In the lead-up to this fall’s elections, much attention has been given to the Republican Party’s progress with Latino voters in the traditionally Democratic Rio Grande Valley. However, the voting patterns of Black Americans are also becoming increasingly unpredictable. Research suggests that shifts in religious affiliation may play a significant role in this change.
Jason E. Shelton, a sociology professor and director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, shared insights on these evolving trends during an interview with Texas Standard. His recent book, The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion, delves into these dynamics. In the interview, he addressed the idea that “the notion of the Black church as one monolithic institution is inaccurate,” and explained the political and social distinctions among the key denominations.
