For most of my life, I have been in and out of the black church, and it has been a spiritually formative and resonant space. The dynamism of the preaching, the soul of the music, the embodiment of worship, the scents of soft peppermints or smoking gold balls (yeah, they exist) — all these characteristics combine to create the black church experience. Even when I have turned my back on it, the black church beckons me with her call to justice and endurance in the black community.
So here’s a list of what I wish everyone knew about the black church, some of it born out of personal experience and some contributions from friends and colleagues.
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