Ethnic Churches and Racial Attitudes: A Comparative Study of Chinese- and Vietnamese-American Congregations in Houston, TX
Bianca Mabute-Louie
Graduate Student, Sociology
Rice Univesity
This research project interrogates the extent to which religion shapes the racial attitudes of Asian American Christians. Christianity influences the ways Asian Americans adapt to the U.S. and their involvement in ethnic churches shapes their perceptions of race and racism. This project interrogates how Chinese- and Vietnamese-American Christians, two of the largest Asian American groups, employ cultural-religious explanations in their conceptualizations of racial discrimination, racial boundaries, and anti-Blackness in this comparative congregational study. Overall, this study aims to contribute to the scholarly conversation on race, religion, immigration, and politics, with public implications on immigration, Asian American civic engagement, and broader movements for racial justice.
Repurposing and Greening Church Property for East Oakland
Russell Jeung | Professor, Ethnic Studies | San Francisco State University
Demetries Edwards | Lead Pastor | 23rd Avenue Church of God
Albert Hong | Co-Pastor | New Hope Covenant Church
Daniel Schmitz | Co Executive Director | Hope Avenue
Derek Wu | Graduate Student, Ethnic Studies | UC Berkeley
We galvanize existing collaborative efforts between an Asian American-led church, a historic Black church, and a secular nonprofit to further urban greening and youth development projects in East Oakland. These projects serve as models for other faith communities and advance theories of environmental activism, race relations, and secularization.
Keywords: Activism, African American, Asian American, Churches, Environment, Nonprofit, Youth
Spaces of Engagement: Connecting Asian American Protestant Communities with Scholars and Scholarship
Jessica ChenFeng | Associate Professor, Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy | Fuller Theological Seminary
Matthew Cheung | Professor, English | El Camino College
Janna Louie | Founder & Director | Coalition of AAPI Churches
Ji Son | Professor, Psychology | Cal State LA
Kathy Moua | Coalition of AAPI Churches
Chandra Mallampalli | Research Associate, Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute | Harvard University
This project engages the complex narratives that influence AAPI racial identity, religious communities, and sociopolitical realities by bringing academic discourse to every day practitioners for the betterment of our society. This project would bridge the gap between academia and on-the-ground efforts through forums and workshops online and in local communities.
Keywords: Asian American, Churches, Protestantism