S exuality -- AND THE-- B C lack hurch S exuality --- AND THE--- B C lack hurch A Womanist Perspective Kelly Brown Douglas BOOKS Maryknoll, New York 10545 Seventh Printing, April 2008 The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll) recruits and trains people for overseas missionary service. Through Orbis Books, Maryknoll aims to foster the international dialogue that is essential to mission. The books published, however, reflect the opinions of their authors and are not meant to represent the official position of the society. Copyright © 1999 by Kelly Brown Douglas All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or trans- mitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to: Orbis Books, P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0308. Published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308 Manufactured in the United States of America Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Douglas, Kelly Brown. Sexuality and the Black church : a womanist perspective / Kelly Brown Douglas. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57075-242-7 (pbk.) 1. Womanist theology. 2. Sex - Religious aspects - Christianity. 3. Afro-Americans - Sexual behavior. I. Title. BT83.9.D68 1999 23O'.O82-dc21 98-32189 This is for you, Lloyd James Miller, January 1955-July 1994 Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix INTRODUCTION 1 PART 1 THE ROOTS OF BLACK THEOLOGICAL SILENCE 1. BLACK SEXUALITY: A PAWN OF WHITE CULTURE 11 White Culture 13 Sexuality in Culture 19 Conclusions 29 2. STEREOTYPES, FALSE IMAGES, TERRORISM: THE WHITE ASSAULT UPON BLACK SEXUALITY 31 The Roots of the Attack 32 Slavery and Black Sexuality 33 Black Women: A Gateway to Depravity 35 Violent Bucks 45 The Continued Attack on Black Sexuality 50 Conclusions 59 PART 2 THE IMPACT OF THE WHITE CULTURAL ATTACK 3. THE LEGACY OF WHITE SEXUAL ASSAULT 63 More Than a Reflection of White Culture 63 The Impact of White Culture upon Black Sexuality 67 A Sexual Discourse of Resistance 68 The Mandate for a Sexual Discourse of Resistance 72 Black Spirituality 83 Conclusions 85 • • VII a a • VIII Contents 4. HOMOPHOBIA AND HETEROSEXISM IN THE BLACK CHURCH AND COMMUNITY 87 The Bible and Homosexuality 89 Homosexuality and the Well-Being of the Black Community 97 Homophobia and a Sexual Discourse of Resistance 106 Conclusions 108 PART 3 A THEOLOGY OF BLACK SEXUALITY 5. GOD-TALK AND BLACK SEXUALITY 111 Created in the Image of the God of Jesus Christ 112 Sexual Discourse and Authentic Black Faith 121 Homophobia: A Sin and Betrayal of Black Faith 126 Conclusions 130 6. A SEXUAL DISCOURSE OF RESISTANCE AND THE BLACK CHURCH 131 Reuniting the Sacred and the Secular 131 Black Literature: A Catalyst for Sexual Discourse 133 Black Sexuality and Popular Culture 135 Bible Study 136 From Pew to Pulpit 137 Sexual Discourse: A Call to Action 139 The National Religious Summit on Black Sexuality 141 Concluding Challenge 142 NOTES 145 INDEX 157 Acknowledgments Despite the many lonely hours I spent reading and writing in the dark­ ness of the morning, this project could not have been done alone. There are many people, far too numerous to singularly mention, who did or said just the right thing, at just the right time, to encourage and sup­ port this work. To all of them, I am grateful. There are those, however, whose support of this part of my theological journey deserves public acknowledgment. This project would never have been launched or completed with­ out the support of Orbis Books. I thank especially Robert Ellsberg, who brought this book to the attention of Orbis and worked with me through the early outline and draft. I am also deeply appreciative of the many hours that Susan Perry put into this work, as she gave herself to the oftentimes tedious editorial work on the final draft. In the loneliest of moments, when hurdles of research, writing, and time seemed almost insurmountable, there was a “great cloud of wit­ nesses” whose presence became real in my life as they spurred me on toward completion. To Dickie, Bill, Rufus, Jim, William, and Wayland, I say thanks for keeping watch over me even as you have crossed on over before me. Regardless of my commitment to this project, it could not have come to fruition without the resources of time and funding. I am especially thankful for the support of my colleagues at the Howard University School of Divinity, but specifically for the unqualified assistance of my deans, Clarence G. Newsome and Henry J. Ferry. Not only did they grant me the privilege of a sabbatical, and find money to support it, but they both gave of themselves to make sure that my sabbatical was productive. I am also extremely thankful for the support of the Epis­ copal Office of Black Ministries under the direction of Reverend Lynn Collins. When this project was only a proposal, Reverend Collins af­ firmed its benefit for the church and provided me with resources to make sure it happened and with opportunities to engage Episcopal church people on issues of sexuality. I am also very thankful for the enthusiastic support of my bishop, the bishop of southern Ohio, the ix