Wake Up: Hip-Hop, Christianity, and the Black Church

First an expression of black urban youth, Hip Hop music continues to expand as a cultural expression of youth and, now, young adults more generally. As a cultural phenomenon, it has even become integral to the worship experience of a growing number of churches who are reaching out to these groups. This includes not just African American churches but churches of all ethnic groups. Once seen as advocating violence, Hip Hop can be the Church's agent of salvation and praise to transform society and reach youth and young adults in greater numbers. After looking at Hip Hop's socio-historical context including its African roots, Wake Up shows how Hip Hop has come to embody the worldview of growing numbers of youth and young adults in today's church. The authors make the case that Hip Hop represents the angst and hope of many youth and young adults and that by examining the inherent religious themes embedded in the music, the church can help shape the culture of hip-hop by changing its own forms of preaching and worship so that it can more effectively offer a message of repentance and liberation.

Author: Marlon F. Hall,Cheryl Kirk-Duggan
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 06/01/2011
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.97h x 6.10w x 0.45d
ISBN: 9781426703010

About the Author
Hall, Marlon F.: - Marlon F. Hall is the Cultural Architect for The Awakenings Movement, where he challenges ordinary people to live extraordinary lives through the power and love of Christ. Marlon has a joint degree from Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities in Anthropology and Political Science.Kirk-Duggan, Cheryl: - Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan is Professor of Theology and Women's Studies and Director of Women's Studies at Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has authored many books, including Mary Had a Baby and Undivided Soul, both published by Abingdon Press.