Why Black Lives Matter
African American Thriving for the Twenty-First Century
Edited by Anthony B. Bradley
Imprint: Cascade Books
Beginning with a conversation prompted by African American scholars like Dr. Alvin Poussaint of Harvard Medical School in 2007, to the current Black Lives Matter movement, there has been much debate about what led to the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, among others, as well as other systemic challenges that undermine black thriving. Anthony Bradley has assembled a team of scholars and religious leaders to provide a distinctly Christian perspective on what is needed for black communities to thrive from within. In addition to the social and structural issues that must be addressed, within black communities there are opportunities for social change based on God's vision for human flourishing.
Covering topics like the black family, hip-hop, mental health, mentoring women, masculinity, and the church, this book will open your eyes to fresh ways to participate in solutions that will truly set black America free. Although the Black Lives Matter movement keeps the church on the margins, the authors in this volume believe that enduring change cannot happen unless God speaks directly to these issues in light of the gospel. This is a revised edition of an earlier book, Keeping Your Head Up.
With contributions from:
Vincent Bacote
Bruce Fields
Rev. Howard Brown
Ralph C. Watkins
Rev. Eric M. Mason
Rev. Lance Lewis
Rev. Anthony Carter
Ken Jones
Natalie Haslem
Rev. Ken Jones
Rihana Mason
Yvonne RB-Banks
Anthony B. Bradley is Professor and Chair of Religious and Theological Studies at The King’s College (New York, New York) and a Research Fellow at The Acton Institute. He is the author of Ending Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration (2018).
“Dr. Bradley has assembled a diverse group of black scholars, pastors, and practitioners to affirm the dignity of black lives. They boldly analyze and critique racist, systemic challenges and self-inflicted obstacles facing black lives today. These contributors also offer clear next steps. They place the Black Church at the center of the conversation. They affirm the truth that black lives indeed matter because God created us in his image.”
—Jarvis J. Williams, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“In a post-George Floyd America, this is a welcome and timely book. Anthony Bradley has assembled an A-team of black scholars of faith, men and women who see Black Lives Matter as a call to holy action. These learned essays speak profound truth into the many challenges facing black communities today. They offer wisdom that can break cycles of brokenness and dysfunction. White evangelicals troubled by the radical polarization and secularity of Black Lives Matter will want to listen in as well: this book presents a refreshing, gospel-centered, and life-giving alternative. Here you will find an academically informed, practically relevant, and deeply theological picture of why and how black lives matter, here on earth, and in the courts of heaven. I have learned a lot from reading Why Black Lives Matter, and it deserves a wide readership!”
—Hans Madueme, Covenant College
“Fatigued by the predictable approaches to this movement? You will embrace the workable words of these courageous excavators. They dig deeply into the timeliest of questions: Why BLM? (It’s all in the ‘why.’) In response, these essays do not resort to dry philosophical inquiry. Rather, you will discover practical and realistic approaches that move humanity forward. These are poets of the possible, bridge builders, rooted thinkers, hope dealers, faith leaders, community-based practitioners leaning into God’s future with Spirit-infused conviction.”
—John Arthur Nunes, Concordia College New York