Black Religious Activism: Exploring the Issues (HC) (2026)

In 1787, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones left the predominantly white St. George Methodist Episcopal Church to protest the racism and discrimination they faced. A few years later, both men would create their own African American Christian denominations to meet the political and spiritual needs of black communities. Black leaders created countless religious organization over the next two hundred years to meet those same needs. Black religious communities ranging from mega churches to Black Lives Matter continue to play an important role in politics.

This book examines the background and significance of black religious activism in the United States. The book begins with an overview of black religious activism. A chronology then profiles key events related to black religious activism. Roughly 50 alphabetically arranged reference entries follow. These provide objective, fundamental information about people, organizations, events, and other topics related to black religious activism, with an emphasis on modern concerns. Each entry provides cross-references and suggestions for further reading. The volume closes with a selected, annotated bibliography of the most important broad works on black religious activism.