Reclaiming Spirit in the Black Faith Tradition This page intentionally left blank Reclaiming Spirit in the Black Faith Tradition By Derek S. Hicks reclaiming spirit in the black faith tradition Copyright © Derek S. Hicks, 2012. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2012 978-1-137-26910-2 All rights reserved. First published in 2012 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States— a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-44379-6 ISBN 978-1-137-26911-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9781137269119 Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Hicks, Derek S. Reclaiming spirit in the Black faith tradition / Derek S. Hicks. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-349-44379-6 1. African Americans— Religion. 2. Black theology. I. Title. BR563.N4H49 2012 230.089’96073— dc22 2012021461 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Scribe Inc. First edition: November 2012 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For Sadie, Renae, Cheryl, Clarke, and Charli: my champions In Memoriam Wilman Dean Sr., Albert Johnson, Wilman Dean Jr., and Lewis McGlothen: my fictive fathers This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments ix Preface: On the Paradox of the Plantation Church xiii Introduction: Contemplating the Mechanics of Black Faith 1 I Wounding the Body 1 The Void 19 2 The Debasement Campaign 35 3 Politics and the Macabre Arena 63 II Reclaiming the Spirit 4 Self- Amending Notions of Black Faith 89 5 Toward a Hermeneutic of Reclamation in the Study of Black Faith 109 6 Curative Recalibration: The Function of Religion within Black Faith 135 7 Curative Recalibration in Action: Engaging Oppositional Language and Religion 149 Conclusion: Recalibrational Spirituality Cast on the Contemporary Scene 173 Notes 177 Bibliography 205 Index 221 This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgments Producing this book was not a solo effort. A multitude of mentors, col- leagues, family, friends, funding organizations, and institutions offered me a safe space to see this work to publication. In a considerable way this work grew out of conversations shared with my grandmother, Sadie L. Dean, on our front porch in South- Central Los Angeles. In her position as a graceful and wise sage, my grandmother both exemplified and witnessed black faith at its best. Many an evening I would listen as she offered from her deep heart. Her steady encouragement invigorated me to complete this book. She continues to represent all that is good, pure, and possible in a world determined to wound or undermine. I salute and thank her for extending to me a love supreme. A celebrated group of scholars shepherded the earliest version of this project while I was a doctoral student in Rice University’s Religious Stud- ies Department. My advisor, Dr. Anthony B. Pinn, extended unmatched and uncommon generosity. I cannot fully express my appreciation for what he has sewn into my life. I will simply say, “Thank you, sir,” as I so often do. Dr. John B. Boles continues to offer generous support for my interdisciplinary approach to the study of American religious history. Dr. Michael Emerson has been a supportive sounding board for my approach to this study from a sociocultural standpoint. And Dr. Elias Bongmba has been both an invaluable resource and a calming force for me throughout this process. His insights on hermeneutics and the study of religion in general are unmatched. I would also like to thank others in Rice’s Reli- gious Studies Department. Drs. David Cook, April DeConick, Matthias Henze, Gregory Kaplan, William Parsons, John Stroup, and especially Jeffrey J. Kripal have been helpful in immeasurable ways. I would also like to thank Drs. Roland Smith, Alex Byrd, Edward Cox, Holly Heard, Jenifer Bratter, and Caroline Levander for their generous attention to my work. Thank you as well to my department mother, Mrs. Sylvia Louie, as well as to Minranda Robinson- Davis and Maya Reine. I have had the opportunity to engage an exceptional group of gradu- ate students at Rice University. I first and foremost thank my “academic big brother,” Dr. Torin Alexander. Torin’s keen ability to show me my intellectual blind spots and his gift of wise counsel enhanced my gradu- ate school experience. Thank you to Margarita Simon- Guillory for her x Acknowledgments genuine support and positivity. Thank you as well to Paul Easterling, Terri Laws, Jonathan Chism, and the brilliant current members of the African American religions cohort. I also extend gratitude to former and current Rice graduate students Andrea Jain, Ann Gleig, Matt Schunke, Bob Erlewine, Molly Robey, Barrye