“The Black Church Changed My Life!”: Can I Testify?

• In Event: The Black Church Ain’t Dead! A Revival on the Educational Legacy of the Black Church

Abstract

Examining the role that the Western Church has played in the development of educational practices and knowledge formation contributes to the pantheon of literature surrounding the subject. However, according to Roland Mitchell (2010), a space for Black people to discuss the Black Church and its influence on Black education is rarely, if ever, provided. In the conversation for Black education and the Black experience, there remains a paucity of research on the role the Black Church has played in the identity development of Blacks in America. From my personal journey of identity formation and my experience in the American university system, I can attest to the dearth of curriculum that engages with such a pivotal aspect of my spiritual and cultural identity development. This paper examines the power of personal testimony and the profound impact of the structures embedded within the spiritual and cultural makeup of the Black Church, which prepared me for my academic journey (Hoyt, 2010; Stoltzfus, 2009). Critical elements of my experience within the Black Church will be explored to demonstrate how the power of testimony, oratory development, critical thinking skills, critical consciousness (compassion), and culturally sustaining practices were utilized to equip me to survive and thrive within higher education. What history fails to illustrate—much to the chagrin of all indigenous populations—is historical narratives depicting Blacks as the contributors to their own academic and spiritual formation. Black religious denominations are a significant part of the U.S. educational landscape (Dancy, 2010; Gaines, 2010; Jett, 2010; Mitchell, 2010; Reyes, 2010).

Author

• Terrelle B. Sales, Pepperdine University