Background
James Melvin Washington was born on April 24, 1948, in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. He was a son of James William Washington and Annie B. Washington.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
In 1970, James received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee.
45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
In 1972, James got his Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School.
New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
In 1975, Washingtom attained a Master of Philosophy degree from Yale University and in 1979, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the same educational establishment.
("A Testament of Hope" contains Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ...)
"A Testament of Hope" contains Martin Luther King, Jr.'s essential thoughts on nonviolence, social policy, integration, black nationalism, the ethics of love and hope, and other issues. This work was edited by James M. Washington.
https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Hope-Essential-Writings-Speeches/dp/0060646918
1985
(Martin Luther King's twenty most memorable writings and s...)
Martin Luther King's twenty most memorable writings and speeches are presented in this concise edition. Editor James M. Washington arranged the selections chronologically, providing headnotes for each selection, that give a running history of the Civil Rights movement and related events. In his introduction, Washington assesses King's time and significance.
https://www.amazon.com/Have-Dream-Writings-Speeches-Anniversary/dp/B00780YHPO
1992
educator historian minister author
James Melvin Washington was born on April 24, 1948, in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. He was a son of James William Washington and Annie B. Washington.
After having preached to congregations for several years as a teenager, Washington was ordained as a Baptist minister in Nashville at the age of 19. He grew up, when the South was still segregated, and he recalled riding in the back of Knoxville city buses and seeing Western films at a theater with blacks-only entrances. Later, Southern universities were beginning to open up slowly to African-American students, and Washington enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970.
Later, in 1972, James got his Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School. In 1975, Washington attained a Master of Philosophy degree from Yale University and in 1979, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the same educational establishment.
In 1971, James started to work as a teaching fellow at Harvard University, a post he held till 1972. Between 1974 and 1976, he served as an acting instructor of American church history at Yale Divinity School. During the period from 1975 till 1976, James lectured on Afro-American church history at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1976, he was appointed an assistant professor at the same seminary, where he was later promoted to the post of an associate professor. In 1984, he served as a visiting associate professor of religion at Haverford College. From 1984 till 1985, James was an adjunct associate professor of religion at Columbia University. In 1986, Washington was made a professor of church history at Union Theological Seminary, a post he held until his death in 1997.
Between 1989 and 1990, he worked as a distinguished visiting lecturer at Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1991, Washington was appointed an adjunct professor at Columbia University.
Also, Washington's career was notable for his involvement in public spheres in addition to his academic posts. He was active in his ministry as a board member of the American Baptist Church denomination and, from 1985 to 1987, of the National Council of Churches, where he served on the executive committee of the Faith and Order Commission. In addition, beginning in 1989, Washington was an associate editor of the American National Biography encyclopedia series.
Moreover, during his career, Washington held a post of a consultant for National Endowment for Humanities, Lilly Endowment, Fund for Theological Education and others.
At the time of his death, James was teaching African-American church history at Union Theological Seminary.
(Martin Luther King's twenty most memorable writings and s...)
1992("A Testament of Hope" contains Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ...)
1985(Edited by James M. Washington.)
1994James was a member of the American Academy of Religion, American Historical Association, American Studies Association, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Society of Christian Ethics, Society for the Study of Black Religion, Society for Values in Higher Education, Southern Historical Association and other organizations.
Washington's colleagues admired him for his knowledge of the history of all American religions and his ability as a preacher.
James married Patricia Anne Alexander on December 19, 1970. Their marriage produced one daughter, named Ayanna Nicole.