Title Faith in black power : religion, race, and resistance in Cairo, Illinois / Kerry Pimblott

Published Lexington, Kentucky : University Press of Kentucky, [2017]

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Description 1 online resource Series Civil rights and the struggle for black equality in the twentieth century Civil rights and the struggle for Black equality in the twentieth century. Contents On Jordan's banks: the origins of community, faith, and struggle in Cairo -- Redemptive love, vigilante terror, and rebellion: cairo in the civil rights cauldron -- From the seminary to the streets: grassroots black theology and the forging of a united front -- Straight from the offering plate: church resources and the new black power coalition -- The recession of national spirit: the decline of the Cairo black power movement -- Conclusion Summary "In 1969, nineteen-year-old Robert Hunt was found dead in the Cairo, Illinois, police station. The white authorities ruled the death a suicide, but many members of the African American community believed that Hunt had been murdered--a sentiment that sparked rebellions and protests across the city. Cairo suddenly emerged as an important battleground for black survival in America and became a focus for many civil rights groups, including the NAACP. The United Front, a black power organization founded and led by Reverend Charles Koen, also mobilized--thanks in large part to the support of local Christian congregations. In this vital reassessment of the impact of religion on the black power movement, Kerry Pimblott presents a nuanced discussion of the ways in which black churches supported and shaped the United Front. She deftly challenges conventional narratives of the de-Christianization of the movement, revealing that Cairoites embraced both old-time religion and revolutionary thought. Not only did the faithful fund the mass direct-action strategies of the United Front, but activists also engaged the literature on black theology, invited theologians to speak at their rallies, and sent potential leaders to train at seminaries. Pimblott also investigates the impact of female leaders on the organization and their influence on young activists, offering new perspectives on the hypermasculine image of black power. Based on extensive primary research, this groundbreaking book contributes to and complicates the history of the black freedom struggle in America. It not only adds a new element to the study of African American religion but also illuminates the relationship between black churches and black politics during this tumultuous era."--Provided by publisher Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Civil rights movements -- Illinois -- Cairo African Americans -- Illinois -- Cairo -- History Black power. African American churches -- History Civil rights -- Religious aspects -- Christianity. Race relations -- Religious aspects -- Christianity. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Freedom & Security -- Civil Rights. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Freedom & Security -- Human Rights. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Civil Rights. African American churches African Americans Black power Civil rights movements Civil rights -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Race relations Race relations -- Religious aspects -- Christianity SUBJECT Cairo (Ill.) -- Race relations Cairo (Ill.) -- History -- 20th century Subject Illinois -- Cairo Genre/Form History Form Electronic book LC no. 2016046789 ISBN 9780813168906 0813168902 9780813168913 0813168910 9780813169019 0813169011

Other Titles Religion, race, and resistance in Cairo, Illinois

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