The Delicacy of Identity.

I spent all of 2023 and a bit of 2024 conducting research and writing my dissertation. Arduous is not a weighty enough word to capture and communicate how hard that process was. But after I finished writing and successfully defending my work (yay me!), I literally told myself, “You really can do hard things.” One could argue, starting a Substack isn’t hard, but that statement can, in fact, be argued. But alas, here I am, Substacking and blogging or whatever.

I am in the process of adapting my work into an article for publication. This post will allow me to process out loud with whoever reads this what I suggested in my dissertation. One of the reasons I decided to pursue my doctorate was to study and contribute to ongoing discussions about education while considering and integrating faith into the dialogue. Like most spaces permeated by faux-respectability, academia has not rolled out a welcome mat for scholars and practitioners to discuss faith/religion/spirituality and its intersection with other fields. As a Christian Black woman who has been academically trained as a systematic theologian, I dared to initiate that discussion.

I receive monthly download reports from my school’s library, and my dissertation is being downloaded 30-60 times every month, so someone out there is interested in what I have to say :) So, if you’re still reading, thank you for engaging…I’m getting to the topic now, lol.

There’s been an ongoing discussion amongst Black Christians regarding their racial and religious identity. Some are staunch in their position — they are Black first, then Christian. It’s situated in the argument that they didn’t choose to be Black, but they did choose to become a Christian, regardless of whatever their reasoning was. Others place their faith at the helm of their identity ship and dare not prioritize any other social identity above their faith. Admittedly, years ago, I existed in the latter category. I can write about the whys and hows in another post, but I most certainly would identify as a Christian who is Black. And, to be honest, maybe I still do. But I also would consider myself to be a Black Christian. And all of the other social identities that make up who I am are also ingredients in the unique recipe that encompasses who I am. 

One of the findings in my research suggests that identity is not linear. It is a construct that is as fluid as the wind. Its effects are felt and observed but cannot be seen. And belief is intricately connected to identity, which is why a Black Christian or a Christian who is Black is the same and different all at the same time.

The interconnectedness of identity, belief, and behavior is a hodgepodge that cannot be easily separated. Like a cake, once it’s been baked, you can’t separate the flour from the eggs, from the sugar, from the butter. So it is with our identity. The interaction between and the intersection of race, religion, gender, sexuality, and other social identity markers make up who we are, and trying to delineate what is “first” is a futile attempt. 

I understand and connect with those who prioritize their Blackness in light of their faith and their other social identities. I equally connect with those who anchor their identity in their faith — they view it as a salient component of who they are and how they understand their existence. Essentially, what I am saying is that identity is fragile, tender, and delicate, and should be handled (and understood) with care. Enjoy the journey of navigating the nuance and beauty of who you are with grace and an open heart.

Talk soon!

For conversation and to connect, visit me here: https://sistertheologian.substack.com/