Eddie S. Glaude Bücher

James Baldwin became disillusioned by the Civil Rights movement's failure to compel America to confront its racial lies. In today's context, particularly during the Trump era, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. reflects on Baldwin's struggle and its relevance. "Not everything is lost. Responsibility cannot be lost, it can only be abdicated," Baldwin asserted, emphasizing the importance of refusing to abdicate responsibility and starting anew. Glaude argues that we now live in an "after times" period, where the promise of movements like Black Lives Matter has been challenged by the election of a racist president, echoing Baldwin's experiences after the Civil Rights movement. Baldwin faced a similar disillusionment following the assassinations of key figures like Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King, Jr. Between 1963 and 1972, Baldwin evolved into a more politically engaged writer, a transformation that came with significant personal and professional costs. Yet, this journey instilled in him a renewed sense of purpose to push forward despite despair. Glaude draws on Baldwin's experiences to offer hope and guidance for navigating our current era of shattered promises and racial tensions. Blending biography, history, memoir, and analysis, Glaude's work serves as a profound exploration of race, trauma, and memory, urging us to reflect on our roles in shaping a new America.

With An Uncommon Faith Eddie S. Glaude Jr. makes explicit his pragmatic approach to the study of African American religion. He insists that scholars take seriously what he calls black religious attitudes, that is, enduring and deep-seated dispositions tied to a transformative ideal that compel individuals to be otherwise - no matter the risk.

African American Religion offers a provocative historical and philosophical treatment of the religious life of African Americans. Glaude argues that the phrase, African American religion, is meaningful only insofar as it singles out the distinctive ways religion has been leveraged by African Americans to respond to different racial regimes in the United States.

Eddie S. Glaude Jr. weaves personal anecdotes and meditations to offer a positive vision for Black politics: the importance of ordinary people assuming the mantle of leaders and heroes our democracy desperately needs. To build a better world, we must cultivate our best selves, not rely on the professional politicians who purportedly represent us.