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Public Program: Race, Religion and Justice in America: From Obama to Trump

  • Joshua DuBois served as the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships during President Obama’s first term. Photo by Seamore Zhu.

  • Pastor DuBois conducted a Q&A after his talk to further discuss these multifaceted, interconnected issues of race and religion under the Trump administration. Photo by Seamore Zhu.

  • After the lecture, DuBois was available to sign copies of his book The President’s Devotional: The Daily Readings that Inspired President Obama.

  • The public lecture, “Race, Religion and Justice in America: From Obama to Trump,” took place at the Rockefeller Center on Monday, January 23, 2017.

How did we get here and where are we going? How can activism and faith aid us in making a difference? With the knowledge that a different world cannot be changed by indifferent people, we as the greater public must be aware. President Obama’s former spiritual advisor Joshua DuBois offers similar advice to president-elect Mr. Donald Trump in an interview with the Washington Post, saying we “must address the harm; only then can we have any chance of moving forward into hope.” As the nation deals with further racial polarization and divisive issues in religion and the nature of justice, Obama’s “Pastor-in-Chief” could shed some light on foreseen challenges in race and religion under the Trump Administration

On Monday, January 23rd, former Executive Director of the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and CEO of Values Partnerships Pastor Joshua DuBois spoke on the challenges in the realms of race and religion in America. Pastor DuBois discussed these multifaceted, interconnected issues under the Trump administration. Drawing from his past leadership experience, he also touched upon the roles that activism and social services have in this new era.

Joshua DuBois served as the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships during President Obama’s first term. He was called the President’s “Pastor-in-Chief” by TIME Magazine. DuBois led the White House’s work on responsible fatherhood, grassroots community partnerships and religion in foreign affairs, and brought together community and religious leaders from across the ideological spectrum to tackle the nation’s biggest challenges. In his consulting firm, Values Partnerships, DuBois creates community and faith-based partnerships for the public, private and non-profit sectors. Additionally, he is the author of The President’s Devotional: The Daily Readings that Inspired President Obama, a bestselling book that complies the devotional meditations shared with the President and narratives of faith in public life.

As a frequent media commentator in The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News’ This Week, and CNN and leader in faith-based organizations, Mr. DuBois has been named to “The Root 100” and Ebony Magazine‘s  “Power 150” list of the most influential African Americans in the country.

The public lecture, “Race, Religion and Justice in America: From Obama to Trump,” took place at the Rockefeller Center on Monday, January 23, 2017. After the lecture, DuBois was availalbe to sign copies of his book, The President’s Devotional: The Daily Readings that Inspired President Obama.

Submitted by Alexa Green ’19, Rockefeller Center Student Program Assistant for Public Programs

The views and opinions expressed and any materials presented during a public program are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Rockefeller Center or constitute an endorsement by the Center.