This undergraduate course examines health disparities in African and Black Diaspora communities through a global, gospel-centered lens, integrating Indigenous worldviews and verbal proclamation, embodied proclamation, and incarnational presence. Students explore how colonialism, systemic racism, migration, and socioeconomic inequities shape health challenges like infectious diseases, mental health, and chronic conditions across African, African American, Afro-Caribbean, and other diasporic populations. The course emphasizes Indigenous African and diasporic healing practices, communal values, and spiritual beliefs, using case studies and community-based learning to analyze their intersection with modern healthcare and inform culturally responsive social work.
Grounded in the missio Dei, the course frames health equity as a divine call to advocate for holistic well-being through sharing the gospel, living out Christ’s love, and being present in marginalized communities. It equips students with social work frameworks to address structural barriers while honoring Indigenous knowledge and gospel-centered practices. Engaging diaspora and migration studies, it examines how historical and contemporary migrations influence health disparities and Indigenous health practices globally. By comparing health challenges across Africa, the Americas, and Europe, students are prepared for transformative social work that reflects the gospel through culturally sensitive, incarnational engagement in diverse settings.
Students are equipped with a comprehensive understanding of health disparities in African and Black Diaspora communities, fostering skills to address these issues through culturally responsive social work practice. By integrating Indigenous worldviews, global perspectives, and gospel-centered principles, students develop the ability to analyze complex health challenges—such as infectious diseases, mental health, and chronic conditions—while engaging traditional healing practices and communal values. The course’s emphasis on verbal proclamation, embodied proclamation, and incarnational presence empowers students to engage communities with empathy, advocate for justice, and implement holistic interventions. Through case studies and community-based learning, students gain practical experience in applying social work frameworks to real-world settings, preparing them for careers in healthcare, community development, and advocacy across diverse global contexts.
This course is critical in addressing the urgent need for culturally sensitive, gospel-centered approaches to health equity within African and Black Diaspora communities, which are disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities and historical injustices. By connecting health challenges to the missio Dei and exploring the effects of migration, colonialism, and Indigenous worldviews, it underscores the role of social work in advancing God’s mission of reconciliation and justice. The course’s global focus highlights the interconnectedness of Black communities across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and beyond, fostering a deeper understanding of how migration and diaspora shape health outcomes. By equipping students to engage with these communities through incarnational presence and transformative advocacy, the course contributes to dismantling structural barriers and promoting holistic well-being, making it an essential component of socially and spiritually informed education.
Grounded in a biblical foundation, the course integrates the missio Dei—God’s mission of reconciliation and justice—into its exploration of health disparities in African and Black Diaspora communities. By emphasizing verbal proclamation, embodied proclamation, and incarnational presence, the course reflects scriptural mandates to love and serve the marginalized, equipping students to address health inequities through a gospel-centered lens rooted in biblical principles of justice and compassion.
The course is missionally-driven, aligning with God’s redemptive purpose by preparing students to advocate for health equity as an expression of the missio Dei. Through a focus on African and Black Diaspora communities, it encourages students to engage in transformative social work that proclaims the gospel through both word and deed, addressing systemic injustices and promoting holistic well-being in alignment with God’s mission.
The course is contextually-informed, examining health and illness within the specific historical, social, and cultural contexts of African and Black Diaspora communities. By analyzing the impacts of colonialism, systemic racism, and migration, and incorporating Indigenous worldviews, the course ensures students understand the unique challenges and resilience of these communities, enabling culturally sensitive interventions tailored to diverse global settings.
With an interculturally-focused approach, the course explores health disparities across African, African American, Afro-Caribbean, and other Black diasporic populations worldwide. It emphasizes an understanding of Indigenous African and diasporic worldviews and their impact on modern healthcare practices, equipping students to navigate cultural complexities and foster inclusive, respectful social work practices in multicultural and global contexts.
The course is practically-minded, providing students with actionable frameworks and skills to address health disparities through social work. Through case studies, community-based learning, and culturally responsive intervention strategies, students gain practical tools to advocate for health equity, implement community-driven solutions, and engage with African and Black Diaspora communities in meaningful, impactful ways.
The course is experientially-transformed, engaging students in hands-on learning through community-based projects and critical reflection on health challenges in African and Black Diaspora communities. By immersing students in real-world applications and encouraging incarnational presence, it fosters personal and professional transformation, preparing students to embody Christ’s compassion and justice in their social work practice.
