Transmitting Racism Through Religion?: Ethnic Transcendence and Colorblind Racism in Latina/o Congregations (original) (raw)

2022, Perspectives in Religious Studies

Scholars of race and religion have argued for two broad yet opposing perspectives on integrating diverse racial groups within multiracial congregations: ethnic reinforcement and ethnic transcendence. 1 Drawing from critical race theory, proponents of ethnic reinforcement dynamics argue that churches are not immune from the power of race in the U.S. 2 Additionally, they "affirm the weakness of religion in the face of racial obstacles such that achieving true religious integration between Blacks and Whites seems nearly impossible." 3 For instance, Emerson and Woo argue that the opposition between White and Black cultures has developed racial tensions in multiracial congregations. 4 These tensions are most visible in what they call Mixed American Culture congregations, or simply MAC congregations. MAC congregations, different from other multiracial churches-those involving a larger non-White and non-Black membership-face more tension and conflict because of "the heightened difficulty and social energy expended […] to bridge the two indigenous American cultures." 5 Edwards' research shows how MAC congregations may struggle for unity. 6 Drawing from the National Congregations Study, Edwards 7 argues that White structural and cultural privileges create an atmosphere in multiracial congregations that benefit White attendees by affirming "the particular religiocultural tools and predilections of Whites," such as individualism, relationalism, and antistructuralism. 8 Going beyond the scope of MAC congregations, however, she contends that regardless of what is the racial or ethnic group sharing the congregation with Whites, "whiteness, white hegemony will persist…" and problems of control, structure, and culture will emerge. 9 In the opposite camp, scholars have argued that racial unity within multiracial congregations is achievable if members suspend their ethnoracial