How can Religion and Theology be Black and Queer? : An Exploration of a Multifaceted Identity

Embracing the Intersection: Blackness, Queerness, and Religion.

By: Camille Carlington

It's possible to embrace being black, queer, and religious all at once, much like the array of emotions felt in a single day. The idea that queerness undermines black identity or resilience is unfounded, stemming from systemic racism and historical biases that falsely portray black individuals as always strong and impervious. A black woman can embody both her blackness and femininity, carrying heavy burdens while still maintaining her humanity. Similarly, a black man can fully embrace his blackness and masculinity while experiencing vulnerability and pain. Queer individuals also contend with societal pressures such as racism, sexism, and economic disparities. However, the act of marginalizing queer identities erases their essential humanity. To be black, queer, and religious is fundamentally a human experience, no different in validity than being heterosexual and religious. This discussion aims to explore how religion and theology can authentically incorporate and reflect the intersectionality of Black and Queer identities.

Within various religious traditions, there exists a spectrum of beliefs and practices that can affirm and celebrate diverse identities. Finding a space where your sexuality, gender, and race are acknowledged and embraced can foster a sense of belonging and validation. This diversity within religious traditions provides an opportunity for individuals to find resonance and connection within their faith.

Through the adoption of an intersectional analysis. Black feminist scholars have long stated this premise of identity and systems of oppression being interconnected. An example would be Delores Williams, who I mentioned in another post, her ideas are surrounded by the search for an identity, molding yourself in your search of God, how inseparable pain and death are and there is an extensive history that is riddled in this brutalization that it had to turn into a fight for civil rights because many people thought they reigned supreme and used the true and holy supreme figure, God, to justify their putrid discriminatory acts against people of color. Alice Walker and Delores Williams emphasize the importance of claiming your experiences as a way to build your identity. Be someone who uses scripture in a way that relates to them and is congruent to your experience. That is one way to grow closer in faith, understanding the existence of God in the Bible parallel to the existence of God in your life. 

Liberation theology offers a powerful framework for interpreting religious texts through a lens of social justice. By prioritizing the voices and experiences of the marginalized, theology becomes a tool for liberation and empowerment. This approach encourages us to center the perspectives of the oppressed, recognizing their unique insights and contributions to theological discourse.

Spiritual resilience enables individuals to reinterpret religious texts in ways that resonate with their own experiences and struggles. Figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrate how scripture can be used to advocate for systemic change and justice, even in the face of adversity. Through spiritual resilience, individuals can find strength and inspiration in their religious beliefs, empowering them to confront injustice and work towards a more equitable society. Another example of this is the creation of spirituals, African American Spirituals. They served as an expression passageway of faith, hopes, and sorrows in reaction to the current social climate, the hardships of racial injustice, and slavery. These musical poems teach Christian values of peace, love, joy, faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation through the hardships of slavery.

Adopting an intersectional analysis acknowledges the interconnectedness of identity and systems of oppression. Black feminist scholars have long emphasized the importance of claiming one's experiences in the search for God, while also recognizing the historical context of oppression within religious narratives. This approach encourages us to critically examine the ways in which our identities intersect and shape our understanding of faith.

In essence, religion and theology can adapt to encompass diverse identities and experiences. An adaptable theology affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals, embracing love, liberation, and justice while rejecting societal norms that seek to marginalize certain groups. By celebrating the intersectionality of blackness, queerness, and religion, we honor the richness and complexity of human identity. That is how religion and theology can be black and queer.

As I learned about these themes in my RELS courses, one thought always remains, liberation theology empowers human existence! 

For the next post, I think I would like to dive into Black Feminist Theology: Centering Black Women's Voices in Religious Discourse or something similar, but still just as important like the Womanist perspective and an exploration of that, because it is an interesting outlook to theology!

Works:

Walker, Alice. "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose." Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983.

Williams, Delores S. "Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk." Orbis Books, 1993.