Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Eugene Austin, DMin

Second Advisor

William Valmyr, DMin

Abstract

This research interrogates the disproportionate frequency of lethal law enforcement encounters involving Black Americans, contextualizing these fatalities within the systemic racial hierarchies foundational to the United States. By tracing the historical evolution of policing from antebellum slave patrols to contemporary practice, this study contends that modern law enforcement serves as a sophisticated mechanism of racial and social control.

To examine this phenomenon, the research employs a qualitative, multidimensional methodology that synthesizes Comparative Caste Analysis, case study examination, and a Christological framework. This inquiry is further bolstered by a longitudinal analysis of African American ecclesiological activism, culminating in a theological reflection and praxis informed by an ecclesial ethnography of a congregation-led legal clinic.

Chapter One establishes a theoretical foundation by utilizing Michelle Alexander's seminal work, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Specifically, it synthesizes Alexander's thesis—that the contemporary carceral system functions as a modern iteration of Jim Crow—to frame the subsequent analysis. Furthermore, this chapter adopts a case study methodology to examine a series of fatal police encounters.

Chapter Two transitions into a Christological framework, asserting that the Christian mandate necessitates recognizing the presence of Christ not as an exclusively historical event of Crucifixion, but as actively present within the lived experience of the marginalized.

Chapter Three contextualizes the study by examining the historical processes through which White American institutions have systematically devalued Black lives. This historical analysis highlights a continuity of racialized exclusion that informs current social conditions.

Chapter Four presents a longitudinal analysis of African American ecclesiological activism, tracing the trajectory of the Black Church as a foundational site of systemic resistance. Through a diachronic examination of Black religious leadership, the research evaluates the institutional response to evolving racial hierarchies.

Chapter Five provides a concise examination of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement evolution and contemporary significance, in light of the global resurgence of the movement following the murder of George Floyd.

Chapter Six utilizes a theological reflection and praxis model to re-examine the Black Church, affirming its institutional significance through a synthesis of empirical studies. This chapter underscores the vital role of Black Church leadership in fostering individual well-being and community resilience, culminating in a series of strategic frameworks designed to enhance community engagement.

Chapter Seven employs an ecclesial ethnographic approach to examine a specific congregation that operates a legal clinic, illustrating a practical model for community-based advocacy. Finally, the conclusion integrates the various strands of research, solidifying the study's contributions to the field.

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