Hidden in Plain Sight: Reclaiming the Witness and Wisdom of Black Contemplative Preachers
Abstract
In recent decades, scholars have challenged monolithic characterizations of African American or Black preaching. Still, an essentialist image of Black preaching is perpetuated in many contexts. This article contributes to a broader understanding of the diversity of Black preaching through exploring what Martha Simmons and Frank Thomas in their pioneering anthology Preaching with Sacred Fire call Black contemplative preaching. Unfortunately, though key aspects of Black contemplative preaching can be seen in the life and speech of prominent Black preachers, it may be one of the most overlooked streams of preaching inside and outside of Black church contexts. This lack of awareness and acknowledgment of the Black contemplative preaching stream seems to suggest that it is a mode of proclamation that, like other contemplative practices in the Black church, is hidden in plain sight. Thus, this article aims to increase the visibility of the witness and wisdom of Black contemplative preachers.
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