Religion and the Black Experience

Union Theological Seminary’s Religion and the Black Experience concentration explores the religious experience, ideas and practices of the African diaspora in multinational, multifaith and gendered contexts. Our dynamic curriculum builds upon the groundbreaking work of scholars like James Cone, to center black theology, the black social gospel, liberation and womanist theology in the classroom. The program is also designed for flexibility, which will allow students to also focus in a particular theological field, including practical theology, interreligious engagement, religion and society, and social ethics. This program includes:

• Coursework in African or African diasporic religion outside the Christian tradition, such as The Bible and West African Religions, African Religions in the Diaspora, and Gandhi and King
• Coursework in Black Christian thought and practice, such as The Black Social Gospel, The Prophetic Black Church in the 20th Century, and Proclamation and Black Experiences
• Coursework at the intersection of race, gender and sexuality, such as Women and the Black Freedom Movement and Womanist Theology and Narrative
• The opportunity to attend the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference each spring
• Study and train in Harlem, New York an unparalleled training ground for a life dedicated to social justice.

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