Shameless Theology S2:06 How the Rhetoric of Religious Racism Sanctions Violence w/ Dr. Danielle Boaz & Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira Pt.2

Summary

When food and water are denied in the aftermath of an earthquake on the basis of religious affiliation, white Christian Supremacy is laid bare. In part two of our conversation with Dr. Danielle Boaz and Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira, Danielle offers a sweeping historical and political analysis of Haiti—from the Haitian Revolution to the 2010 earthquake and cholera outbreak—showing how anti‑Blackness, colonial mythology, and the demonization of African Diaspora religions converge to justify discrimination, vigilante violence, and even the denial of humanitarian aid. Their research documents how U.S.‑funded Christian NGOs and local churches have participated in this harm, revealing the mechanics of white Christian Supremacy in moments of profound crisis.

We will also discuss the political and academic challenges of naming Spiritual Terrorism directly, and why research and precise language matter for communities resisting violence, for students seeking frameworks that match their lived experience, and for international advocacy efforts that require clarity rather than euphemism.

Dr. Danielle N. Boaz is Professor of Africana Studies and Interim Director of Legal Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on discrimination and violence against African diaspora religious communities from the nineteenth to the present. Dr. Boaz is the author of Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora (Penn State University Press 2021) and Voodoo: The History of a Racial Slur (Oxford University Press 2023);she is co-author of Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music (Amherst College Press 2024). 

Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira: Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira is the Babalorixá of Ilê Axé Omi Ogun siwajú and an artist of performance and presence working as an actor, director, and playwright. He serves as Vice President of the International Commission to Combat Religious Racism (ICCRR), a global initiative dedicated to studying and confronting religious racism through research, advocacy, and international collaboration. His work bridges scholarship and activism, addressing discrimination against African and African diaspora religions worldwide. Dr. Melo Cerqueira holds a Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies and an M.A. in Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and is an Adjunct Professor of Theater Education at UNIRIO. He has published widely in theater, performance, and religious studies, and is co-founder of Pele Negra – Escola de Teatro(s) Preto(s).

Find more about their work at www.religiousracism.org

Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), this podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful, while centering dialogue on Queer, Trans, and feminist theology.

Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces.

This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. 

FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/    

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