As I’m stuggling to find a church home, many of my concerns of compromising my feminist and activism values for the patriarchal nature of the black church is articulated in this blog post. I find comfort in the gospel music and ending my week with my people. But when I see a pulpit full of men or I attend a church focused on passing Jesus pamphlets versus joining an activist movement I grow weary.

Historically, the black church drove social movements. It was the space where blacks could be. They held leadership roles. The sang. They danced. They cried. They preached. They marched. They protested. They changed society.

And there are still many churches like that it’s just that they are hard to come by. It’s even harder to find a black church with progressive gender beliefs. I need to see some women on the pulpit.

So I understand Makiah.