This series collaborative on-line ONLY series between the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture and Sarum College, Salisbury, aims to shine a light on the integral role of Black poetic voices in the development of western, and particularly British, spirituality. It will reflect on the evolution of a culture that has Grime artists releasing worship songs and gospel choirs in royal weddings and coronations. These events invite prominent poetic and theological voices to reflect on their own work and on the art that has inspired them, through a mixture of readings, interviews and Q+A.
The first speaker, Emilie Townes, is an American Baptist clergywoman and theologian who draws deeply on a poetic voice. She was the first African American to serve as Dean of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School and the first African American woman president of the American Academy of Religion. Townes will reflect on her theological and poetic work and on the art that has inspired her through a mixture of readings, interview and Question + Answer session.