A Misrepresented People - (Religion and Social Transformation) by Darrius D'Wayne Hills

About the Book

"Provides an illuminating exploration of the realms of Black religious discourse to reflect upon and re-envision the nature of Black male identity formation"--

Book Synopsis

Offers a Black male response to the challenge of womanist thought

Although much Black religious scholarship has engaged with feminist theory and womanist thought, a gap remains where little work has been done in religious studies to investigate the Black male experience. A Misrepresented People explores how African American men grapple with identity and masculinity in relation to Black religious thought. This book counters the dominant portrayal of Black men in American society as suspicious, morally defective, and irredeemable, and showcases the strength and relevance of Black religious thought in developing alternative notions of Black manhood.

Drawing on womanist discourses, African American religious thought, literature, and Black male studies, as well as an examination of the writings and sermons of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King Jr., Darrius D'wayne Hills offers a vision of Black male identity that is grounded in interpersonal relationships and connection. Positioning identity formation as a religious concern, Hills expands the application of religious scholarship toward the complex social and material realities faced by Black men. In doing so, this volume offers a much-needed new model for understanding Black male gender identity, illustrating how religious thought fosters more holistic and livable futures for African American men.

Review Quotes

"Darrius Hills is absolutely meticulous in his methodology. He knows he is wading into contested academic territory, and he carefully and confidently argues for the importance of centering Black men and Black manhood. He doesn't just assert, but with detail examines, relevant texts - attuned to nuances - and situates them in the larger context of academic conversations. Hills understands and explicates Black male studies, womanist religious studies, Black liberation theologies, and literary studies, and weaves their conversations into a comprehensive whole to show both the challenges and openings around their understandings and portrayal of Black men, Black masculinity, and Black manhood. Hills's text is an important intervention in womanist studies, womanist religious studies, Black male studies and Black feminisms. His constructive proposition of coalitional, collaborative, open, possible and relational Black manhood will be the ground and springboard for the work of other scholars who seek to disrupt old dialogues and construct new conversations in gender and sexuality studies and in Black and Africana Studies."--Monica A. Coleman, author of Making a Way Out of No Way: A Womanist Theology

About the Author

Darrius D'wayne Hills is Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Grinnell College.