I love God, people, and what church was designed to be...a safe, diverse, holy, and loving sanctuary for the soul but...Race discussions, injustice, and hate are heightened issues all over the world. This is an interesting time to be alive, to speak, to stand, and to pray. I am a black woman, who grew up in a white neighborhood, with my black family, and attended black church.
My experience, my views, and my thoughts...
Black Church Summarized
Black church sounds negative but it isn’t. A friend brought this to my attention when I was evaluating whether or not I was wrong for referring to black church as black church and it isn’t wrong. Black church is church rooted deeply in black culture, community, history, and the black experience in America. I won’t go too much into stereotypical black church characteristics but one who has been to black church knows they have been. Can I get an amen? I had to do it! Black church has historical roots including the significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. In most cases, it isn’t just a place of worship but a community for family connections, a safe place from racism, and a place to gather with people who can relate to the similar experiences. Black church.
Black Church To Me
The black church was a safe place for my family, peers, and me. We had a good time and shared in tough times too but we did it all together. I was best friends with people who looked like me and loved me without having to check my background to see if I was good enough. There, we were sisters and brothers. As opposed to my predominantly white school and neighborhood where I had good friends but their parents were not always accepting of my blackness until they checked out my family. They saw that our two-story house was bigger than their home, my parents were educated, and worked very hard. They didn’t accept us until they saw us as “good black folks” in the neighborhood. It was about color not community. Shame but true. At my black church, none of that mattered before I was accepted.
Why Am I Attending a White Church?
I would love to say that race doesn’t matter when it comes to church and it be true. For me, it doesn’t matter at the heart of things and in the big picture. Statistically, in this nation it matters. I didn’t intentionally leave the black church because white people do things better. Not at all. It isn’t better and it actually isn’t different as it relates to the heart of people. Some people are beautiful, loving, and kind just the same as in the black church and some people are horrible, hateful, and disgusting just the same as in the black church. So, why am I attending white church? I didn’t think much about it until issues that negatively affect black people came up more and more. I do my best to listen to what is inside of me and go where I am supposed to go. I moved from the suburbs to the city and I didn’t look for a church that I have heard about either black or white. I wasn’t going for popular, I was going for purpose. I figured that my move to the city was purposeful and where I worship, serve, and invest should be the same. I believe in serving in my community. I live in the middle of some of the highest real estate and homelessness in the city. Needs are great to serve all people whether with words of encouragement or basic needs. I am in a unique position. So, I decided to serve where I am. After a year, I see that I am supposed to be there to share my experiences from my perspective. I am not attending a white church to water down the black experience, to make white people comfortable, or deny my blackness. I am there for unity, for love, for sisterhood, and brotherhood. We talk about unity but have yet to see it fully in the world and sadly in the church, black or white church.
Black In White Church. My Experience, Views, and My Thoughts...
- Pray with and pray for everyone
- God is not divisive but some people are
- Racism exists and the church should be talking about it (black and white)
- Talking about the black experience with white people who care is liberating, refreshing, and necessary
- Talking about the black experience with white people who don’t care is draining but liberating and necessary too
- Acknowledgement of real black issues from the white church counts. It counts so much.
- I hate when people say they don’t see color. You are saying that you don’t see me or you’re a phony and neither is healthy for my soul.
- I do see color but I see my brothers and sisters as my brothers and sisters (white, black, or whatever) and that counts the most
- Calling out ignorance (in love) is not wrong, its healthy
- Connecting all of my friends of all races (naturally) is beautiful
- I love my brothers and sisters who see me, love me, correct me, support me, and embrace me as their sister
- Some white people won’t get it or care
- Some black people won’t get it or care
- Care for people in the black church, white church, and in my community
- Pray with and pray for everyone
Black in White Church...To Be Continued
I don’t have the answers just experiences. I am still living this out. Moment by moment. I long to experience church as it was designed to be. Not as black church, white church, religious, or divisive but as a safe, diverse, holy, and loving sanctuary for the soul.
As I conclude...
Walk with me as your sister, in love and I will walk with you as mine, in love. Only then will race barriers shatter, in love. In the church and in the world. In love.
Katherine White is a publisher, published author, non-profit organizer, and mentor on a life mission to encourage others by letting her light shine. She is the creator of the Ponytails Pageant and the Beautiful and Wonderful Me Workshop; both designed to empower girls to love who they are.
Contact her at www.kwhitewrites.com or www.sunnysmilespublishing.com.