Professor Monica Miller discusses black religions in society
By BROWN AND WHITE STAFF
Lehigh University's Religion Studies and Africana Studies departments hosted Monica Miller, a visiting associate professor of Lewis and Clark College, Tuesday to present her lecture about understanding the meaning of black religions through a sociological lens.
In the lecture, titled "Faith in the Flesh: Black Religions on the Diasporic Edge," Miller discussed contemporary black religious movements in young people. She posed questions about what makes black religions black, and similarly what makes black religions religious and theorized that in today's society, young people connect with black religions in a more spiritual and materialistic way than the limited historical interpretation that defines religion.
"I'm interested in studying how young people use their bodies, whether that be through tattoos, jewelry, clothing or interest in popular culture to express hope and faith in a social sense," said Miller.
Miller has two main concerns with how black religions have been studied in the past: that black religions have been homogenized and standardized to meet limited criteria of what is an acceptable religion and, secondly, that there is an absence of corporeal evidence in the study of modern black religions when the physical body is an integral reason of how religion is manifested.
As a large part of her empirical data, Miller referenced the documentary "Rize," directed by David LaChapelle, which chronicled young black individuals living in poverty-stricken South Side Los Angeles who engage in "krumping," a form of dance that originated in California, as an authentic and spiritual religious experience.
"I enjoyed the way she engaged us with documentary clips," Danny Leal, '16, said. "It was refreshing to see something like krumping portrayed as real and authentic and not just ghetto dancing."
According to Miller, these people are helping return the emphasis of the physical body back at the center of black religions, instead of remaining as "marginalized social products." In this particular case, she noted, these young oppressed people experience hope through the use of their bodies, when ironically, their bodies or lives are what is most threatened.
Miller's view was that previous research about black religions were restricted and "lacked social scientific data and material culture," she said, which are important parts of studying religion. She explained that these new black religions and social movements are constantly forced to prove their authenticity and the result becomes a study of identity and belonging. She said that she hopes to uncover the varieties of black religions by uncovering themes from African traditions, humanism and atheism, instead of one strict religion.
Throughout her lecture, Miller defined the barrier where black religious movements are formed at the "edge of the Diaspora." She described it as a place where social change can happen, ideas can connect with each other and, if taken too seriously, have the potential to fall off.
The idea of faith in the flesh emphasizes the role of the body in changing current ideas of religion. Miller's ideas focused on the idea that black religions in modern society are central to a spiritual existence and social dependence.
A variety of students and faculty attended the lecture in Maginnes Hall, including James Peterson, who is the director of Africana studies and associate English professor at Lehigh. He said that he was pleased to welcome Miller to Lehigh and that he believed that the university is approaching a very exciting place with the Africana studies and religion programs.
After her lecture, Miller commented that she believes that Lehigh is ripe for these kinds of courses and discussions.
"Even as a black interracial student, I didn't even know what black religions meant, so I thought it was a good opportunity to hear new ideas about youth culture through a sociological perspective," said Leal.
During the subsequent question and answer session, faculty members from a varying range of disciplines talked to Miller and further discussed the topics presented in the lecture.
Miller is candidate for an assistant professor position in Africana studies and religion studies in the cluster hire that Lehigh's religion studies department is currently conducting. She presented her point of view as a part of her general interview. Miller is also the author of a book "Religion and Hip Hop," which discusses some of the ideas that she presented in her lecture.
Story by Brown and White news writer Danielle DiStefano, '16.