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An Ethic
of Love
Understanding and Addressing
Disparities Experienced by
Black Women and Girls
By samantha Paige Davis
Time, April Harrison
I
The Disparities Experienced by grew up at Grace Memorial Presbyterian church, a historically Black church in
Black Women and Girls Task Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was in community with Black Presbyterians such as
Force was formed by the 223rd Rev. Dr. Johnnie Monroe and Rev. Carmen Cox Harwell, Rev. and Mrs. George
General Assembly (2018) to (who were pioneers in education justice), the Lavelles (who were committed to
economic and housing justice), activists such as Thelma Lovette, Mary Jane Page,
investigate and offer concrete
and Rev. Shanea Leonard, who—in addition to their advocacy—created space
proposals on how the
for radical love, authenticity and joy.
denomination might deepen I begin this article by naming these individuals because in order to understand
our investment toward the the work of the Black Women and Girls Task force, it is important to first under-
liberation of Black women and stand that the task force is not solely about recommendations. This is not about
girls. This article is an offering the formality of the General Assembly or about naming all the ways the Church
from the youngest member of has been complicit in violently upholding patriarchy and racism under the guise of
the task force, Samantha Christianity. I am Black, woman and Presbyterian. for me and the Black, femme,1
Paige Davis. She offers queer people of the taskforce, our work is about our humanity and the liberation
historical and anecdotal of our people. The acknowledgement of history, the formalities and the recom-
context of the experiences of mendations are necessary, but this work for us is personal and intrinsically tied to
who we are and what we as individuals and a collective of Black cis and trans girls,
Black women and girls in our
women and gender non-conforming people2 deserve.
society and the PC(USA);
provides rationale Our Multiple Social Identities
for the task force’s Broad efforts to address racial inequities and gender inequities consistently under-
recommendations and calls mine the lived experiences of Black women and girls. Between 2014 and 2016,
us to be provoked into action state-sanctioned violence—including the slaughter of Black people at the hands of
for the sake of justice and police—sparked protests and calls for reform across the country, from the White
liberation for all God’s people. House to the General Assembly. The 222nd General Assembly (2016) adopted
8
When we neglect to intentionally explore the unique ways that we experience
oppression at the intersection of our multiple identities, we fail.
recommendations that focused on The task force identified five areas While I’ll always be grateful for
improving life outcomes for Black where the PC(USA) could implement that sanctuary, I’ve learned that
men and boys. While this is urgent, impactful policies and practices in soli- many Black girls do not have a sanc-
commendable and necessary, it is just darity with Black women and girls— tuary at all. Church, schools and
as urgent for Black women, girls and (1) adultification of Black girls, homes can all be culprits in the era-
trans people. (2) gender equality for Black women sure of Black girlhood. Regardless of
In 1955, the United Presbyterian in ministry and addressing toxic plausible good intent, efforts to
Church in the U.S.A. voted to begin theology, ensure we are “ladies”—including
ordaining women as ministers. It (3) reproductive justice/human biblical interpretations that suggest
wasn’t until nearly 20 years later that rights, girls are inferior or must submit to
Katie Geneva Cannon was ordained (4) LGBTQIA+ equality, and men—hinder girls from showing up
as the first Black woman minister in as their full, authentic selves; silence
(5) the elimination of cash bail
the denomination. The delay speaks their speech; scold them for their
practices.
to the way our lack of intentionality autonomy; and deny them agency
around race and other social identities Our recommendations are over their own bodies. This is a per-
centers the experience of white grounded in the lived experience of petuation of patriarchy and fuels
women and names it gender equity. Black women and girls across the both interpersonal and institutional
Professor and lawyer Dr. Kimberlé county, quantitative and qualitative violence.
