This lecture considers the connection between geography, built environments, and the racial imagination in the US and other contexts. Race is a matter of geography and peoples of faith, especially Christians, have been slow to understand or address the power of racial geography in shaping religious life and belief. Dr. Jennings will suggest what challenging racial geographies must look like if we are to address the growing racial and cultural hostilities in the west.

Dr. Willie James Jennings is currently Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School, where he teaches in the areas of theology, black church and Africana studies, as well as post-colonial and race theory.  The author of numerous articles, Dr. Jennings's recent work, The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press, won the 2011 American Academy of Religion award for best book.  Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity.

In addition to being a frequent lecturer at colleges, universities and seminaries, Dr. Jennings is also a regular workshop leader at pastor conferences.  He is also a consultant for the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, and for the Association of Theological Schools.