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From the publisher: Kelly Brown Douglas tackles the 'taboo' subject of sexuality which has long been avoided by the Black church and community. She argues that this view of Black sexuality has interfered with constructive responses to the AIDS crisis and teenage pregnancies, fostered intolerance of sexual diversity, frustrated healthy male/female relationships, and rendered Black and womanist theologians silent on sexual issues. Part One determines why sexuality has become a 'taboo' issue for the Black church and community. Douglas examines the function of sexuality in White culture and the denigration and exploitation of Black sexuality through a discussion of White culture and the denigration and exploitation of Black sexuality through a discussion of White cultural myths, sterotypes, laws and customs concerning Black women and men. Part Two studies how Blacks have responded to sexual myths and stereotypes by retreating into silence on the subject of sexuality. In this section, Douglas discusses the function and role of sexuality in the Black church and community, homophobia/heterosexuality and how Black sexuality is protrayed in black fictional literature. Finally, she explores the importance of sexuality and sexual discourse to the Christian theologial mandate and to Black churches. Using the language and tools of womanist theology, Sexuality and the Black Church advocates use of a 'sexual discourse of resistance,' arguing that the Black church must talk about sex and so do in a way that resists the White culture stereotypes. Douglas suggests programs by which the church and community can 'nurture the kind of discussion that promotes acceptance and appreciations of the rich diversity, even sexual diversity, of the black community.'
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