Crenshaw says, “If we aren’t intersec- analysis and the biblical understanding Given anti-Black racism, the
tional, some of us, the most vulnera- that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon bodies and behavior of Black girls
ble, will fall through the cracks.” 3 me, . . . [God] has sent me to proclaim are hypersexualized, adultified and
Intersectionality is an understanding release to the captives and recovery of criminalized. A survey by George-
that there is no racial justice without sight to the blind will see, to let the town Law Center on Poverty found
gender justice and no gender justice oppressed go free” (Lk. 4:18). that Black girls ages 5–14 were per-
without racial justice. When we neg- ceived as more adult and less inno-
Adultification of
lect to intentionally explore the cent of the same childhood activities
unique ways that we experience Black Girls as white girls.4 This year, a 9–year-
oppression at the intersection of our I was baptized in the Presbyterian old Black girl in crisis was hand-
multiple identities, we fail. church when I was 12 years old. cuffed and then pepper sprayed by
The formation of this task force That time was full of joyous memo- police after they yelled at her “You
speaks to the ever-evolving and deep- ries. It was also the time I remember are acting like a child!” She answered,
ening analysis of our society and the most vividly having my body, my “I am a child!”5
church. It represents the persistent speech and my actions policed in This adultification equates to less
leadership of Black women in the ways that—even then—felt odd. I support for Black girls who are sur-
Presbyterian church and the evolving felt seen and affirmed in only a few vivors of gender-based violence and
commitment to intersectionality held places, but one of those was the more punitive approaches to their
by Presbyterian bodies. church. At Grace Church, I wit- normal adolescent behavior. It means
In our year-long exploration of the nessed a Black woman preach and Black girls experience more trauma
unique ways that Black women and lead ministry unapologetically. The and less love, care and dignity in
girls experience interpersonal and senior pastor there convinced me that their day-to-day encounters with the
institutional violence, we met with my leadership was needed and that world. Gendered and racialized vio-
experts across the country who are my assertiveness and inquisitive lence impacts Black girls in many
leading this work. nature were valuable gifts. aspects of life.
March/April 2021 9
The task force found a pattern of spiritual and emotional violence Black women
theologians often endure—being excluded, policed, silenced and
questioned about their qualifications in their divine call.
• One in four Black girls will be women. The task force report reminds that exist at all levels of the church,
sexually abused before the age us that during the time of chattel we will not know the full truth of
of 18.6 enslavement, “Black women were not Black women theologians’ experi-
• In middle and high school, recognized as human theologically, ences and cannot expect them to
Black girls represent 16 percent socially or legally.” 10 Many leaders in share their stories without support
of the population, yet they rep- the Presbyterian Church profited or security. To this end, the task
resent 44 percent of those from and staunchly defended enslave- force is calling on the General
arrested.7 ment.11 Moreover, many Christians, Assembly to direct Research Services
including Presbyterians, did not offer in the PC(USA) to conduct a survey
• The suicide rate for Black chil-
quick or universal support of the abo- of Black Presbyterian women,
dren, ages 5–12, is nearly two
lition of slavery, the Civil Rights including Black clergywomen, about
times higher than for white chil-
movement or more recent calls for jus- their experiences within the denomi-
dren of similar ages.8
tice. Toxic theology remains deeply nation and hold regional focus
• Black girls are over two times entrenched in our society, so was felt groups with black clergywomen con-
more likely to be adjudicated for deeply throughout the task force’s ducted by trusted, notable, black
“status offenses”—like truancy, exploration of disparities experienced women facilitators, consulting with
curfew violations, or running by Black women and girls both within gender and racial justice staff in the
away—than both white girls and outside the PC(USA). Presbyterian Mission Agency.
and Black boys.”9 While I am not a minister, the
To break these patterns, the task Black women, queer and gender-non Reproductive Justice
force is calling on the General confirming theologians I admire and and Human Rights
Assembly to (among other things) love have all experienced the wrath of Reproductive justice is the human
direct the Presbyterian Mission t oxic theology, raring its head in the right to maintain personal bodily
Agency (PMA) to create educational form of misogynoir (anti-black racist autonomy; have children or not have
resources for congregations to learn misogyny that black femmes experi- children; and parent the children we
and interrupt practices and policies ence). I have witnessed and heard sto- have in safe and sustainable commu-
that perpetuate the adultification of ries of microaggressions from their nities. (See pages 14–17 for more
black girls and criminalization of professors in seminary, congregation information.)
