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African American Criticism :

African American Criticism K. T. Patton New Testament Foundations UGST, Dr. Jeffrey Brickle

African American Criticism:

African American Criticism Overview of African Influence Introduce African American Methods How this Method works

Africa Introduction: :

Africa Introduction: Egypt…….Hager and Ishmael and Abrahams Origen……Alexandria, Egypt Tertullian was born in Carthage, North Africa Augustine…Born in North Africa Athanasius …Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt

African Theologians:

African Theologians Western North Africa, in the area Algeria. This region included the great city of Carthage, at one time it rivaled Rome in power. North African theologians wrote in Latin, and tended to be more practical than their philosophical Greek counterparts. Theologians of this region include Cyprian, Tertullian, and Augustine.

African Based Schools of Thought:

African Based Schools of Thought Alexandria: Alexandria, Egypt was the birthplace Philo.Alexandrian fathers are Clement, Origen and Didymus the Blind.

African American Criticism Issues:

African American Criticism Issues Liberation: is the act or fact of gaining equal rights or full social or economic opportunities for a particular group. Resistance: is the the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding . Survival: is the act or fact of surviving,  especially under adverse or unusual circumstances.

African American Scholarship:

African American Scholarship The Four Categories Are: African Presence in the Bible Response to Racist Interpretations of the Text Cultural Interpretation from the Perspective of Black Readers Ideological Interpretation of the Bible Itself

African Presence in the Bible:

African Presence in the Bible Without question there is a African presence in the Text. Considering the introduction on African influence has been established at this point. African American Criticism has foundational roots stemming from Africa and it’s influence. It is important to give recognition to the facts that there are distinct, subtle, and no differences in the African experience and the African American experience. The issues are still the same; Liberation, Resistance, and Survival but the circumstances and situations are different. I am African American because of my experience .

African in Early Christianity:

African in Early Christianity Phillip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch. Read: Acts 8: vv; 26-36. Christianity for Africans was before a Westernized Ideology.

Response to Racial Interpretations:

Response to Racial Interpretations In response to Racist Tags, Labels or Interpretations like: Black people are cursed because of Ham, etc. Response would be influenced by African American Criticism.

Cultural Interpretations:

Cultural Interpretations 1. African American criticism is how we as African Americans view God through our existence, trials, tribulations and our overall experience. 2. The focus of African American Criticism concerns three issues Liberation, Resistance and Survival. Reparations for instance is a present day issue for African Americans.

Interpretations Continued:

Interpretations Continued African Americans believe that God was on our side to free us Politically Socially, Economically and Spiritually . In order to create a fair and just Society .

Black Methods & the Text:

Black Methods & the Text Biblical Interpretation is a Theological as well as Political. Albert Schweitzer in his Historical Quest for Jesus concluded that Jesus was deduced to the image that the individual imagined. William H. Meyers and his “Hermeneutical Dilemma Theory” concludes that with all Exegesis involves a certain element of Eisegesis.

Black Methods & the Text Continued:

Black Methods & the Text Continued Albert Schweitzer’s Theory is correct biases had to come into play. It is therefore easy to perceive God as black if you are black and God as white if you are white. Etc.

Black Methods Continued::

Black Methods Continued: Due to the nature of the Black Church a it social influence within the community a compelling Biblical tradition has developed. The Historical Criticism method discounts one ideological bias concerning African Americans and promotes yet another one of enlightenment and objectivity. Powery; “Black Theologian must always read against the grain of the Eurocentric Theologians”.

Black Methods Continued.:

Black Methods Continued. Black Theologians must swim deep depths of scholarship that deliberately or unintentionally misrepresent Africans and African Americans. African American constantly read against the grain of a Westernized Eurocentric Idea.

Continued:

Continued Historical Criticism Cultural Milieu African American is a mixture of these to elements.

Ideological Interpretations:

Ideological Interpretations Here is an example of Ideological Interpretation of African American Criticism. Keep in mind that you are African American right now and no other race. Some of you may have to try harder than others, LOL. One of the Master’s prize fat hogs wondered too far from the hog pen. The master asked all the slaves “have yall seen my Hog (Pig)?” What Pig, everyone said with overstuffed bellies full of roasted pork. This is resistance, liberation and survival. That Pig came from God.

Hog Scenario:

Hog Scenario To the Master this was a lie. To the slave community it was a blessing to a people who were sustained on very meager rations, endured inhumane abuse and forced to work for no pay. Any means of survival would be received as God’s blessings. Now remember you are still black. Now, have you seen master’s Hog?

Cultural Interpretation :

Cultural Interpretation The Samaritan Women was viewed as a second class citizen. When she met Jesus after a long dialogue she become a premier example of a disciple of Christ. Picture her a fine sister (meaning a pretty black women). This fine black lady has no problem getting a man. She’s had a few of them. She walks up and a young black man about 33 years old with dreads and a beard (not a clean European shaven face) was sitting by the well. Let me get a drink he said, my name is Jesus. His skin is brown and his eyes are very dark.

Samaritan Women Example:

Samaritan Women Example The Samaritan Women having five husbands and one live in. African American Criticism is how we perceived God through our experience. If the Samaritan women was barren and could not produce children. That could justify 5 husbands. No one would have her, so she just settles to live with a man. She is a victim not and not the suspect as some has tried to depict her. Jesus saw her experiences. We know God through our experiences. She was hungry for God.

Bibliography:

Bibliography De Silva, Davis A. An Introduction to the New Testament, Context, Methods & Ministry Formation. Downer Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2004. Isichei, Elizabeth, From Antiquity to the Present; A History of Christianity in Africa. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1995. Green, Joel B. Hearing the New Testament; Strategies for Interpretation.Second Edition Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 2010.

Bibliography Continued:

Bibliography Continued Oden, Thomas C. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind; Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity. Downer Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2007.