Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic university, has, from its founding nearly 100 years ago, been open to all races and creeds; the university’s well-earned stellar reputation as an institution that values and promotes diversity and the diverse backgrounds of Xavier’s student body are some of the institution’s signature features. Xavier’s Theology Department and theology club supports not only a continuation of racial and denominational diversity but also exposure to diverse thought, and so invited Dr. Andre Willis, an associate professor of religious studies from Brown University, to campus for a lecture in theology.

 As a well-respected philosopher of religion, Dr. Willis’ work focuses on enlightenment reflections in faith, African American religious thought, critical theory, and democratic citizenship as it relates to religious notions of hope, recognition and belonging. His manuscript, tentatively titled “Afro-theisms and Post-democracy,” was also the title of the lecture he gave to members of Xavier University’s theology club and other students. He discussed how the systems in the United States, such as prevailing ideologies of European theology and democracy, cannot adequately address the conditions of Black  Americans. These are the same ideas explored in his book.

These concepts are very familiar to Xavier University, which was founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and endowed with a mission to create a more just and humane society by improving the world, particularly for the underserved.

“There is an ongoing and longer-term conversation at Xavier around its mission,” said Dr. Joseph Drexler-Dreis, chair of the Theology Department at Xavier University of Louisiana, who explains that such ideals of justice can be abstract. “‘Justice’ can mean many things, as can ‘humane society.’ [Dr. Willis] is offering a powerful perspective on what justice means and also how we might actualize justice. I think he will contribute to [this] ongoing conversation at Xavier.”

For Dr. Willis, he wanted the lecture to be a moment for him to connect with students and express some of the ideas that others can access through his book. He hopes that the ideas he shared would encourage students and other attendees to think in new ways beyond the scope of what is familiar or traditionally practiced to invoke change.

“I’m hoping to convey that theological ideas can make a difference. I’m hoping to meet and be inspired by [Xavier’s] marvelous students,” said Dr. Willis prior to the lecture, “And my wish is that our time together helps us all grow in wisdom and learn how to love more.”

The lecture provided an excellent opportunity for Dr. Willis to engage and interact with Xavierites, sharing and expressing ideas beyond the traditional, historically unjust ideologies that have triumphed in the United States and envision a world where Black Americans are adequately supported in their faith and politics. In the lecture, Dr. Willis explained that because theology and democracy rely on systems that have perpetually worked against Black Americans, those who seek positive change must ascribe to newer methods that speak to the general wholeness of Black people, not just in theory, but in practice.

The Theology Department intends for this lecture and those yet to come to further expose Xavierites to innovative and new ways of thinking and act as inspiration for ways to actualize the university’s mission. Dr. Willis is only one of the many scholars the Theology Department plans to invite to foster diversity of thought.

Dr. Willis appreciated the chance to foster a connection with Xavier students for mutual inspiration, with students asking questions and sharing ideas of how Dr. Willis could better promote his book among younger generations.

“I think on a very general level, it is important for students to see examples of scholars who see the importance of a particular problem and pursue a rigorous analysis of that problem. For Dr. Willis, that can be described as various forms of social injustice on a broad level and restrictions on democratic belonging in the US context more specifically,” said Dr. Drexler-Dreis, “We want students to see how scholars use tools from intellectual traditions and disciplines—here, theology and philosophy—in order to respond to that problem and spend a good portion of their life developing a response to that problem. I think it is important for students to see that as an option.”