Ep. 33: When Racism and Compassion Collide (pt. 1) w/ Deconstructing Black
Show Notes
Episode Summary
From being raised in a predominantly Black church to finding herself in predominantly white megachurches to calling herself a spiritualist today, C Davis has had quite the faith journey. Though many who hear that might feel sadness over her losing her faith, she has gained such immense compassion and empathy that she doesn’t see it as a loss. In this first half of our interview with her, we dig into why ignorance doesn’t bother her and why she works so hard to bring people together.
Bio
C Davis is a woman who is making waves in the deconstruction community on Instagram through Deconstructing Black and Deconstructing Colors. Not only is her voice so invaluable in all these conversations about Christianity, evangelicalism, race, politics, and purity culture, she brings so much love, compassion, and kindness to them.
Follow her on Instagram: @DeconstructingBlack and @DeconstructingColors; and consider supporting her work: https://cash.app/$DeconstructingBlk
Quotables
“I would love to not be concerned about when racism is going to smack me in the face.” (tweet this)
“For the most part, I’ve been able to not directly experience the really sinister racism. Instead it was always that ‘nasty nice.’” (tweet this)
“If I hadn’t said that I was in the church, would they have treated me differently? Would they have continued to have that nasty attitude?” (tweet this)
“Claiming the church veiled me from a lot of overt racism because I was viewed as one of the ‘good ones.’” (tweet this)
“If I say that it’s a Black people issue, immediately the separation from humanity begins. But if I say, ‘The judicial system in general needs repair,’ people will have a conversation.” (tweet this)
“The truth is that it’s not just Black people that are suffering. It’s also anyone who isn’t in the wealthy bracket.” (tweet this)
“You’re not liberal or conservative. That is not your being. You might have a certain perspective, but that is not who you are.” (tweet this)
“We can’t keep othering. We can’t keep calling someone out of their humanity.” (tweet this)
“The reality is that we’re not all going to get along, but we can get into a position where we don’t have to die because we’re not getting along.” (tweet this)
Timestamps and References
[02:20]—What C is doing through both @DeconstructingBlack and @DeconstructingColors on Instagram
[03:48]—C's faith journey so far
[16:33]—What gives C so much empathy and compassion, even for the people who have hurt her
[19:48]—How exceptionalism played a part in her deconstruction, and why she fights for unity and togetherness
[23:55]—C’s thoughts on why people often don’t want to do the work to make real change
[28:33]—Some examples of times that C has experienced racism herself
[34:30]—What sheltered C from the really aggressive racism that many of her relatives have experienced
[38:20]—How C can have such compassion for those who continue to uphold and benefit from racist systems
[48:50]—Why C thinks labels are hurting people and hindering conversation
Stick around for part 2 next week!
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Credits
This episode was produced by The Sophia Society. Music is by Faith in Foxholes, and sound engineering is by Joshua Mudge (currently accepting new clients: josh.mudge09@gmail.com).
There is a great expansiveness and freedom when you mature beyond the rigid, certainty addicted religious fundamentalism of your past. Evangelicals do not have a monopoly on God.