Brown, Rusty Hawkins, Jennifer Jamison, and Nessette Falu. Appreciation goes to Mark G. Little, who remains among my closest friends from Rice. I would like to acknowledge a great community of scholars who have in some way encouraged me during the fashioning of this project. Ter- rence Johnson, James Logan, Shayne Lee, Monica Coleman, Wallace Best, Josef Sorett, J. Kameron Carter, Jonathan Walton, Stephen Ray, Lerone Martin, Monica Miller, Ezekiel Dixon- Roman, Gregory C. Elli- son II, Pastor Ray Owens, France Brown, Gaye Theresa Johnson, Carl- ton “Chuck D” Douglas Ridenhour, Rhonda Gonzalez, Jason Shelton, Tamura Lomax, Keri Day, Neichelle Guidry-Jones, Phil Sinitiere, Israel Loken, Doug Anthony, Valerie Bridgeman, Jim Siburt, Bruce Epperly, Michael Pinn, David Kim, Ben Sanders III, Sylvester Johnson, Vin- cent Lloyd, Rudy Busto, Melanie Harris, Marla Frederick, Ronald Neal, Lerhonda Manigault- Bryant, E. L. Kornegay Jr., Veronice Miles, Pastor Angela Yarber, Michelle Voss- Roberts, John Senior, Clinton Moyer, Jer- rod Whitaker, Mary Foskett, Lynn Neal, and Simeon Ilesanmi have all shared insights, made helpful suggestions, or in some way motivated me along the way. A special thanks goes to Catherine Albanese for her helpful attention to this project and to Stephanie Vaccaro for her editing help on several chapters. I am extremely grateful to artist Vonn Sumner, whose painting graces the cover of this book. His ability to express my vision through his art was masterful. This book would not exist were it not for the support of Burke Gerstenschlager, editor at Palgrave Macmillan, who was able to see the value in this disciplinary mutt of a project. I have had the great fortune to work with supportive people at sev- eral institutions along this journey. Thank you to the Lancaster Theo- logical Seminary family, notably former president Riess Potterveld, who extended limitless support to my family and me, as well as to Dean Edwin Aponte for consistently pushing me toward greater heights. My ability to complete this book was made easier by a visiting appointment at the University of Pennsylvania. In particular I extend gratitude to Camille Zubrinsky Charles, director of the Center for African Studies. Thank you to John L. Jackson Jr. for close and sensitive reads of much of this work. Among the community of UPenn scholars and staff I also thank Anthea Butler, Deborah Thomas, Guthrey “Guy” Ramsey Jr., Tukufu Zuberi, Tanji Gilliam, Karlene Burrell McRae (now at Swarthmore College), and Acknowledgments xi Daina Richie. My appointment as the Henry Luce Diversity Fellow at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity gave me the much needed space to finish this book. I am grateful to the dean, Gail O’Day, for push- ing me to get this project finished. A special thanks goes to Bill Leonard and Barbee Oakes for their ever-positive presence. I would not have been able to complete this work without the gener- ous support of several granting institutions. From the Ford Foundation I was awarded predoctoral and dissertation fellowships, both of which kept me afloat during the lean times of graduate student life. To the Fund for Theological Education I extend appreciation, especially to Matt Wil- liams, director of fellowship programs, for being a brother in the struggle. Thank you as well to Stephen Lewis, the fund’s president. Finally, I salute Dr. Sharon Watson Fluker for nurturing and finding money for so many of us during her time as director of fellowship programs. Most recently, the Louisville Institute First Book Grant gave me much needed space and time to revise, rewrite, and add new portions to this work. Sincere thanks goes to Jim Lewis and Suzanne Case for their stellar work. A multitude of friends outside of the academy have also shaped me. Accordingly, I acknowledge and thank Cardiaz McGlothen, my other mother Ida McGlothen, James and Lekesha Swindell, Robby Owens, Ricky Owens, Rodney Thomas, Kevin Walker, Percy McCreigh, Kathy Brown, Romey and Dominica Johnson, Demetris Reed, Pastor Charles Brooks, Al Germain, Marc Little, Kessa Keyes, and Uncle Ed and Aunty Iris and the family. Thank you to Emily Kemper for reading the earli- est and roughest versions of this project. Unique love and support was extended to me from the Rayford, Titus, Lampkins, Willis, Loritts, Earl, Shields, Sumner, Beckham, Goodloe, Quick, and French families. Appre- ciation is also extended to Southampton Montessori in Houston for their assistance during the early days of this project. I am also encouraged by the support of several pastors and ministry leaders. Thank you to Pastor Bryan Loritts, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Pastor T.