Presenter: Dudley Brown
Title: W. Andrew White Jr., the No. 2 Construction Battalion, and Black Citizenship
Abstract:
William Andrew White, among other black leaders, believed World War I would be an opportunity for the black community to show its patriotism. However, The Great War gave White a glimpse behind the curtain that hid Canadian racism; once pulled back, White came face to face with the stark truth concerning the obstacles that would impede full citizenship for African Canadians. This presentation will look at the intersection of two themes: 1. the leadership of William Andrew White, and 2. the systemic racism prevalent in wartime Canadian society. That intersection occurred as Rev. White attempted to care for his men as the Chaplain of the all-Black No. 2 Construction Battalion. White’s leadership just before, during, and just after his war years are the tale of a theology in flux. The presentation will focus specifically on how White’s war experiences informed his theology and would later guide his oratory and actions.
Bio:
Dudley Anthony Brown is a fifth-year PhD student in Historical Theology—specifically Church History. He holds a Master’s degree in Theological Studies where he did his thesis on the African-American Pastor’s effect on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States—he holds additional Bachelor’s degrees in Science (Marine Biology/Physics) and Education. He spent the last twenty years as a middle and high school Principal serving low socioeconomic communities. His doctoral research investigates the African-Canadian pastor’s role in the African-Canadian community and greater Canadian culture through the lens that is the life of the Reverend William A. White. His overall focus is concerned with recovering the rich African-Canadian history that has been lost to its people and more importantly to the collective consciousness of the general Canadian populace. Email address: brownda35@gmail.com.
The MDC Theological Research Seminar (TRS) will be held virtually for the 2021-22 academic year. TRS meets for an hour twice per month on Tuesdays. Each seminar includes about thirty minutes for the paper presentation and twenty minutes for discussion.
All advanced degree students are invited to present a paper and share your research with your colleagues. TRS is an excellent opportunity to “test drive” a paper you will be presenting at an upcoming conference and receive helpful feedback on your current research projects. Thinking about submitting an article to a journal and want some interaction first? TRS will provide it. Just published an article or an essay and want to share it us? TRS is an excellent opportunity to broadcast it.
This year the organizing committee consists of Dr. Francis Pang, Dr. Michael Knowles, and Dr. Steve Studebaker.