adolescent behavior. members and the white leadership in To share a personal point of view
mid-councils. I’ve related to them as a on this subject, I am a Black woman
Discrimination and Black woman leader in my own pro- who works with Black children who
Toxic Theology fession, of their leadership and divinity are denied safety and access to basic
In the U.S. and many other countries, being called into question by non- necessities. I am a Black woman who
toxic theology has been the tool of B lack folk, Black folk, even Black has relied on birth control since I was
oppression to maintain power for het- women who have internalized their 15 years old to help with debilitating
erosexual, cisgender white males and own oppression. The task force found periods. I am a Black woman who has
to oppress all others. Out of context a pattern of spiritual and emotional had an abortion and who was prayed
and/or inaccurate applications of violence Black women theologians over by a Black woman minister who
scripture were used to justify the vio- often endure—being excluded, assured me that my body was my
lence perpetuated by white Christians, policed, silenced and questioned about own and that God loves me. I am a
to justify the enslavement and their qualifications in their divine call. Black woman who almost lost my
exploitation of Black people and the Without safe, affirming spaces best friend while she was in labor
rape and emotional abuse of Black that address the power dynamics because of a racist healthcare system
10that too often kills Black mothers and trans women and girls, and project toxic masculine theology that
and Black babies. protest legislation that harms this casts judgment on their decisions to
I am also a Black woman who community. marry, parent or take on leadership
consistently battles the shame and roles within the church. This toxic
guilt brought on by toxic theology lGBTQIA+ Equality masculine theology refers to a belief,
that says what a woman can do or While the task force did not have a in the simplest terms, that these life
can’t do with her own body, that lim- specific mandate to center the voices experiences are meant solely for the
its the definition of womanhood of queer and trans people, Black pleasure and/or under the authority
solely to organs or the ability to bear queer and trans people are the most of cis-hetero men. Outside of the
children, and that spews rhetoric impacted by institutional and inter- Church, the broad society continues
around personal responsibility with- personal violence. Erasing them from to create barriers and perpetuates an
out calling out the injustices of this our report or the larger narrative of “othering” narrative that restricts
world. These beliefs show up in our Black women and girls’ experiences queer and trans people from fully
country’s policies and practices that would be an act of violence in of participating civically, economically
restrict access to reproductive itself. and socially.
healthcare, that shame teen mothers, The task force report lifts up the To that end, the task force directs
that enact medical violence on Black following statistics— PMA to offer support and grants for
femme, intersex, and trans bodies. • LGBTQIA+ youth contem- congregations working with Black
Reproductive injustice is seen in plate suicide at three times the queer and trans organizations and
our current society as well. rate of heterosexual youth and engaging in programming that
• Nationally, Black women are harassment or abuse increases directly addresses the needs of the
three to four times more likely the likelihood of self-harm. LGBTQIA+ community.
to die from pregnancy-related • Black women were 91 percent Elimination of cash Bail
causes than white women.12 of transgender and gender non-
To understand the need to eliminate
• Black preschoolers are 4 times conforming people killed by
cash bail, it is important to make the
more likely to be suspended violence.
connection between the prison indus-
than their white peers.13 • Nearly half (47 percent) of trial complex and the sin of chattel
• Black Americans are three black transgendered people slavery. The majority of American
times more likely than white have been incarcerated, a rate history—246 years—includes the
Americans to be killed by that is 10–15 percentage points enslavement of Black people. Black
police.14 higher than the rate for all people survived enslavement to be
Black folk. exploited for our labor once again
To this end, the task force directs
the PMA (among other recommen- • fifteen percent of trans people as indentured servants, domestic
dations) to provide grants for a core live on less than $10,000/ workers, and industrial manufactur-
group of Presbyterians from various year—a rate of poverty that is ing laborers. We were stripped from
regions in the church to receive four times the national average. 15 resources we need to thrive by segre-
sex education and inclusive repro- While the PC(USA) position is to gation and discriminatory practices.
