For the Souls of Black Folks - Paperback

by Cari Jackson (Author)

For the Souls of Black Folks examines the impact of black religious culture in shaping the ethical values and sociopolitical condition of U.S. blacks. The book reviews the nexus of theological traditions and historical factors that have formed black churches as environments where preachers serve as the moral compass for black churchgoers. For the Souls of Black Folks builds upon the work of sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois, who highlighted the presence of a double consciousness in the collective psyche of blacks stemming from racial oppression. The book explores the ways in which that double consciousness, often reflected in black preaching, socializes black Christians to subjugate their own moral authority to that of black preachers. The central argument is that this socialization to submit to preachers greatly underserves black churchgoers in developing and exercising their own power and authority as social agents, and thus significantly impedes the full sociopolitical liberation of all blacks. The book offers important new preaching strategies that more effectively facilitate the empowerment of blacks as critical agents of social transformation and healing in the twenty-first century.

Author Biography

Cari Jackson is the founding director of Center of Spiritual Light, which provides interspiritual resources for individual and organizational excellence. She is an advocate for social justice and human rights across the world. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, she has served as pastor of congregations in three different Christian denominations and has worked ecumenically across religious and spiritual traditions. Prior to professional ministry, Dr. Cari had an extensive career in leadership coaching, staff development, management training, organization development, and mediation in business and community organizations. She is the author of five books, including Love Like You've Never Been Hurt, and soon-to-be released Still Got Game. Her degrees include a PhD in Christian Social Ethics, MDiv, and BA in Psychology and Sociology.