A Word: Prayer, Politics, and Power Shifts

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3.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 August 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Election season brings politicians of all parties to the doors of Black churches, looking for photo ops, votes, and support from powerful pastors. But the traditional Black church is—like many American faith communities—shrinking. And a growing number of middle-class African Americans are worshiping in more diverse congregations. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. Jason E. Shelton, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. They discuss his new book, The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion, and how changes in African American faith communities are playing out in everything from politics, to education, to music. Guest: Dr. Jason E. Shelton, author of The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion. Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola Want more A Word? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/awordplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
0:07.0	The Black Church has long been more than a center of faith for African Americans.
0:12.0	It's been at the heart of education,
0:13.6	activism, and politics for generations. But as black folks find new ways to
0:18.8	build community, can the church stay at the center of progress? The church was a center of everything. We can't
0:25.1	make that case anymore. Yes the church is going to be here but what will be its
0:29.4	influence on black politics.
0:33.0	The history and future of the black church coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson.
0:37.0	Stay with us.
0:40.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify.
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1:04.0	That Shopify. co-deek slash special offer.
1:07.0	Welcome to a word of podcast about race and politics and everything else.
1:13.2	I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
1:15.0	It's an election year in case you hadn't noticed.
1:18.0	And if you're African American, that means that politicians of all parties may be making
1:22.0	appearances at your community church,
	...

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