African American Preachers and Politics: The Careys of Chicago (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)

During most of the twentieth century, Archibald J. Carey, Sr. (1868-1931) and Archibald J. Carey, Jr. (1908-1981), father and son, exemplified a blend of ministry and politics that many African American religious leaders pursued. Their sacred and secular concerns merged in efforts to improve the spiritual and material well-being of their congregations. But as political alliances became necessary, both wrestled with moral consequences and varied outcomes. Both were ministers to Chicago's largest African Methodist Episcopal Church congregations-- the senior Carey as a bishop, and the junior Carey as a pastor and an attorney. Bishop Carey associated himself mainly with Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson, a Republican, whom he presented to black voters as an ally. When the mayor appointed Carey to the city's civil service commission, Carey helped in the hiring and promotion of local blacks. But alleged impropriety for selling jobs marred the bishop's tenure. The junior Carey, also a Republican and an alderman, became head of the panel on anti-discrimination in employment for the Eisenhower administration. He aided innumerable black federal employees. Although an influential benefactor of CORE and SCLC, Carey associated with notorious FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and compromised support for Martin Luther King, Jr. Both Careys believed politics offered clergy the best opportunities to empower the black population. Their imperfect alliances and mixed results, however, proved the complexity of combining the realms of spirituality and politics. During most of the twentieth century, Archibald J. Carey Sr. (1868-1931) and Archibald J. Carey Jr. (1908-1981), father and son, exemplified a blend of ministry and politics that many African American religious leaders pursued. Their sacred and secular concerns merged in efforts to improve the spiritual and material well-being of their congregations. But as political alliances became necessary, both wrestled with moral consequences and varied outcomes. Both were ministers to Chicago’s largest African Methodist Episcopal Church congregations—the senior Carey as a bishop, and the junior Carey as a pastor and an attorney. Bishop Carey associated himself mainly with Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson, a Republican, whom he presented to black voters as an ally. When the mayor appointed Carey Sr. to the city’s civil service commission, Carey Sr. helped in the hiring and promotion of local blacks. But alleged impropriety for selling jobs marred the bishop’s tenure. Carey Jr., also a Republican and an alderman, became head of the panel on anti-discrimination in employment for the Eisenhower administration, and aided innumerable black federal employees. Although an influential benefactor of CORE and SCLC, he associated with notorious FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and compromised support for Martin Luther King, Jr. Both Careys believed politics offered clergy the best opportunities to empower the black population. Their imperfect alliances and mixed results, however, proved the complexity of combining the realms of spirituality and politics During Most Of The Twentieth Century, Archibald J. Carey, Sr. (1868-1931) And Archibald J. Carey, Jr. (1908-1981), Father And Son, Exemplified A Blend Of Ministry And Politics [in Chicago] That Many African American Religious Leaders Pursued. Their Sacred And Secular Concerns Merged In Efforts To Improve The Spiritual And Material Well-being Of Their Congregations. But As Political Alliances Became Necessary, Both Wrestled With Moral Consequences And Varied Outcomes.--amazon. Genesis In Georgia : The Careys In Ministry And Politics -- Pulpit And Politics In Chicago : The Ministry Of Archibald J. Carey, Sr. -- Immersed In Church And State : Archibald J. Carey, Sr. And Religion In The Public Square -- Leadership And Lineage : The Rise Of Archibald J. Carey, Jr. -- Doing Public Theology : Archibald J. Carey, Jr. And The Ministry Of Politics -- Plant My Feet On Higher Ground : Archibald J. Carey, Jr. And The National Gop -- Background Benefactor : Archibald J. Carey, Jr. And The Civil Rights Movement. Dennis C. Dickerson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 1. Genesis in Georgia: The Careys in Ministry and Politics......Page 28 2. Pulpit and Politics in Chicago: The Ministry of Archibald J. Carey Sr.......Page 39 3. Immersed in Church and State: Archibald J. Carey Sr. and Religion in the Public Square......Page 58 4. Leadership and Lineage: The Rise of Archibald J. Carey Jr.......Page 74 5. Doing Public Theology: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the Ministry of Politics......Page 96 6. Plant My Feet on Higher Ground: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the National GOP......Page 135 7. Background Benefactor: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement......Page 183 Epilogue......Page 204 Notes......Page 206 Select Bibliography......Page 238 A......Page 242 B......Page 243 C......Page 244 D......Page 246 F......Page 247 H......Page 248 J......Page 249 M......Page 250 N......Page 251 P......Page 252 R......Page 253 S......Page 254 U......Page 255 W......Page 256 Y......Page 257 Contents 8 Preface 10 Introduction 16 1. Genesis in Georgia: The Careys in Ministry and Politics 28 2. Pulpit and Politics in Chicago: The Ministry of Archibald J. Carey Sr. 39 3. Immersed in Church and State: Archibald J. Carey Sr. and Religion in the Public Square 58 4. Leadership and Lineage: The Rise of Archibald J. Carey Jr. 74 5. Doing Public Theology: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the Ministry of Politics 96 6. Plant My Feet on Higher Ground: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the National GOP 135 7. Background Benefactor: Archibald J. Carey Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement 183 Epilogue 204 Notes 206 Select Bibliography 238 Index 242 A 242 B 243 C 244 D 246 E 247 F 247 G 248 H 248 I 249 J 249 K 250 L 250 M 250 N 251 O 252 P 252 Q 253 R 253 S 254 T 255 U 255 V 256 W 256 Y 257 1604734272,9781604734270,9781604734287 University Press of Mississippi