Mississippi Praying : Southern White Evangelicals and the Civil Rights Movement, 1945-1975

**Winner of the 2013 Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize presented by the American Society of Church History** Mississippi Praying examines the faith communities at ground-zero of the racial revolution that rocked America. This religious history of white Mississippians in the civil rights era shows how Mississippians’ intense religious commitments played critical, rather than incidental, roles in their response to the movement for black equality. During the civil rights movement and since, it has perplexed many Americans that unabashedly Christian Mississippi could also unapologetically oppress its black population. Yet, as Carolyn Renée Dupont richly details, white southerners’ evangelical religion gave them no conceptual tools for understanding segregation as a moral evil, and many believed that God had ordained the racial hierarchy. Challenging previous scholarship that depicts southern religious support for segregation as weak, Dupont shows how people of faith in Mississippi rejected the religious argument for black equality and actively supported the effort to thwart the civil rights movement. At the same time, faith motivated a small number of white Mississippians to challenge the methods and tactics of do-or-die segregationists. Racial turmoil profoundly destabilized Mississippi’s religious communities and turned them into battlegrounds over the issue of black equality. Though Mississippi’s evangelicals lost the battle to preserve segregation, they won important struggles to preserve the theology that had sustained the racial hierarchy. Ultimately, this history sheds light on the eventual rise of the religious right by elaborating the connections between the pre- and post-civil rights South. Mississippi Praying Examines The Faith Communities At Ground-zero Of The Racial Revolution That Rocked America. This Religious History Of White Mississippians In The Civil Rights Era Shows How Mississippian's Intense Religious Commitments Played Critical, Rather Than Incidental, Roles In Their Response To The Movement For Black Equality. During The Civil Rights Movement And Since, It Has Perplexed Many Americans That Unabashedly Christian Mississippi Could Also Unapologetically Oppress Its Black Population. Yet, As Carolyn Renee Dupont Richly Details, White Southerners' Evangelical Religion Gave Them No Conceptual Tools For Understanding Segregation As A Moral Evil, And Many Believed That God Had Ordained The Racial Hierarchy. Challenging Previous Scholarship That Depicts Southern Religious Support For Segregation As Weak, Dupont Shows How People Of Faith In Mississippi Rejected The Religious Argument For Black Equality And Actively Supported The Effort To Thwart The Civil Rights Movement. At The Same Time, Faith Motivated A Small Number Of White Mississippians To Challenge The Methods And Tactics Of Do-or-die Segregationists. Racial Turmoil Profoundly Destabilized Mississippi's Religious Communities And Turned Them Into Battlegrounds Over The Issue Of Black Equality. Though Mississippi's Evangelicals Lost The Battle To Preserve Segregation, They Won Important Struggles To Preserve The Theology That Had Sustained The Racial Hierarchy. Ultimately, This History Sheds Light On The Eventual Rise Of The Religious Right By Elaborating The Connections Between The Pre- And Post-civil Rights South. -- Publisher's Website. Introduction : History, White Religion, And The Civil Rights Movement -- Segregation And The Religious Worlds Of White Mississippians -- Conversations About Race In The Post-war World -- Responding To Brown : The Recalcitrant Parish -- A Strange And Serious Christian Heresy : Massive Resistance And The Religious Defense Of Segregation -- Ask For The Old Paths : Mississippi's Southern Baptists And Segregation -- Born Of Conviction : The Travail Of Mississippi Methodism -- The Jackson Church Visits : A Good Quarter-time Church With A Bird Dog And Shot Gun -- Warped And Distorted Reflections : Mississippi And The North -- Race And Restructuring Of American Religion -- Conclusion : A Theology On The Wrong Side Of History. Carolyn Renée Dupont. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A critical reader of the history of marriage understands that it is an institution that has always been in flux. It is also a decidedly complicated one, existing simultaneously in the realms of religion, law, and emotion. And yet recent years have seen dramatic and heavily waged battles over the proposition of including same sex couples in marriage. Just what is at stake in these battles? This book examines the meanings of marriage for couples in the two first states to extend that right to same sex couples: California and Massachusetts. The two states provide a compelling contrast: while in California the rights that go with marriage--inheritance, custody, and so forth--were already granted to couples under the state's domestic partnership law, those in Massachusetts did not have this same set of rights. At the same time, Massachusetts has offered civil marriage consistently since 2004; Californians, on the other hand, have experienced a much more turbulent legal path. And yet, same-sex couples in both states seek to marry for a