Books by Barbara Dianne Savage

Even before the emergence of the civil rights movement, African American religion and progressive politics were assumed to be inextricably intertwined. Savage counters this assumption with the story of a highly diversified religious community whose debates over engagement in the struggle for racial equality were as vigorous as they were persistent.

This study reveals how African-American activists, public officials, intellectuals and artists sought to use radio to influence a national debate about racial equality in the 1940s. These broadcasts challenged the nation to reconcile its egalitarian ideals with its unjust treatment of minorities.