Yung Suk Kim
Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity
Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology
Virginia Union University
I am an Asian American scholar with Korean heritage—a member of the Diaspora living in America as a citizen. With my hybrid identity, I enjoy teaching at a predominantly African-American school in Richmond, once the capital of the Confederacy and now the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
As a minority scholar within a minority culture, I often hear about the importance of the Black seminary and experience, prompting me to ask the following questions: Is the Black experience shareable with other cultures and people? Does Blackness stem from a collective or personal experience? Is it a human condition or a unique hermeneutical lens? African American seminaries play an unparalleled role for Black people and churches. They provide support within a sustainable culture and community. They can serve as safe spaces for identity formation or reformation, deeply rooted in African American heritage, culture, and experience. By remaining authentic to the Black spirit and experience, a Black seminary can foster critical spirituality and solidarity with others.
However, critical questions remain to be addressed in the future. In my view, the greatest challenge will be how HBCUs position themselves amidst changing contexts. How much can they adapt to rapidly evolving trends and conditions while maintaining their traditions? What models of transformation or success can they establish?