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A Womanist Perspective
Kelly Brown Douglas
BOOKS
Maryknoll, New York 10545
Seventh Printing, April 2008
The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll) recruits and
trains people for overseas missionary service. Through Orbis Books, Maryknoll
aims to foster the international dialogue that is essential to mission. The books
published, however, reflect the opinions of their authors and are not meant to
represent the official position of the society.
Copyright © 1999 by Kelly Brown Douglas
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or trans-
mitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without
prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to:
Orbis Books, P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0308.
Published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
Manufactured in the United States of America
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version, copyright ©
1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Douglas, Kelly Brown.
Sexuality and the Black church : a womanist perspective / Kelly
Brown Douglas.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57075-242-7 (pbk.)
1. Womanist theology. 2. Sex - Religious aspects - Christianity.
3. Afro-Americans - Sexual behavior. I. Title.
BT83.9.D68 1999
23O'.O82-dc21 98-32189
This is for you, Lloyd James Miller,
January 1955-July 1994
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
INTRODUCTION 1
PART 1
THE ROOTS OF BLACK THEOLOGICAL SILENCE
1. BLACK SEXUALITY: A PAWN OF WHITE CULTURE 11
White Culture 13
Sexuality in Culture 19
Conclusions 29
2. STEREOTYPES, FALSE IMAGES, TERRORISM:
THE WHITE ASSAULT UPON BLACK SEXUALITY 31
The Roots of the Attack 32
Slavery and Black Sexuality 33
Black Women: A Gateway to Depravity 35
Violent Bucks 45
The Continued Attack on Black Sexuality 50
Conclusions 59
PART 2
THE IMPACT OF THE WHITE CULTURAL ATTACK
3. THE LEGACY OF WHITE SEXUAL ASSAULT 63
More Than a Reflection of White Culture 63
The Impact of White Culture upon Black Sexuality 67
A Sexual Discourse of Resistance 68
The Mandate for a Sexual Discourse of Resistance 72
Black Spirituality 83
Conclusions 85
• •
VII
a a •
VIII Contents
4. HOMOPHOBIA AND HETEROSEXISM
IN THE BLACK CHURCH AND COMMUNITY 87
The Bible and Homosexuality 89
Homosexuality and the Well-Being of the Black Community 97
Homophobia and a Sexual Discourse of Resistance 106
Conclusions 108
PART 3
A THEOLOGY OF BLACK SEXUALITY
5. GOD-TALK AND BLACK SEXUALITY 111
Created in the Image of the God of Jesus Christ 112
Sexual Discourse and Authentic Black Faith 121
Homophobia: A Sin and Betrayal of Black Faith 126
Conclusions 130
6. A SEXUAL DISCOURSE OF RESISTANCE
AND THE BLACK CHURCH 131
Reuniting the Sacred and the Secular 131
Black Literature: A Catalyst for Sexual Discourse 133
Black Sexuality and Popular Culture 135
Bible Study 136
From Pew to Pulpit 137
Sexual Discourse: A Call to Action 139
The National Religious Summit on Black Sexuality 141
Concluding Challenge 142
NOTES 145
INDEX 157
Acknowledgments
Despite the many lonely hours I spent reading and writing in the dark
ness of the morning, this project could not have been done alone. There
are many people, far too numerous to singularly mention, who did or
said just the right thing, at just the right time, to encourage and sup
port this work. To all of them, I am grateful. There are those, however,
whose support of this part of my theological journey deserves public
acknowledgment.
This project would never have been launched or completed with
out the support of Orbis Books. I thank especially Robert Ellsberg,
who brought this book to the attention of Orbis and worked with me
through the early outline and draft. I am also deeply appreciative of the
many hours that Susan Perry put into this work, as she gave herself to
the oftentimes tedious editorial work on the final draft.
In the loneliest of moments, when hurdles of research, writing, and
time seemed almost insurmountable, there was a “great cloud of wit
nesses” whose presence became real in my life as they spurred me on
toward completion. To Dickie, Bill, Rufus, Jim, William, and Wayland,
I say thanks for keeping watch over me even as you have crossed on
over before me.
Regardless of my commitment to this project, it could not have come
to fruition without the resources of time and funding. I am especially
thankful for the support of my colleagues at the Howard University
School of Divinity, but specifically for the unqualified assistance of my
deans, Clarence G. Newsome and Henry J. Ferry. Not only did they
grant me the privilege of a sabbatical, and find money to support it,
but they both gave of themselves to make sure that my sabbatical was
productive. I am also extremely thankful for the support of the Epis
copal Office of Black Ministries under the direction of Reverend Lynn
Collins. When this project was only a proposal, Reverend Collins af
firmed its benefit for the church and provided me with resources to
make sure it happened and with opportunities to engage Episcopal
church people on issues of sexuality. I am also very thankful for the
enthusiastic support of my bishop, the bishop of southern Ohio, the
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