I’ve had trouble with words lately. I’ve seen coverage of the protests. I’ve watched the videos and heard the stories of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many before them. There’s a heaviness in the air, like we’re all just waiting and watching to see what’s going to happen.
As a White Christian woman, it’s been hard to know what to do or say that could help. So, I decided to stop talking and start listening.
I reached out to two of my sisters in Christ to hear their perspectives on what it’s like to be Black women in a predominantly White community, and to get their thoughts on how we as the Church can bring about healing and true, lasting change. They had a lot of wisdom to share, and I wanted you to hear it too. So, the bulk of this post will be from Shereatha Spencer and Danyell Maloney. Before you read their stories, I ask you to pray for understanding and insight. As you read, I’d also like to encourage you to examine how you react to what they say, and to let that drive you to just continue listening, learning and praying.
Shereatha Spencer
“There is a time for everything… a time to be silent and a time to speak” ( Ecclesiastes 3:1,7)
As with many of you, I have sat in the comfort of my home and watched as our country has plummeted into another social crisis due to the horrific murder of George Floyd, an African American. As a minister of the Gospel and Christian Life Coach, in the past I have always viewed all forms of social injustice through a spiritual lens. For some reason, this time was different; I was compelled to see it from both a spiritual and racial lens.
I called one of my dearest African American Christian friends and listened to her as she shared how she had been sobbing for days. I have known her for over twenty years and we have had many discussions about racism in this country and our own personal experiences. I realized as I was talking with her that for most of my life, I had been suppressing my feelings of hurt, pain and outrage. I saw myself as a Christian first and foolishly thought that was enough to exempt me from racial prejudice and discrimination.
I didn’t know that I “needed” to “speak” until one of my White sisters in Christ reached out to me. Yes, I said “White.” This is a post on race, so for context it is imperative I put an emphasis on color! My dear sister in Christ, Sarah, sent me a message and the one sentence that meant the most to me was: “How are you doing?” As a Christian Life Coach, I have been the one that has always asked that question. Very rarely am I offered the healing space to share my pain. I will be forever grateful to Sarah for her sensitivity, compassion, and the simple but profound act of caring. I knew instinctively that I needed to answer this question from my perspective as an African American.
I didn’t know that I needed to talk until that moment. I didn’t realize all the hurt and disappointment I had been sweeping under the rug for years. In that moment, I understood one of the purposes of the current social unrest in this country. God was giving his people the opportunity and platform to heal. He was saying to me specifically that I didn’t have to suppress my feelings; that in order for there to be healing in this country, mine and other Christian African American’s WOUNDS must be exposed through speaking, not silence.
I had another conversation with one of my non-African American Christian friends and she was shocked to hear of some of my experiences in both my community and church. She told me that because I was educated and a business owner, she naively thought I would never be exposed to racism. I told her most of my non-African American friends and colleagues wouldn’t know of my experiences because I never talked about them.
So, I am speaking now! I believe the answer to the racial division that is happening and has happened in our country must begin with the “Body of Christ!” People of God, are you listening?
There are so many narratives that are drowning out the cries of the suffering and pain of your African-American sisters and brothers in Christ. Narratives like, “the media is fueling the tension,” or, “what about the good cops?”, or, “this is politically motivated,” or, “all lives matter.” Ecclesiastes 3 states that there is a time for everything. Yes, all of the above narratives may be valid, but for us, racial inequality and prejudice is real. We have been experiencing it for many years before we could be “influenced” by news sources or social media!
I am asking, can we, your African-American sisters and brothers have some of your “time?” Can we have your undivided attention just for a moment?
As Christians, we know there are many injustices and problems in the world. Yes, we must feed the hungry, reach out to the poor, look after the elderly and the disabled, and care for the orphaned children. We will do that! Yes, we will be obedient to the Father and do our duties as Christians, but can you include us? Can you cry with us, mourn with us, pray for us? We are a part of the “Body of Christ.” Part of YOUR body is hurting. Can you stand with us? Can you speak out for us? Can you defend us?
My prayer is that the Church will take the lead in facilitating healing; that we can have honest conversations and actions of sympathy and compassion. I pray that we may see the promised fulfillment of Isaiah 61, that the broken-hearted will be healed and those who have been held bound and captive by the pain of the spirit of racism will finally be set free!
Shereatha Spencer is a Christian Life Coach and CEO at Caritas Christian Life Coaching
Danyell Maloney
My name is Danyell Maloney and I consider myself a triple threat: A Black Christian Woman. I am first and foremost a child of God, which means that on this earth, I will be persecuted for what I believe [1 Peter 4:16]. Besides being a believer, I have experienced oppression due to the color of my skin and my gender. In recent news, the sufferings I’ve faced as a Black woman has once again been publicized by the wrongful death of George Floyd.
