Recording: Five Points lecture- Precious Lord: Refuge, Reflection and Revolution in African American Music with Dean Stephanie Shonekan

March 26, 2026 Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies

Jewish Studies event flyer with Dean Stephanie Shonekan with trees in the background, as well as a QR code

Dean Shonekan explores five songs that African American communities consistently cite as sites of worship..

Drawing from Black sacred and secular traditions, as well as popular music, the talk examines how these songs carry theological meaning through sound, memory, and collective feeling. As part of a larger project on African American love songs, the lecture argues that love—of God, of community, of self—remains a central mode through which African Americans have journeyed through American history.

Watch Recording:

Please note, that due to copyright restrictions, we had to mute (38:21-40:12); we encourage you to listen to the song on your preferred streaming services to fully experience the entire program.