From Unit Chairs:

• Aaron Grizzell, Ph.D. Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation
• Julius Bailey, Ph.D., University of Redlands

The religious experience is of significant and acute concern among our varied African diasporic communities and is worthy of close academic exploration and study. The American Academy of Religion - Western Region (AAR-WR) Black Religion and Theology Unit’s mission is to further the development of scholarly research and discussion about the black religious experience; encourage the broadening of Black religion as an academic endeavor; and engage in discourse, from the African diasporic perspective, about religious and theological expression. 

Following along with the 2026 AAR-WR Conference theme, which focuses on examining the complex intersections of religion, technology, and innovation, we welcome proposal submissions from two focus areas. The selected panelists can expect 15-20 minutes to present their work and to enable time for questions and audience responses.

Focus Area A: Artificial intelligence and generative technologies are changing the landscape of the modes and definitions of communication, imagination, connectivity, and, arguably, reality. Both religion and theology in African diasporic expressions have much to say on these matters. We welcome papers that delve into the challenges, opportunities, and innovative expressions that are being forged in this space.

Focus Area B: In many ways, the Black religious expression has been the vanguard through which social movements have forged new rights under law, and Black religious scholarship has been vital to building a bulwark against theoretical and methodological pushback in the academy regarding the grounding of these movements in the Black experience. We welcome papers that take an innovative look at modes of Black scholarship at the fulcrum of movements for justice, civil and human rights. This includes speculative and afrofuturist thought now at the forefront of many popular cultural expressions.

Please send abstract submissions (no more than 250 words) and Program Participant Forms to Aaron Grizzell (aaron@norcalmlkfoundation.org) and Julius Bailey (julius_bailey@redlands.edu). The deadline for submission is November 15, 2025. All participants must submit a Program Participant Form (Click here to download the program participant form) and be members of the AAR. The AAR membership information is found at aarweb.org.

The 2026 American Academy of Religion - Western Region Conference will be held March 13-15, 2026, aat the University of Nevada Las Vegas.