How do you participate in a faith practice that hasn’t had the best track record with racism? That’s what our NPR play-cousin J.C. Howard gets into in this week’s episode of Code Switch. He’s been reporting on Black Christians who, like him for a time, found their spiritual homes in white evangelical churches.
“Being a Christian has always been one of the primary ways that I identify, but finding my place in Christianity has been a journey,” J.C. says. And he wasn’t alone in making the shift to white evangelical spaces; in the past few decades, large Christian ministries have been reaching out to Black Christians to join their white-majority churches.
J.C. grew up Pentecostal, but going from a Black Pentecostal church to a white evangelical one isn’t just a shift in worship style. He says that being a young Black man surrounded by white evangelicals made him “realize that this place might invite me in, but it wasn’t built for me.”
As J.C. was thinking through his own spiritual journey, he read the story of another Black Christian, Dante Stewart, who started and ended in a very similar place. On this episode, J.C. talks to Dante as a way to explore his own story.
James Willetts engineered this episode.
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
