Working Title: STI Disparities and Social Work: A scoping review of historic disease prevention models within African American Communities

This research explores the ongoing sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic within African American communities. It seeks to trace epidemiological, historical, and sociocultural roots of care delivery. The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) including poverty, healthcare accessibility, stigma, and systemic forms of discrimination. Parallels between historic contributions within the field of healthcare to the current pandemic rates of infection within the community are presented. The author centers the field of Social Work as a needed sector of engagement. The author desires for the implementation of the Social Work skillsets of resource brokering, harm reduction, and engaging ethical care models. Historical trauma is discussed with emphasis on the reproductive exploitation during slavery and unethical medical experiments. The importance of culturally grounded, and interdisciplinary interventions are presented as models useful to rebuild trust and promote equitable care within the scope of sexually transmitted infections within African American populations. Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, historical trauma, sexually transmitted infections, culturally responsive intervention

The Impact of Engagement with Natural Mentors on the Psychosocial Functioning of Children and Adolecents

Natural Mentors can play a major role in children’s and adolescents’ psychosocial development. Psychosocial functioning describes how one’s personality develops and how social skills are learned during infancy and into adulthood (Bailey, 2023). One’s psychosocial development can include elements of one’s personal beliefs, emotions, relationships, and societal structures that can impact both their social and mental health status. This study identifies the correlation between the impact of engagement with natural mentors and the psychosocial functioning of African American adolescents aged sixteen to eighteen years old. This study delivers a cross-sectional survey design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods examining personal experiences/attitudes, mentor engagement within their life, and adolescents’ psychosocial development. Additionally, further studies are explored to support the influences of natural mentor engagement on adolescents’ psychosocial functioning and strengthen the research. Keywords: Natural mentors, psychosocial functioning, resilience theor

Examining the Influence of Social Media Engagement and Its Effect on “Mental Well-Being” and Performance of College Athletes

This research focused on how social media can affect the performance and mental health of athletes. Social media is used world-wide each day and athletes are included in the list of users. This study examined if social media contributed to the well-being of university athletes. Burnout and mental toughness are discussed and athletes’ academic and sport performance is presented. Also, athletes’ emotional intelligence and connection to sports performance is explored as is their work-life balance concerns.Keywords: Burnout, mental well-being, athlete engagement, mental toughness, emotional intelligenc

Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Front Matter, 2023

JITC is a journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center. It publishes peer- reviewed research articles written primarily, but not exclusively, from an Africentric perspective of the Bible and related disciplines. All contributions are referred to recognized scholars who are specialized in the particular discipline in which the article is written

Response from Dr. Cornel West to Prophesy Deliverance!

I am honored and blessed by this rich cacophony of profound and provocative voices that lovingly and respectfully challenge me - and thereby teach me so much.I salute my brother Harold Bennett for facilitating this fascinating gathering of high-quality scholars

When Marx Caught the Holy Ghost: Prophesy Deliverance and the Making of a Black Pentecostal Liberation Theology

This article discusses Cornels West’s Prophesy Deliverance! against the backdrop of Black Pentecostal praxis and contemporary insurgent theologies. A Black Pentecostal liberation theology enfleshes West’s fifth stage, “Black Liberation Theology as Critique of Capitalist Civilization.” I understand Black Pentecostalism as a classed resistance that takes shape on a particular political and existential terrain. Western thought (prophetic Christian and Marxist thought) helps us to locate Black Pentecostalism as specific praxis in the present historical moment, the struggle for liberation. To overcome the shortcomings of the first fourstages of Black liberation theology, the present essay— toward a Black Pentecostal liberation theology—maps three sources: Black existentialist thought, contemporary insurgent theologies, and Black Pentecostalism. Mycartography is not, in any way, complete—instead, it names a few guideposts on the journey. I am pointing to a few key works that a responding to the contemporary crisis forged by the insurgency. I conclude this treatment on Prophesy Deliverance! by identifying possible next steps in this conversation about the relationship between claims in Prophesy Deliverance! and Black Pentecostal social theorization and Marxism

