When it comes to the historical development of the African-American Church like no other, various areas of expertise were blended and many backgrounds united on a common ground. The main purpose of these unified bodies was to establish and advocate a common goal for the development of the African-American Church, which some refer to in an interchangeable manner as the Black Church.
The collaboration of these inspiring individuals, and functional groups, were centered on a shared and singular vision of establishing and uplifting the African-American Church for African descendants. There were many pioneers in this effort including the following: W. E. B. Dubois who authored The Negro Church (1903); Carter G. Woodson, author of The History of the Negro Church (1921); E. Franklin Frazier who penned The Negro Church in America (1963); and Benjamin E. Mays and Jacob Nicholson, who collaborated on writing The Negro's Church (1969).
Additional support was received from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1966 by the hiring of Dr. Henry H. Mitchell as the first Martin Luther King, Jr., Professor of Black Studies. The university provided intellectual, professional, and inspirational development and guidance coupled with transformative leadership for the establishment and enhancement of the African-American Church.
Inspiration and development were acquired in the areas of innovative teaching and learning based on imaginative vision and ministerial leadership of Black Christianity. Potency in the program fostered and cemented when Whites, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans bonded together to support and promote the program by taking courses to strengthen their vision and base of knowledge regarding African-American Christianity.
Consequently, the springboard effect of this critical and methodical approach evolved into a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary intellectual richness of practical and theoretical African-American Spirituality. The interdisciplinary area resulted from an integration of rich and vibrant knowledge from a perspective of multiple disciplines, which holistically solved many issues through the medium of research and educational applications.
On the other hand, the multidisciplinary integration of efforts encompassed various fields of study which were delved into, thus resulted in conversations which illuminated the objective areas of African-American Studies and the Black Church. Many of the applications used during the program investigated and solved grievous problems arising from:
- Racism and its disparaging and discriminatory impact on African-Americans
- Sexism and how such practiced negatively affected African-Americans
- Classist society and its adverse influence on African-American members of society
The eventual realization of this combined undertaking proved that the Black Church was and still is a necessary, vital, integral, and developing component of American society. The awakening resulted in the Black Church emerging in the forefront of religion as an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and culturally dynamic component: Naturally, it cuts across the spectrum of African-American spirituality thus providing a larger view and context of the Black Church.
Joseph S. Spence, Sr. (aka "Epulaeryu Master"), is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is published in seven different languages. He also co-authored two poetry books, "A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul" (2005), and "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul," (2006). He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which focuses on succulent cuisines. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas. He has completed over twenty years of service with the U.S. Army.
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