The Imposing Preacher

While many American religious historians have focused on a few mainstream black Christian thinkers from across the 20th century, the story of Samuel DeWitt Proctor has remained obscured.>p>Samuel DeWitt Proctor's voice is essential to understanding the black social gospel. In the complex mix of voices from the Religious Right, Protestant fundamentalism, and black liberation theology, Proctor brought black middle class understanding of America to his preaching and had a notion of faith that presented an alternative reality to the pervasive racism in the United States and sought to honor the inherent dignity of all humanity. Bond's exploration of the life of Samuel DeWitt Proctor adds a crucial piece to our understanding of 20th century American church history. This engaging and well written book is essential reading for historians with interest in 20th Century, African American church history, history of the Civil Rights movement, and other fields. Clergy and scholars interested in African American contributions to social justice.Read less