Prophesy Deliverance! At the House of the Lord Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn

This essay delineates the context for Cornel West’s Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro-American Revolutionary Christianity.2 This text erupted on the scene in 1982, and its effects reach far into the present. Professor West explored many of the ideas in this seminal project at the House of the Lord Pentecostal Church (hereafter cited as HOLC) in Brooklyn, New York, pastored by Bishop Herbert D. Daughtry, Sr. This article casts light on the model leadership at the HOLC, and how it abetted in social engagement efforts of the Black United Front (a mass-based protest movement), along with other community organizations. This paper concludes by reflecting on the significance of Pentecostalism for Blacknationalist and pan-Africanist social/political activism. In doing so, this article too, analyzes the relationship between a Pentecostal bishop engaged in Blacknationalist and pan-Africanist social/political activism and a Black and democratic socialist Baptist theological academic as they each attempted to live out the meaning of Black theology within their ministry contexts and among the masses as social protest

Reflections on“Prophesy Deliverance! An American Revolutionary Christianity" from Black Pentecostal Perspectives

1982, who could forget it? On the national scene,Harold Washington became the first African American mayorof Chicago. The birthday of Martin L. King, Jr. became aNational Holiday. Audre Lorde delivers her provocative speechat Harvard University during the festivities for the Malcolm Xweekend. Michael Jackson released “Thriller.” Ronald Reganextended the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Satchel Paige died.Alice Walker published The Color Purple. The United Statesheld a groundbreaking ceremony in Washington, D.C., for amonument to our men and women who served in Vietnam. Afirst-class stamp costs twenty cents. On the international scene,Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the UnitedKingdom as Great Brittan found herself in armed combat withArgentina over possession of the Falkland Islands. Tensionswere high between Israel and the Palestine LiberationOrganization. Mount Cameroon erupted. Ghana and Nigeriawere experiencing economic crises. Apartheid was still in playin regard to Black South Africans. Sites in Soweto were the siteof several bombings and massive civil unrest. And, CornelWest publishes Prophesy Deliverance! An AmericanRevolutionary Christianity

If You Live Right, Heaven Belongs to You – Radical Historicism, Prophetic Pragmatism, and Melancholic Utopianism in Cornel West and Pentecostalism

This essay aims to deepen the consideration of the intersection of West’s corpus with Pentecostal critical thought and praxis by Black-descended persons.Focusing on the U.S. context, this article argues for Pentecostalism as an example and exemplar of West’s intellectual priorities in at least two areas: radical historicism (or cultural analysis) and prophetic pragmatism (or social commentary). I will rehearse some essential aspects of West’s corpus on these two themes, focusing on Prophesy Deliverance! At the same time, this essay will distill these themes through the work of Pentecostal examples and exemplars. I will examine radical historicism or cultural analysis through the work of the late theological ethicist Leonard Lovett. I will probe prophetic pragmatism through the life and ministry of Pentecostal leader, the late Bishop Smallwood E. Williams. I conclude by considering perhaps the most challenging point of intersection – melancholic utopianism by returning to the work of Leonard Lovett and turning to constructive theologian and Black feminist/womanist scholar Keri Day

Is there a word from the Lord? Black Revolutionary Christianity, Black Pentecostalism, and Black Self-Determination

This article offers reflections on Cornel West’s "Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro-American Is there a word from the Lord?" Revolutionary Christianity. This essay considers the various expressions of Black Pentecostalism within the analytical lens of Professor West’s Afro-American Revolutionary Christianity; consequently, this paper proffers responses to several issues, namely, how do the various Black Pentecostalisms show up as radical agents of Black human identity, liberation, and theology? How can the various Black Pentecostalisms critically engage the Black American predicament by creating community across religious identities? How can various Black Pentecostalisms develop a robust prophetic discourse featuring a pneumatological critique of the prevailing threats to Black life, dignity, and personhood? How might the various Black Pentecostalisms valorize Black culture as inextricably linked to its doctrines, affections, and practices