Religious Amnesias, Mythologies, and Apolitical Affects in Racist Landscapes

Sunder John Boopalan

doi:10.3390/rel11110615

Abstract

Given their explicit attention to contextual realities, liberation theologies have different expressions in various global contexts. One element they all have in common, however, is a sustained interest in the effects of historical processes. Dalit theology, a liberation theology arising from the struggles and hopes of Dalit communities in India, is in attunement with such critical analyses of the factors that shape power and domination. By drawing comparisons between the geography of a typical Indian village/town—in which bodies are segregated by caste belonging—and the increasing gentrification in towns and cities in the U.S.—in which bodies are segregated by the aftereffects of racialized geographies—the essay argues that domination today is better understood through affective encounters or the lack thereof.

Highlights

Seated at the back row of a large classroom as a teaching assistant for a class of over 50 students in the U.S, I watched student reactions to the question posed by guest lecturer and author of the book, The Christian Imagination, Willie Jennings
I describe the connections between caste, religion, and affect in the Indian context and use my learnings therein to comment on similar entanglements in the U.S, moving from caste to race. These comparisons enable a more comprehensive understanding of the problem at hand, across borders. Consider this brief description of the geography of a typical Indian village/town in which bodies are segregated by caste belonging
This quote comes from a recent essay in which, referring to how casteism and racism affect Dalits in India and Black people in the U.S, Manchala insightfully observes that “both their struggles against discrimination are seen as their ‘problems,’ and not as a moral challenge to the wider society”

Summary

Introduction

Seated at the back row of a large classroom as a teaching assistant for a class of over 50 students in the U.S, I watched student reactions to the question posed by guest lecturer and author of the book, The Christian Imagination, Willie Jennings. Religions 2020, 11, 615 otherwise well-meaning law or regulation but of unhidden public policy that explicitly segregated every metropolitan area in the United States”.3 Despite this well documented reality, Rothstein soberingly observes that “with very rare exceptions, textbook after textbook adopts the same mythology” about segregation today as “just the way things are” or because of some other benign thing.. Despite this well documented reality, Rothstein soberingly observes that “with very rare exceptions, textbook after textbook adopts the same mythology” about segregation today as “just the way things are” or because of some other benign thing.4 This public portrayal of an otherwise malevolent process has the consequence of sustaining an apolitical view of history and furthering apathy. The anecdotes will serve as windows into themes that facilitate greater understanding of racism and religion

Religious and Other Affects

Segregated America’s Forgotten Secrets: “We Come to Church for Diversity”

Apolitical Pursuits of “Happiness”: “I Come to Church for Comfort”

Findings

Whither from Here?