Front Pew Rebellion: When Faith Became the Battleground for Belonging
The message in this church community was clear: Black families sat in the back. Something in me stirred. I knew I couldn’t sit quietly in the back and pretend it was okay. But that day, I refused. I pulled my cousins with me. Though they were nervous and fearful of possible retaliation, I marched us to the front pew.
Religious Trauma: Navigating the Trifecta of Faith, Culture and Identity
In my role as an expert in culture and identity within the trauma space, my intent here is to explore three deeply intertwined factors—faith, culture, and identity create what I call a “trauma trifecta.” Each of these elements is foundational to personal identity, shaping how individuals experience, process, and heal from trauma. In my opinion, approaching religious trauma from this perspective, rather than as an isolated experience, allows us to recognize and understand the layered impacts of cultural and identity dynamics on a person’s spiritual journey and their psychological well-being.