Black Religion Malcolm X, Julius Lester, and Jan Willis

Black Religionexplores the complexity of the black spiritual imagination using the autobiographies of three prominent religious leaders. Looking at Malcolm X's journey from Christianity to Islam, social parasite to "race man," libertine to ascetic, Hart delves into the spiritual dimensions of Malcolm X's life. Hart then examines the affinities between Malcolm's spiritual journey and the journeys of Julius Lester and Jan Willis-- none of whom conform to standard expectations of what it means to be a black personanda religious person. Hart argues that the Muslim, Judaic, and Buddhist commitments of these autobiographers show that the black spiritual imaginationreligious, political, and personalcannot be limited to the standard narrative of Black Religion, nor can spirituality be limited to religion.

William David Hart is Associate Professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.