Synopsis

Two defining elements of American political life are race and religion. These do not work in isolation but, rather, are constantly in conversation with one another. Indeed, in U.S. history each category has effectively been employed to make meaning of the other, often recreating American politics in the process. Through the intersection of race and religion Americans define political and personal identities, cultural affiliations, and political and religious institutions—all of which in turn determine the contours and outcomes of our political battles. This volume explores American politics at the intersection of race and religion.

In his contribution to the book, Robert P. Jones looks at a new national values survey, and asks if religion impacts opinions and political participation similarly among different racial groups. Analyzing the results among blacks, Latinos, and whites, he discovers race mediates the impact of religious experiences on political life.

Citation

Robert P. Jones and Robert Francis, “The Black and White of Moral Values: The Complex Relationships between Religious Attendance and ‘Moral Values’ among White Evangelicals and Black Protestants,” in Nancy Wadsworth and Robin Jacobson, eds., Faith and Race in American Political Life (University of Virginia Press, 2011).