ductive justice training in order to welcome all gender identities into Our behaviors and culture were crim-
share information with their local church membership, many of our inalized, our communities policed
congregations. Additionally, the queer and trans siblings do not find and Black people became and/or
PC(USA) should support legislation the church to be a welcoming or safe remained enslaved in the prison
that actively protects Black queer place for them. Some congregations system. While most of the narrative
Outside of the Church, the broad society continues to create barriers and
perpetuates an “othering” narrative that restricts queer and trans people
from fully participating civically, economically and socially.
March/April 2021 11around mass incarceration centers experienced sexual violence in next few months holding teach-ins
Black men and boys, women often their lifetimes.19 on each of the five areas of the
face the brunt of the cash bail sys- The tragic story of Sandra Bland report. We invite you to join us.
tem. Women are both the fastest shows that cash bail can be fatal. During the first one in february,
growing prison population16 and are After a “routine” traffic stop led to Rev. Shanea Lenoard proclaimed, “I
the mothers, daughters and/or part- her arrest, but she didn’t have the love the church and therefore I must
ners left to care for their communi- $500 for bail, Sandra was jailed. She criticize her.”20 I echo their senti-
ties and find bail for their loved ones was found dead in her cell three ments, this is a task force of Black
who have been detained. days later. people that love the church. My hope
• Black women are imprisoned at To this end, the task force honors is that the stories, the statistics and
twice the rate of white women; the work PC(USA) is doing to elim- the resolve provoke you into action
Black girls are incarcerated three inate cash bail and recommends sup- and stretch you into a space of pro-
times as much as white girls.17 porting legislation to end cash bail.
ductive discomfort where you can
In closing, this work has been
• Of the nearly 110,000 women grow in deeper love with God and all
emotionally taxing, yet it is a labor of
in local jails, about 60 percent of God’s people.
love for the members of this task
are awaiting trial and haven’t force. We do this in honor of all the samantha Paige Davis is a Black
been convicted. About 80 per- Black women, girls, queer and gender Feminist, policy wonk and storyteller,
cent are mothers.18 nonconforming people who have committed to investing in Black youth,
• Approximately 86 percent come before us and will come after building Black power, and cultivating
of women imprisoned have us. The task force is spending the Black joy for the sake of liberation.
Notes biz.org/?fbclid=IwAR3VWgvwQiiZIMLDOgna5S8Sx-z2sheNaT1j-
5wbY7PdT0SAiaVbCLTffNM#/search/3000676.
1. femme indicates any female identifying person, regardless of genitals.
11. Jennifer Oast, “‘The Worst Kind of Slavery’: Slave-Owning Presbyterian
2. Cis describes a person whose gender identity matches the biological sex Churches in Prince Edward County, Virginia,” The Journal of Southern
they were assigned at birth. Trans describes a person whose gender identity History, Vol. 76, No. 4 (November 2010); www.jstor.org/sta-
differs from the biological sex they were assigned at birth. Gender noncon- ble/27919282?seq=1.
forming describes a person whose gender expression does not align with
their society’s expectations around gender. 12. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities Continue in Pregnancy-Related Deaths,”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 5, 2019;
3. “Reach Everyone on the Planet . . .” Kimberlé Crenshaw and www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0905-racial-ethnic-disparities-
Intersectionality, edited by Gunda Werner Institut in the Heinrich Böll pregnancy-deaths.html.
foundation and the Center for Intersectional Justice (Berlin, 2019);
www.boell.de/sites/ default/files/crenshaw_- 13. “Black Preschoolers far More Likely to Be Suspended,” Code Switch,
_reach_everyone_on_the_planet_en.pdf. NPR, March 21, 2014; www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/
03/21/292456211/black-preschoolers-far-more-likely-to-be-suspended.
