Table of Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xv
1 What Is Racism? 1
An Explanation of Terms 2
Prelude and Context: The Election of an African American President 3
The Browning of America and Racial Resistance 9
Racism and Culture 13
To What End? The Justification of White Privilege 33
Conclusion 41
2 An Analysis of Catholic Social Teaching on Racism 43
Prologue: A Context for This Discussion 44
Discrimination and the Christian Conscience (1958) 50
The National Race Crisis (1968) 55
Brothers and Sisters to Us (1979) 61
Analysis of Recent Statements by Individual Bishops 70
Critical Observations concerning Catholic Social Teaching on Racism 74
A Concluding Black Catholic Reflection: “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” 78
3 Toward a More Adequate Catholic Engagement 83
The Challenge of Racial Reconciliation 85
Other Resources in the Faith Tradition 103
Compassion and Intentional Cross-Racial Solidarity 116
Church Practices That Facilitate Racial Solidarity 120
Concluding Reflection: A Confession of Faith 125
4 “A Dream Deferred” Meditations on African American Understandings of Justice and Hope 130
The Fundamental Principle or Norm: Universal Inclusion 132
The Unstated Vision: The “Welcome Table” and the “Beloved Community” 135
Theoretical Implications of This Vision 143
The Importance of Hope in the Pursuit of Justice 145
5 The Vocation of the Black Catholic Theologian and the Struggle of the Black Catholic Community Speaking Truth to—and from—Two Traditions 151
The Vocation of the Black Scholar 153
The Vocation of the Catholic Theologian 157
The Vocation of the Black Catholic Theologian 159
The Challenges of the Black Catholic Theological Vocation 162
The Struggles of Being a Black Catholic Theologian 167
The Joys of Being a Black Catholic Theologian 169
The Significance of the Black Catholic Theological Vocation 172
Epilogue 175
Notes 181
Resources for Further Reflection and Understanding 213
Index 217
