Beyond Pragmatic Politics: African American Science Fiction as Political Theology

Tue. Nov. 3 - Black Apocalypse & Christian Hope
Dr. Vincent Lloyd

Beyond Pragmatic Politics: African American Science Fiction as Political Theology
12 p.m. in Patterson Bay, Laird Hall

Increasing awareness of police brutality and the disproportionate imprisonment of Black Americans have made us aware of just how deeply entrenched racism is. Incremental political change often seems futile. There is a long tradition of Blacks writing apocalyptic fiction in the face of deep-seated racism - but is such fiction political?

Love in the End Times: On Samuel Delany and #blacklivesmatter
4 p.m. in Patterson Bay, Laird Hall

Samuel Delany is the preeminent African American science fiction writer. His novels and memoirs tackle the complexities of identity, race, and personal relationships. How might his writings help us respond to anti-black racism, from police violence to microaggression?

Vincent Lloyd is Assistant Professor of Religion at Syracuse University. In 2012, he was a visiting scholar at the Notre Dame Institute of Advanced Study. His research centers on the intersection of religion, politics, and race, and he is currently finishing a book project on the role of natural law in African American political thought. He is the author ofLaw and Transcendence: On the Unfinished Project of Gillian Rose(Palgrave, 2009) and The Problem with Grace: Reconfiguring Political Theology (Stanford, 2011), as well as the editor, most recently, of Race and Political Theology (Stanford, 2012). When not at work, he participates in local political organizing, and he enjoys the company of his cats, Sophie and Little Malcolm. More information on his research is available here and  here.

Supported by the Orr Forum, Proud Sponsor of the Return of the Apocalyptic lecture series