Christianity, Interracial Marriage, and American Law, 1865-1967

FAIN: FT-54041-06

Fay Botham
Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY 14456-3301)

My book, “Almighty God Created the Races: Christianity, Interracial Marriage, & American Law, 1865-1967”, explores the historical intersections of religious belief and race in American laws and perspectives on interracial marriage. The first book to examine this topic, it analyzes why Catholics advocated on behalf of interracial couples, why white Protestants opposed intermarriage, and why there were regional differences in anti- miscegenation laws. The book links several fields within the humanities, connecting historical study and contemporary culture, highlighting how religious values inform the legal right to marry, and addressing how religious beliefs about slavery and race continue to influence American racial attitudes.