1948 – 1997
James M. Washington (1948–1997) was an American religious historian and theologian at Union Theological Seminary in New York, specializing in African American religious thought and intellectual history. He is best known for editing the landmark anthology of Martin Luther King Jr.'s writings and for his historical scholarship on the Black Baptist tradition. His work argued for the distinctive and generative role of African and African-descended scholars in producing theological and philosophical knowledge.
Edited 'A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.' (1986), the definitive MLK anthology
Authored 'Frustrated Fellowship: The Black Baptist Quest for Social Power' (1986)
Championed recognition of African American scholars as original producers of theological and philosophical knowledge
Contributed to the institutional development of Black religious studies as a scholarly discipline
Taught and mentored a generation of scholars in African American religion at Union Theological Seminary