Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope

Esau McCaulley presents a framework for biblical hermeneutics rooted in the historic traditions of the Black church. He argues that a faithful reading of Scripture supports the pursuit of racial justice and the dignity of marginalized people. The book examines specific New Testament passages regarding policing, political protest, and the value of Black identity to demonstrate that the Bible offers a liberating word rather than a tool for oppression. McCaulley situates this approach between progressivism and white evangelicalism, emphasizing the authority of the text alongside the lived experience of injustice.

This book is intended for students of theology, clergy, and laypeople who seek to reconcile their faith with the struggle for civil rights. Readers gain a methodological toolkit for interpreting the Bible through a lens that acknowledges systemic trauma while maintaining spiritual orthodoxies. The text provides a historical defense of Black ecclesial traditions, giving the reader a foundation to engage in public discourse about race without abandoning their commitment to the scriptural record.