Part 1: Inspecting the Wall

Toward A Recapitulation of Faith and Faithfulness Amongst Black Students in Racialized American Society.

Introduction

Youth and Young Adults in the Black community are becoming increasingly disconnected from Black churches, creating a gulf between the belief systems of the youth and that of their parents and grandparents. In fact, while around two-thirds of Black millennials and Gen Z identify as Christians, it is still 10 percentage points fewer than Black Gen Xers and 20 percentage points fewer than Black Boomers. ^[1]

Black  young people have admitted to growing unease with the intolerance they see in their congregations, the apparent contradictions in biblical texts, and the Christian systems that have contributed to, been complicit in, or outright promulgated anti-Black racism and oppression. ^[2]

In short, the growing disinterest, distrust, and unsatisfied curiosity of a generation have placed a task before those who desire vocational ministry and practitioners. The task is not theirs alone to achieve, but when it comes to restoring the hope and resilience lost in the disparity of a rac…