Transformational Reconciliation through Baldwin and Plaskow Anonymous College

The cultivation of community is a fundamental concept of Christianity and Judaism. A certain set of values, beliefs and traditions are held by the groups who practice each religion in a shared journey toward salvation or an experience with God. What happens then, when individuals become disillusioned with the oppression or hypocrisy present within their religion? Does a declared rejection of morally damaging aspects of religion separate an individual from finding any meaning in their faith tradition? Prominent novelist and activist, James Baldwin, considers the oppression of Black people in America in a collection of essays during the period of the civil rights movement. In the form of a letter to his fifteen-year-old nephew, James, Baldwin explains the structural racism pervading America that allows white people to demean Black men to an inferior status. Baldwin redefines integration as an effort of acceptance that must be directed by Black people, rather than whites. He claims that Black people can begin to dismantle racial hierarchies with love and ultimately unification. Baldwin’s view of faith is embedded within the paradox of America, representing his ideal religion as an implementation of an equitable country for all...