I have been taught by parents, family members and friends that there are certain limitations I have based solely on the color of my skin. My first encounter with racism was when I was 12 years old. I was excited to go on a shopping trip with my mother as a treat for doing well in school. My favorite store at the time was American Eagle. While sorting through the clothing rack, I noticed the cashier, an older White lady, was staring at me and discretely following me around the store. When I brought this to my mother’s attention, I saw the grieved look on her face as this was the defining moment where she would teach her daughter about systemic oppression. In elementary school, I had completed many projects surrounding Black history, but this was different. We were never in a post-racial society. Racism is still happening. To this very day, I will never put my hands in my pockets or put a hoodie over my head in public spaces as this makes me instantly criminalized [example: Trayvon Martin].
Another defining moment would be when I was pulled over by the police a couple of years ago because I had a broken tail light due to a car accident. When I saw the flashing lights behind me, I scrambled to think of the last time I told my parents I loved them, because I knew there was a possibility of not making it home. After giving my license and registration, the police officer did a deep search of my backseat. His flashlight indicated he was searching for drugs as an excuse to arrest me. Thankfully, he let me go when he did not find anything illegal, and I don’t have a record. To this very day, I have anxiety if I notice there is a police car behind me and I switch lanes if possible [example: Sandra Bland]. Although these are only two of the numerous moments where I have experienced racism and discrimination, these moments do not define me.
Currently, the Lord has placed me in a predominantly White church within a predominantly White neighborhood. I am thankful to say the magnitude of the culture shock I experienced did not outweigh my desperation for Christ. As the only Black woman in my Young Adults community, I choose daily to stand in the gap and to educate others about the Black community.
The weight I have chosen to carry has caused me to “scream in silence” for years. The rare and bold moments when I speak up to others in my church about racism or social injustice are met with blank stares or simple head nods. However, this weight is in constant submission to the Father as He carries all of my burdens. I am fully aware it makes my White Christian peers uncomfortable. Society has politicized racism and social injustice, which can lead to inactivity. Nevertheless, it is not a political battle. It is a deeply spiritual battle.
At my church, I have grown exponentially in my relationship with Christ. I was baptized, gained a spiritual family through authentic community/discipleship, and learned the importance of prayer. Through this spiritual growth spurt, I have learned to truly surrender to Him. In response to this, I am now “unmuted”.
It is time for the body of Christ, especially my White counterparts, to help carry this weight through prayer, open conversations, and integrating more POC (People of Color) within the congregation. I am a firm believer that repentance will bring revival.
This is a call to action for my White brothers and sisters in Christ to go before His throne and ask Him to examine your hearts for any racist or prejudiced ideologies. Repent and speak up against anyone who says racist things, including family members and close friends. Research the depth of systemic racism. Education and exposure is critical because racism is a sin passed down through generations and it must be addressed.
All in all, our voices to proclaim the Gospel must be louder than the voices of this world. It will be difficult. It will be uncomfortable. However, in the process of healing and deliverance, there is hope. Our persecution may differ but our Living Hope is the same. To God be the Glory forever and ever.
You can hear more from Danyell on her YouTube channel, True Surrender.
I want to give a huge thank you to Danyell and Shereatha for speaking out so boldly. I knew that in asking them to share, I was asking them to open themselves up to comments and criticism, and I don’t take that lightly.
I will be honest, having these conversations with them was hard. I realized that while I have learned much over the years from Black friends and co-workers about their own experiences of racism, prejudice and injustice, that I still have a long way to go in my own understanding of what they live every single day. It was also difficult to hear that while I and many other White Christ followers may think we’re doing a good job in confronting the issue of racial prejudice, that we still have a long way to go – and that starts by taking a good, hard look at our own hearts.
I believe it is important to have conversations like the ones I had with Danyell and Shereatha; to hear others’ perspectives even if they make us feel uncomfortable. Until we learn to reach out and talk, learn and listen with empathy and compassion, and to acknowledge the wrongs we ourselves have committed, we will never learn and grow.
As a quote I’ve seen floating around lately says, “It’s a privilege to learn about racism instead of experiencing it your whole life.” If you want to learn more, first, see what Scripture has to say about righteousness, justice and standing up for others (Isaiah 1:17), (Micah 6:8), (Psalm 89:14), (Hosea 12:6), (Job 29:15-17), (Proverbs 21:15), (Zechariah 7:9-10), (Matthew 25:40), (Mark 12:31), and (Colossians 3:11), then check out these resources linked below:
How Churches Can Address Hidden Feelings of Prejudice and Racism
“White Pastors, Our Decision to Show Up Matters.”
“Become the Bridge” a Conversation with Pastor Steven Furtick and Pastor John Gray
Tim Keller on the Bible and Race – Life in the Gospel
First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources for White People
