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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2012)
Books Black Women, the Black Church and the Struggle to Thrive in America Book Review by Kam Williams Special To The Skanner News I n this age of mega-churches and prosperity theology, it is natural to wonder how many members of the black clergy even bother to minister to the needs of the least of the their brethren anymore. That question came to intrigue Professor Keri Day, Director of Black Church Studies at Brite Divinity School, after noting that Christianity is now a very difference experience for sis- ters, depending on their social class. While many black females have been fortunate enough to make the leap to the middle and upper-class- es, the bulk remain poor with less and less hope for deliverance from their plight. In her book, “Unfin- ished Business,” Dr. Day outlines a plan to return to the times when poverty was a primary concern of the Black Church. Annotated and academic in tone, this informative opus struck this critic as written more for a college- educated crowd than a mass audience. That being said, the femi- nist author does approach her subject-matter with an admirable zeal, making a case on behalf of not only black females but of women of any ethnicity who find themselves on the outside looking-in when it comes to capitalism. For instance, she refers to the Welfare System as the “New Jane Crow” because it fails to address structural inequities in the American economy. Dr. Day’s fervent hope is that “By promoting socially-conscious capi- talism among black businesses and capitalists, black churches can develop a theology of holistic pros- perity that considers the thriving of all members within society.” 27 TH ANNUAL M ARTIN L UTHER K ING , J R . B REAKFAST Monday January 21, 2013 8:30-10:30 a.m. Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom 921 SW Sixth Avenue Portland, Oregon 97204 R R Reserve a table: MLKBreakfast@theskanner.com Call 503-285-5555 for more information A limited amount of non-profit tickets are available, first come first served Page 12 The Portland Skanner November 14, 2012
