The Influence of Christianity on Racialized Political Attitudes in Ferguson, Missouri

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The Influence of Christianity on Racialized Political Attitudes in Ferguson, Missouri University of Missouri, St. Louis IRL @ UMSL Dissertations UMSL Graduate Works 3-31-2021 The Church and Michael Brown: The Influence of Christianity on Racialized Political Attitudes in Ferguson, Missouri Tyler Chance University of Missouri-St. Louis, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation Part of the American Politics Commons Recommended Citation Chance, Tyler, "The Church and Michael Brown: The Influence of Christianity on Racialized Political Attitudes in Ferguson, Missouri" (2021). Dissertations. 1029. https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1029 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the UMSL Graduate Works at IRL @ UMSL. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of IRL @ UMSL. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Church and Michael Brown: The Influence of Christianity on Racialized Political Attitudes in Ferguson, Missouri Tyler R. Chance M.A., Political Science, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2017 B.A., Political Science, Southern Illinois University, 2013 A Dissertation Submitted to The Graduate School at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science May 2021 Advisory Committee David Kimball, Ph.D. Chairperson Todd Swanstrom, Ph.D. Adriano Udani, Ph.D. Anita Manion, Ph. D. Copyright, Tyler Chance, 2021 1 Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1: Defining the Problem ............................................................................................................ 8 Chapter 2: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Religion and Government .................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Opiate and Inspiration: Religion and Black Political Advancement in America ................... 21 2.3 Clergy and Racial Crises: Two Studies .................................................................................. 54 2.4 The Political Behavior of Clergy ........................................................................................... 63 2.5 Framing Ferguson ................................................................................................................ 82 Chapter 3: The Response of Clergy to Racialized Violence in Ferguson ...................................... 100 3.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................. 100 3.2 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 104 3.3 Findings .............................................................................................................................. 106 3.3.1 Doctrinal Beliefs and Liturgical Practices .................................................................... 107 3.3.2 Congregational Size, Demographics, and Location ..................................................... 131 3.4 Discussion........................................................................................................................... 144 Chapter 4: Vignettes .................................................................................................................... 148 4.1 A Tale of Two Churches ...................................................................................................... 148 4.2 The Slow Start .................................................................................................................... 154 4.3 The Next Generation .......................................................................................................... 157 4.4 For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Something to Eat...................................................... 161 4.5 The Police Chaplain ............................................................................................................ 163 4.6 The Priest ........................................................................................................................... 167 4.7 The Bishop .......................................................................................................................... 170 4.8 The White Church .............................................................................................................. 175 4.9 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 183 Chapter 5: The Response of Citizens to Racialized Violence in Ferguson .................................... 185 5.1 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 186 5.2 Methods ............................................................................................................................. 187 5.3 The Pilot Survey ................................................................................................................. 187 2 5.4 The Pilot Study Results ....................................................................................................... 189 5.5 2016 Survey ........................................................................................................................ 197 5.6 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 217 Chapter 6: Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 223 6.1 Areas for Further Research ................................................................................................ 226 References ................................................................................................................................... 231 3 Abstract This study examines whether the Christian faith played a pacifying or inspiring role in racialized politics following the death of Michael Brown and subsequent uprisings in Ferguson, Missouri. To evaluate the role of religion in responding to racialized crisis, the author examines both the attitudes of individual citizens and the actions of faith leaders. Using data gathered from two exit-polls conducted by the author in Ferguson and the surrounding area during the period between the death of Michael Brown and the decision not to indict the officer who killed him and then again after the grand jury decision, the author finds religious and racial gaps in the acceptance of narratives about the death of Michael Brown. The analysis of exit-poll data also shows a racial cleavage in perceptions of congregational response to the Ferguson Moment. The author then uses interviews with clergy from across the St. Louis region to analyze the various ways faith leaders responded to the racial crisis and the doctrinal, demographic, and place-based variables that may have influenced these responses. 4 Acknowledgements This project could not have been accomplished without the love and support of my family, especially my dear Melissa who encouraged me without ceasing. Thank you to my mother and brother who could never end a call without asking about the status of this project. If it was not for the constant stream of “are you done yet?” I would never have finished. Thank you to Dawna Williams who helped draft and conduct our first round of exit polls and to all the students and scholars who participated in the 2016 survey. Thanks to those who read drafts of my work including Emily Rich and Sierra Porritt. I am especially grateful to the folks who called me in, called me out, and started me on the journey of anti-racism. I once was blind, but because of you I see more clearly every day. This project is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Dave Robertson, who showed me how to do the work of political science with joy and laughter even when the world is bleak. To God be the glory. 5 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” 1 Peter 2:13-14 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31: 8-9 “Both read the Bible day and night, But thou read’st Black where I read white.” – William Blake Chapter 1: Introduction The day before Michael Brown’s funeral, John Eligon, wrote a story for The New York Times describing how Michael Brown Jr., just weeks before his death, reportedly saw an angel. According to Eligon, “It was 1 a.m. and Michael Brown Jr. called his father, his voice trembling. He had seen something overpowering. In the thick gray clouds that lingered from a passing storm this past June, he made out an angel. And he saw Satan chasing the angel and the angel running into the face of God.” Eligon went on to write, “Michael
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