The collective identity of Black culture and its ties to faith in America began with religion as a cornerstone for hope and belief. Reflecting on the circumstances in which Africans found themselves in this country, they sought to make sense of the deadly and tortuous reality they were now living. Christian faith, which was taught to them by their captors, provided narratives of hope that were defined by the subservient belief that God, in His sovereignty, chose to send them into slavery. (Cook, D. A., & Wiley, C.Y., 2000).
Throughout the atrocities of slavery, enslaved African people found solace in the presence of God. This is true and continues to be true for generations after slavery ended. Black Americans were subjected to the deprivation and indignities of racism, discrimination, dehumanization, and disenfranchisement throughout the United States history up to and including this moment in which we live. These disparities exist in the health care system and shape people of color who seek care.
Some traditions, cultures, and beliefs are preserved by oral articulation. The memories of a time forgotten would not be. The collective trauma experienced helped create the unique aspects of the Black American religion, their ties and perceptions, and their issues and needs. Thus, ethical counseling of this community requires sensitivity to this collective trauma and complicated relationship to spirituality and religion. (Lebron, 2015)
The tradition of oral expression is woven into African societies and then developed and continued to promote cultural values, social norms, and religious beliefs. Understanding the deep connection between Black Americans and verbal expression may help therapists measure the issues and progress presented in sessions. Verbal expression was also a means of preserving memories — the beauty of their heritage and a way to hide their intellect. The oral narrative was central in shaping the culture’s spiritual traditions, ideologies, and existence because learning or expressing the written word was legally prohibited. Christianity has played an influential role in these narratives. The African American experience with faith can be exemplified in how Harriet Tubman is viewed throughout history. Harriet Tubman was known by those enslaved as “Moses” of the Underground Railroad because of her instrumental role in leading her people to freedom. Moses was her moniker because they saw her as someone God had sent to them to lead them out of bondage to the promised land, freedom (Clinton, 2004). They were using the Bible to define and explain their experience.
Black storytelling continues to shape and influence black cultural expression. Since slavery and segregation, the penned word has become increasingly vital for linguistic articulation because of the collective need to leave a written account of Black Americans’ existence in a society that continues to try to control the historical narrative. The black church has been a voice against the opposition for the people who felt as though they had no voice. In response to social oppression in the 1950s and 60, ‘s the black church provided the safe haven for the struggle for freedom (Dyson, 2003).
