Papers by Michael Jagessar
Black theology, Feb 16, 2024
Black Theology, Aug 1, 2017
Black Theology, Jan 2, 2023
Black Theology, Nov 2, 2012
is a daughter of the "manse" and one whose early years were spent in the environment of the Unite... more is a daughter of the "manse" and one whose early years were spent in the environment of the United Theological College of the West Indies in Jamaica where her father was the principal. Her acrobatic engagement whether on a bicycle, on the playing spaces of the campus or in conversation, suggest (in retrospect) stirrings of the heritage of Legba and Anansi. Herself a progeny of hybrid Caribbean, Russell offers to Caribbean literary and theological conversations a significant volume on narratology in the African Atlantic diaspora. The influence of family and the Jamaican landscape on her work is not insignificant. As a daughter of a Jamaican/Caribbean historian, theologian, and Garve^ite and a mother who taught in a well-known secondary school, Russell became very conscious, at an early age, of the blatant poverty, class divisions, and plight of the poor in Jamaica. From her parents she learnt the habit of critical and inquisitive engagement that questions the status quo and a faith that is grounded on spirituality here and now-not in some "great by and by." It was in Jamaica that she learnt how skin pigmentation, colonialism, sexism, classism, poverty, violence, and invisibility were complexly intertwined. Her experience of a large number of Jamaicans (and people of African descent) having to "carry crosses" has been an influential element of her work. Hence, she noted that while Legba's Crossing has been titled to "capture the ways in which black writers intentionally cross the borders and boundaries of the genres" (171), she later felt that a more appropriate title could have been "African Atlantic Crosses," as in Caribbean parlance "cross" underscores the "challenges [and] burdens that are borne on the backs of the disposed" (171). Caribbean history/realities past and present underscore that for "vast numbers of African Atlantics, living throughout the Diaspora could easily be characterised as a series of crosses" (171). Legba's Crossing is a timely attempt at and contribution to exploring the cultural and historical connections among African survivors of the Middle Passage. Its significance lies in the author's drawing on the works of Frantz Fanon, Edouard
Black Theology, Oct 27, 2015
Abstract A danger for all Black contextual/liberative theologians is that of unconsciously somers... more Abstract A danger for all Black contextual/liberative theologians is that of unconsciously somersaulting into homogenizing and static tendencies about Black experiences and contexts. So while we (Black and Asian theologians) argue for cultural agency before “dominant” White audiences and in the company of our own punters, is it not possible that we become complicit in the cause of “levelling” our intra-cultural dynamics as we ignore our own cultural biases and often un-deconstructed inherited traditions? If Black theology (or any liberative form of God-talk) is about embodying change and transformation, this article suggests that intercultural conversations, with necessary caveats, are a necessary undertaking. What will an intercultural vocation in Black liberating God-talk look like? Can such a multi-faceted habit/method through creolized spaces of (inter)action/being open up new vistas for constructive dialogue with, between and among theological perspectives and towards a more holistic model of transformation?
Black Theology, May 1, 2003
Abstract It can be said that globally we have become plurality. Through technology and globalizat... more Abstract It can be said that globally we have become plurality. Through technology and globalization, cultures are becoming irrevocably linked and interdependent. Yet, it is also evident that conflicts do arise at the intersections of cultures, with terrifying consequences. In the UK, riots in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham raise the question as to why there is such community fragmentation along social, cultural and ethnic lines. Whatever the reasons, there is a general consensus on the urgent need to learn to live creatively in a plural/diverse context. In the light of this urgent challenge (globally and nationally), are the insights and articulation of Philip Potter on the ‘dialogue of cultures’ of any relevance? As the first Black General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Potter comes from a region (Caribbean) that was the locus of the world’s first multicultural project. Hence, one should not be surprised at his effort, from a theological perspective, to articulate the need for the dialogue of cultures. This paper explores Potter’s articulation and underscores aspects of his insights that can serve as important pointers in the search to build a harmonious and authentic community in the context of a diversity of cultures.
Black Theology in Britain, 2007
The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, ... more The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.
Wrestling with God in Context, 2018
Context is invoked in some form or other by most accounts of human phenomena. “It depends on the ... more Context is invoked in some form or other by most accounts of human phenomena. “It depends on the context” is almost always an appropriate observation. But “context” is defined in heterogeneous ways, and it is often invoked without adequate exploration. This seminar considers how context has been (and should be) invoked in accounts of knowledge and education. In each of these domains, Enlightenment accounts envision a decontextualized ideal. These ideals have been challenged over the past century or two by accounts that celebrate context, even to the point of sacrificing any sense of justified knowledge and formal education. Readings for this course engage with the decontextualized ideal and the responses in each domain. The larger goal is to explore whether we can retain some stable concept of knowledge and education while acknowledging the power of the critiques. Another central goal is to move beyond vague invocations of “context” to more systematic accounts of what context is and...
Black Theology, 2021
doubt that this will be an effective strategy for change. It is possible that powerful groups wit... more doubt that this will be an effective strategy for change. It is possible that powerful groups within the church will become even more entrenched in their failure to appoint UKME/ GMH people. When this report tells us that Black Church members, despite being highly qualified and experienced, are continually passed over by the overwhelmingly White church systems nothing new is being added to our knowledge base. Black people know this even if White Church people do not want to acknowledge it and must be reminded time and time again. But to whom is this report addressed? Presumably, those who have the power to change things. Who can tell in the strange world and culture of the Church of England? So, do we really need yet another report that draws the conclusion that a great resource for the Church is being underused and marginalized? Yes, we know this. This is the lived experience of Black Christians, particularly their clergy who seek to represent Christ to the world. It is not unlike saying that slum environments prevent academic learning. I understand the contributors of this report would be keen to commission new research to make some sense of the Church of England’s theological foundations of prejudice and discrimination. In this context, I hope they will welcome this review as an initial and meaningful contribution to that process. I do not doubt the sincerity of the writers, but will the Church of England deliver on the recommendations that would seriously change its life and culture as an institutionally racist institution? Some of the recommendations are crucial, others are not so important, so it would not be difficult for readers to predict which ones are likely to succeed. So, will anything change? From Lament to Action runs the tightrope between the optimistic and the naive. This is something readers will have to decide for themselves. Clearly time will tell, so watch this space, but as I said previously, do not hold your breath.
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2019
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Papers by Michael Jagessar