Book Launch—Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport

Join us at United or through Zoom on Wednesday, November 19, when Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, II will officially launch his significant new book—Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport. Dr. Green is United’s associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation and director of Racial Intelligence Systems.

Fortress Press, which published the book on November 4, 2025, notes that Playing the Game investigates racial and ethical intersections in cultural misinterpretations of US Black athleticism. It also shows how Black athletes expose white supremacy’s colonizing logic and the story it tells of a post-racial society.

The book applies womanist theological ethics and theologies of embodied spirituality to three exemplars—Marshawn Lynch, Steph Curry, and Deion Sanders. These men epitomize the play of racial politics surrounding Black male athlete depictions as “beast.” All three are celebrated public figures who illustrate, and then frustrate, cultural attempts to flatten the Black athlete’s embodied brilliance based on moral rationalities that reflect a racist history.

A group of panelists will help illuminate more themes in Dr. Green’s new publication, and the author will field questions at the end of the event.

Panelists

	Dr. Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch is a womanist play facilitator and innovative educator who teaches at Union Presbyterian Seminary in the area of Christian education. Her most recent book is titled, Doing Theological Double Dutch: A Womanist Pedagogy of Play.
	CJ Ham, #30, is a fullback for the Minnesota Vikings, where he has been a starter since 2017. Off the field, he takes pride in giving back. In 2024, the Vikings selected CJ as their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
	Tamice Spencer-Helms is both a United student and staff member. While pursuing their DMin in Social Transformation, Tamice is also serving as one of United’s amazing admissions counselors.

Register

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