches test to assess, foster racial justice
By Adelle M. Banks — September 25, 2023
(RNS) — ‘We didn't really want to recreate the wheel,’ said NAE’s new racial justice and reconciliation expert. ‘We wanted to bridge a gap that was existing.’
Suspended UMC Latina bishop found not guilty on all charges
By Yonat Shimron — September 22, 2023
(RNS) — Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, a leader of the California-Nevada Conference, or region, of the United Methodist Church, will return to her role after an 18-month suspension.
From Rockettes to Riverside: Senior minister Adriene Thorne leads NYC church
By Adelle M. Banks — September 22, 2023
(RNS) — ‘I love bringing dancers that I know into the space,’ she said. ‘We had some at my installation.’
Suspended UMC Latina bishop accused of financial malfeasance and retaliation
By Yonat Shimron — September 19, 2023
(RNS) — The trial of Bishop Minerva Carcaño is a first for a United Methodist bishop.
After the Birmingham bombing, a Rosh Hashana sermon to remember
By Mark Silk — September 14, 2023
(RNS) — From the rabbi caught in the middle of the road.
Sixty years later, King’s dream still calls
By Bridget Moix — August 31, 2023
(RNS) — Six decades after King proclaimed his dream that we would all be ‘free at last’ from racism and violence, Black lives are still threatened every day by race-based killings.
Pastor urges sadness, not rage, after white shooter kills 3 Black people in Florida
By Russ Bynum and Aaron Morrison — August 29, 2023
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The latest in a long history of American racist killings was at the forefront of Sunday services at St. Paul AME Church, about 3 miles from the crime scene.
The story of Emmett Till is the story of America
By Robert P. Jones — August 29, 2023
(RNS) — If we trace the historical stream further back, we can see, in Emmett Till’s story, America’s oldest struggles. Indeed, the land itself testifies to the cultural world in which Till’s murder was conceivable.
An online assembly attempts to correct March on Washington gender gap
By Yonat Shimron — August 24, 2023
(RNS) — None of the speeches at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom were delivered by women. The “She Speaks” online assembly is intended to lift up the voices of women fighting for racial justice.
