Abstract
This article explores how conservative and progressive black Protestants interrogate the theological theme of the sacrality of black life through digital media. The innovations of religious media in black evangelical communities remain an understudied phenomenon in African American religion, making this an apt arena for further discovery. This current intervention into the study of African American Religion examines digital activism through examples of religious media produced by blacks for black audiences. This article begins its interrogation of the sacrality of black life by juxtaposing those who contend that Black Babies Matter as pro-birth-oriented, religiously motivated activists with those religious opponents asserting Black Lives Matter who present an intersectional pro-life approach. The comparison of views relies on womanist cultural analysis as its main methodology to analyze and interpret digital media and explore its ramifications for African American Religion.
Highlights
This article explores how conservative and progressive black Protestants interrogate the theological theme of the sacrality of black life through digital media
The innovations of religious media in these black evangelical communities remain an understudied phenomenon in African American religion making this an apt arena for further discovery
This current intervention into the study of African American Religion examines digital activism through examples of religious media produced by blacks for black audiences
Summary
Philosopher of religion Terrence Johnson contends that the Black Lives Matter movement emerges from an African American religious context as it “inherits its call to ‘(re)build the Black Liberation movement’ from the Black Church’s historical role in developing a theology of liberation based on social justice” (Johnson 2016). He is clear that is he not indicating any causality from the Black Church to the Black Lives Matter movement; instead, he is positing that that they share vocabulary, songs, and even political ideology such that the basic building blocks for what defines justice and what it means to be human are found in black churches. While more conservative activists may not share all of Cooper’s goals, they certainly support the claim that Jesus’ salvific power extends beyond the soul to bodily concerns
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