4. Rebecca Epstein, Jamilia J. Blake and Thalia González. Girlhood
Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood. Washington: 14. “Black people more than three times as likely as white people to be killed
Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, 2017. during a police encounter,” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,
June 24, 2020; www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/blacks-
5. Deepti Hajela and Lindsay Whitehurst, “‘I am a child!’ Pepper spray whites-police-deaths-disparity.
reflects policing of Black kids,” february 12, 2021;
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/child-police-pepper-spray-shows- 15. “Disparities Experienced by Black Women and Girls Task force
kids-exempt-75846409 Report.”
6. Jameta Nicole Barlow, “Black women, the forgotten survivors of sexual 16. “Incarceration of Women Is Growing Twice as fast as that of Men,”
assault,” American Psychological Association, february 2020; Equal Justice Initiative, May 11, 2018; https://eji.org/news/female-incar-
www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2020/02/black-women-sexual-assault. ceration-growing-twice-as-fast-as-male-incarceration.
7. Sally Afia Nuamah, “Black girls more likely to be arrested than the police 17. Ibid.
who murdered Breonna Taylor,” October 4, 2020; https://thegrio.com/ 18. Sarah Willets, “Black Mama’s Bail Out and the Abolition of Cash Bail,”
2020/10/24/black-girls-arrested-police-breonna-taylor. May 8, 2020; https://msmagazine.com/2020/05/08/held-for-ransom-
8. “Age-Related Racial Disparity in Suicide Rates Among U.S. Youth,” dismantling-the-unjust-cash-bail-system.
National Institute of Mental Health, May 21, 2018; www.nimh.nih.gov/ 19. “Overlooked: Women and Jails in an Era of Reform,” www.vera.org/pub-
news/science-news/2018/age-related-racial-disparity-in-suicide-rates- lications/overlooked-women-and-jails-report#:~:text=Significant%20
among-us-youth.shtml. mental%20illness%20affects%20an,sexual%20violence%20in%20their%20
9. Kimberlyn Leary, “Mental Health and Girls of Color,” Georgetown Law lifetime.
Center on Poverty and Inequality, www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty- 20. Paraphrasing of James Baldwin’s famous quote, “I love America more
inequality-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/12/Mental-Health- than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist
and-Girls-of-Color.pdf on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
10. “Disparities Experienced by Black Women and Girls Task force Report,”
Referral to the 225th General Assembly (2022); www.pc-
12May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
—Psalm 126:5–6
Our world is struggling to emerge from a global Prayerfully consider a financial gift to build the Susan
health pandemic. Our country is struggling to address Jackson Dowd Endowment, established to nurture
how racism ends lives and fractures communities. connections among women of faith worldwide,
Our eyes collectively brim with tears as we bear especially young women. Seeded by a generous gift in
witness to this devastation. We lament with and for 2019, the endowment ensures opportunity for PW
all who grapple with illness, death, violence, hunger, today and tomorrow.
job loss, isolation and suffering. To contribute to the Susan Jackson Dowd
Presbyterian Women, our tears of lament—for our Endowment, visit www.presbyterianwomen.org/give
communities and churches; ministries and programs; and select Susan Jackson Dowd Endowment.
neighbors, friends and family; even for our own
bodies and circumstances—give expression to our You may also send a check to Presbyterian Women,
deepest hurts, fears and frustrations. As a community Inc., PO Box 643652, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3652;
of deep faith, however, our tears sow seeds of love, indicate “Susan Jackson Dowd endowment” in the
kindness and possibility. notes line of the check (or on a separate page).
Even in the deepest valley, we cannot despair. We are Share your laments or share about your sisters who
confident in God’s presence, the strength of our PW inspire your walk! Send your story to
community and our call to serve. carissa.herold@pcusa.org.
Turn Tears into Joyful Community
Say the name of a PW sister or mentor, friend or
HZN21210
mother, leader or neighbor who is on your heart
today. Give thanks to God for her witness and for the
special place she holds in your heart.You can also read