variety of interacting, overlapping, and evolving reasons that do not vary significantly by location. The evidence shows us that for many of these individuals, access to civil marriage in particular--not domestic partnership alone, no matter how broad--and not a commitment ceremony alone, no matter how emotional--is a home of such personal, civic, political, and instrumental resonance that it is ultimately difficult to disentangle the many meanings of marriage. This book attempts to do so, and in the process reveals just what is at stake for these couples, how access to a legal institution fundamentally alters their consciousness, and what the impact of legal inclusion is for those traditionally excluded. Kimberly Richman is Associate Professor of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of San Francisco"-- Mississippi Praying examines the faith communities at ground-zero of the racial revolution that rocked America. This religious history of white Mississippians in the civil rights era shows how Mississippians' intense religious commitments played critical, rather than incidental, roles in their response to the movement for black equality. During the civil rights movement and since, it has perplexed many Americans that unabashedly Christian Mississippi could also unapologetically oppress its black population. Yet, as Carolyn Renee Dupont richly details, white southerners' evangelical religion gave them no conceptual tools for understanding segregation as a moral evil, and many believed that God had ordained the racial hierarchy. Challenging previous scholarship that depicts southern religious support for segregation as weak, Dupont shows how people of faith in Mississippi rejected the religious argument for black equality and actively supported the effort to thwart the civil rights movement. At the same time, faith motivated a small number of white Mississippians to challenge the methods and tactics of do-or-die segregationists. Racial turmoil profoundly destabilized Mississippi's religious communities and turned them into battlegrounds over the issue of black equality. Though Mississippi's evangelicals lost the battle to preserve segregation, they won important struggles to preserve the theology that had sustained the racial hierarchy. Ultimately, this history sheds light on the eventual rise of the religious right by elaborating the connections between the pre- and post-civil rights South. Carolyn Renee Dupont is Assistant Professor of History at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY. From Youth Violence, To The Impact Of High Stakes Educational Testing, To Editorial Hand Wringing Over The Moral Failures Of Hip-hop Culture, Young People Of Color Are Often Portrayed As Gang Affiliated, Troubled, And Ultimately, Dangerous. The Hip-hop Generation Fights Back Examines How Youth Activism Has Emerged To Address The Persistent Inequalities That Affect Urban Youth Of Color. Andreana Clay Provides A Detailed Account Of The Strategies That Youth Activists Use To Frame Their Social Justice Agendas And Organize In Their Local Communities. Based On Two Years Of Fieldwork With Youth Affiliated With Two Non-profit Organizations In Oakland, California, The Hip-hop Generation Fights Back Shows How Youth Integrate The History Of Social Movement Activism Of The 1960s, Popular Culture Strategies Like Hip-hop And Spoken Word, As Well As Their Experiences In The Contemporary Urban Landscape, To Mobilize Their Peers. Ultimately, Clay's Comparison Of The Two Youth Organizations And Their Participants Expands Our Understandings Of Youth Culture, Social Movements, Popular Culture, And Race And Ethnic Relations. From Publisher Description. Youth : Crisis, Rebellion, And Identity -- Keep Your Eyes On The Prize : The Contemporary Struggle -- It's Gonna Get Hard : Negotiating Race And Gender In Urban Settings -- Hip-hop For The Soul : Kickin' Reality In The Local Scene -- Queer Youth Act Up : Tackling Homophobia Post-stonewall -- Big Shoes To Fill : Activism Past And Present -- Conclusion : Sampling Activism -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. Andreana Clay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. From youth violence, to the impact of high stakes educational testing, to editorial hand wringing over the moral failures of hip-hop culture, young people of colour are often portrayed as gang affiliated, ""troubled"", and ultimately, dangerous. The Hip-Hop Generation Fights Back examines how youth activism has emerged to address the persistent inequalities that affect urban youth of colour. Andreana Clay provides a detailed account of the strategies that youth activists use to frame their social justice agendas and organize in their local communities. Based on two years of fieldwork with youth affiliated with two non-profit organizations in Oakland, California, The Hip-Hop Generation Fights Back shows how youth integrate the history of social movement activism of the 1960s, popular culture strategies like hip-hop and spoken word, as well as their experiences in the contemporary urban landscape, to mobilize their peers. Ultimately, Clay's comparison of the two youth organizations and their participants expands our understandings of youth culture, social movements, popular culture, and race and ethnic relations