Locs, Heels, and the Bible

  I sat in my office dividing my attention between watching the General Conference session and clicking away on my laptop at the task on hand. The lights were on in my office and the door was wide open. Following the worship at The UMC General Conference on April 25, 2024, and despite the presence of the usual and additional challenges of serving as pastor in my current context, I felt light-hearted and excitedly hopeful about the church – local, denominational, and universal. I was excitedly hopeful that on principle, the church would no longer remain silent in the face of gross injustices but would be vocal and active about transforming the same. Then, it was as if the light flickered and dimmed as a conference in The UMC asked to leave. I felt the dip in my heart and my hope. The church should stand united against marginalization. The church should stand united in seeing God’s active love at work. Surely, I was in the twilight zone. I turned my attention back and watched the...

  The Exhaustion of Resilience Resilience has long been celebrated as a virtue, especially among Black women. However, the perpetual soundtrack of being ‘strong’ and ‘resilient’ can mask a more complex narrative—one where the pressure to constantly exhibit strength becomes a burdensome expectation rather than a true reflection of inner power. Resilience is so deeply nuanced, that because of all the nonsense that it can mask, it is often thrown about as a huge blanket under which much ill is swept and hidden. Unpacking Resilience (by no means an exhaustive unpacking 💀) Academic studies have often highlighted the concept of the “Strong Black Woman” as a coping mechanism that helps Black women navigate the systemic inequalities and personal challenges they face. Researchers like Cheryl Woods-Giscombé have pointed out the “Superwoman Schema,” (I love it!) which encapsulates an obligation for women (especially Black women) to present as strong and self-sacrificing. While this sch...

  From the Margins Psalm 137 bears tremendous witness to  the pain of exile and the complexities of human response to oppression – (to say the least.) For preachers, this Psalm offers a rich, though challenging, canvas to explore themes of lament, justice, memory, and resilience. Addressing this passage from the perspective of a liberationist theologian requires careful navigation, a deep empathy for human suffering, and a critical engagement with the injustices that underlie the text. I offer here some key components to consider when preaching from Psalm 137 Contextualize the Exile: Begin by setting the historical and socio-political context for the peoples' exile to Babylon. Understanding the backdrop of displacement, cultural erasure, and imperial domination is crucial for unpacking the emotional and theological layers of the Psalm. This grounding helps the (congregation) grasp the reasons behind the deep-seated grief and anger expressed...