This chapter outlines a Black theological approach to re-reading biblical texts. This interactive process – working alongside ordinary Black Christians – is one that attempts to create an accessible and creative method for bringing the insights of Black theology into conversation with sacred texts. I have highlighted the terms “accessible” and “creative” in the last sentence, for this chapter represents a slight “change of gear” from some of the previous chapters. I have attempted this methodological and linguistic change in order to acknowledge the other dimension of my scholarly identity and journey.

My early scholarly work was very much located within the area of Christian education and Practical theology. In my initial research work I was attempting to create a more appropriate teaching and learning framework for the Christian education of African Caribbean children, using the frameworks and ideas of Black theology and liberative, transformative education. This work was undertaken between 1995 and 1999 on a research project entitled The Birmingham Initiative. This work was concerned with seeking to create an appropriate model of Christian nurture and faith formation for Black African Caribbean children in Birmingham, using the insights of Black theology and transformative pedagogy as educational and theological frameworks for the research. In undertaking this work I was forced to develop a twin-tracked approach to the task of creating Black theological scholarship.