“The history of Anabaptist and Black relations is a story of faith tested by human imperfection, revealing how communities of radical conviction were not immune to replicating they very forms of social hierarchy they so often opposed. ”
This project will complete archival research and produce a book on the social history of Anabaptist (Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren, Brethren in Christ) interactions with Black communities in Canada and the United States, 1880-1940. It examines how Anabaptists perceived race- particularly 'whiteness' and 'blackness'- and how these views shaped mission work and broader encounters with Black populations. While Anabaptists often proclaimed inclusivity, their practices were shaped by dominant racial ideologies; yet cross-cultural encounters sometimes challenged these assumptions. During my sabbatical (May-December 2026), I will conduct research at seven U.S. Anabaptist archives (Pennsylvania, Kansas, Virginia), analyzing records of these encounters. I will then write the book, building on my prior publications, with preliminary approval from Pandora Press. A translator will assist with German-language materials. The requested funds will cover travel expenses, translation costs, and salary replacement. The project covers a neglected history, highlights contradictions in Anabaptist peace witness, and contributes to comptemporary church conversations on racial justice and reconciliation.