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Background Briefing: January 18, 2021
The Role of Apocalyptic Evangelicalism and Religious Nationalism in the Storming of the Capitol
We begin on this Martin Luther King Day with the role of apocalyptic evangelicalism and religious nationalism in the recent storming of the capitol where, amid the white supremacists, neo-Confederates, QAnon, Oathkeepers and Proud Boys, there were signs such as “Jesus Is My Savior, Trump Is My President”. Joining us to discuss the role of Trump’s holy warriors is Anthea Butler, a Professor of Religious Studies and Graduate Chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. The author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, we look into whether there is any erosion in the grip that the Religious Right has over the GOP given the murderous violence and profanity, the looting and the vandalism and the urination and defecation that went on in the name of patriotism God and country.
Political Organizing in the Footsteps of MLK
Then, following the footsteps of Martin Luther King, we speak with a political organizer, Bree Carlson, Deputy Director of People’s Action who has worked as an organizer in the racial justice field for 20 years. She joins us to discuss the challenges facing the Biden/Harris administration in terms of racial healing and the extent to which Kamala Harris will be a lightning rod as Obama was, for a racist backlash from those unable to accept the demographic changes underway in this country.
MLK’s Successor the Reverend Warnock and the Lessons From the Georgia Elections
Then finally we speak with Andra Gillespie, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University. The author of Race and the Obama Administration: Symbols, Substance and Hope, she joins us to discuss how MLK’s role as a political organizer has been passed on to his successor who preaches from the same pulpit, and how the recent election of the Reverend Warnock in Georgia, which along with Jon Ossoff turned over control of the Senate to the Democrats, could be built upon if the Democrats have the right message along with the right candidates.
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