Black Sacred Music

Relaunched as an open access journal in 2026, Black Sacred Music explores projects comprising both traditional and new approaches to black sacred music. While most of the scholarly works engaging in this area of study are Christocentric, this journal opens the conversation across disciplinary and faith lines. By expanding the boundary of blackness beyond the confines of African American, the journal examines pan-African and global perspectives on race and ethnicity. Moreover, sacred notions in black spaces and bodies are reassessed by bringing into conversation western and Africana worldviews. As a complement to written analysis, audio and visual material enhances the experience for the reader and helps scholars demonstrate the lived experiences of black sacred music among music practitioners and religious adherents.

Articles are published under a Creative Commons license (BY-NC-ND) and are open immediately upon publication. Authors are not charged any fees for publication and retain copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions in their articles. Readers may use the full text of articles as described in the license.

Black Sacred Music was published originally beginning in 1987 at Duke University Press. Topics covered included the establishment of theomusicology as a discipline, black secular music, early discussions of rap, and the history of the black church. The original journal ceased publication in 1995. The publication’s earlier issues (1987-1995) are available through Duke University Press as the Black Sacred Music Archive.