American racism: The null curriculum in religious education

Religious educators, in neglecting to account for race in their theories, h ave ignored the historical legacy of institutional racism. In fact, religio us education has demonstrated an inadequate response to race and racism thr oughout its history. As evidenced by slavery and immigration history in the United States, race must be seen as a sociohistorical and legal constructi on. Its influence goes beyond the assimilationist ideology taught in early Methodist curricula. The article suggests that the Bible can be a rich mult icultural curriculum resource because of its positive treatment of Africans .