Candice Marie Benbow is a theologian, essayist, columnist, baker, and educator whose work gives voice to Black women’s shared experiences of faith, healing, and wholeness. Named by Sojourners as one of “10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020,” she has written for Essence, Glamour, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, Madame Noire, and the Me Too Movement. Candice created the “Lemonade Syllabus” social media campaign, founded the media boutique Zion Hill Media Group, and, in memory of her mother, established The LouiseMarie Foundation to support HBCU nursing students and community mental health projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Candice holds degrees from Tennessee State University, North Carolina Central University, and Duke Divinity School.

If you're interested in hearing more from Candace Benbow (and you should be), you can check her out on Instagram, X, and Threads 

Spiritual Wounds In The Black Community ft Candice Benbow

This episode delves into the intricate dynamics of faith, community, and healing within the Black community, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Black women in religious contexts. It critically examines the role of the church, acknowledging its significance in the lives of Black individuals while also addressing the harms inflicted within these spaces. 

Highlighted Topics Include:

• The role of the church in the Black community: There is a deep connection between Black individuals and the institutional church.  Our discussion acknowledges both the positive aspects and the significant harms that have been experienced within these religious spaces. 
• Challenges faced by Black women in the church: There is a specific focus on the experiences of Black women in religious and community spaces, emphasizing how they continue to be a consistent and substantial force despite not receiving the care and consideration they deserve. This discrepancy is presented as something that leadership should feel accountable for.
• The importance of honesty and healing: The conversation touches upon the necessity of being honest about the wounds and harms inflicted within the community to engage in meaningful healing work. This includes confronting both personal and institutional sources of pain.
• Spiritual bypassing in the Black community: Spiritual bypassing, which is the idea that faith and prayer alone can prevent bad things from happening. This notion is critiqued for being particularly harmful within the Black community, where many have been raised in the church and might interpret personal misfortunes as a lack of faith.
• The intersection of faith, love, and healing: The dialogue includes references to the work of Bell Hooks and the concept of loving through communication and acknowledging harms. This approach is advocated as a means to address wounds within the community while maintaining spiritual and faith-based commitments.

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