Katelyn Smith 

Professor Miller

African American History 

12 May 2023

Red Lip Theology and Religion Towards Equality

I attended the event Red Lip Theology which explored Candice Marie Benbow’s experience being a black woman in America and her involvement with religion as a form of liberation. This event, alongside her novel Red Lip Theology, highlights the importance of religion as a form of empowerment. Throughout our course, we have seen how the church functions in black America and how it adapts and changes with society through the text Freedom on My Mind written by Deborah Gray White, Mia Bay, and Waldo E. Martin Jr. Black American women’s experiences and cultural practices within the church help shape our understanding of African American history and the community. This transformation stems from religion as well as the interconnectedness of historical and modern-day religion. African American women have used religion as a tool for personal and communal liberation throughout history, such as the ways in which Black women have reclaimed their power through feminism and feminity, and utilized religion as a form of strength in their struggles for equality.

Religion is a paramount practice when it comes to African American women’s experiences with self-identity. The Black Lip Theology event, as well as the novel, depict Benbow’s experience with faith and how it has shaped her relationships and sense of self.  The novel starts off with the backstory of her upbringing with having a single mother in the 1980s. It depicts the struggles her mother faced being unwed and pregnant and the criticism she endured from the church. The church leaders expected her to come before the church and apologize for being pregnant however, her mom was unable to do so, for Benbow said, “She couldn’t stand in front of people and call me a mistake. I wasn’t a sin” (Benbow 7) This event demonstrates the hardships and oppression black women endured as opposed to their male counterparts who didn’t have to face the same expectations. Her mother used this moment as a beginning of feminism and self-empowerment during the 80s by dismantling church doctrines suggesting that she wasn’t worthy because she wasn’t married. Benbow declared to her mother that the church was a sexist organization that hated black women and her mother responded that the black church could be “whatever you needed it to be.” Despite the challenges or judgment she faced, her mother used her religion as a means of liberation which in turn set into motion Benbow’s own spirituality. “Black people have always been a spiritual people, but no one is more spiritual than black women” (Benbow 5) Benbow connects her spirituality through her femininity and her ties to her ancestors and black womanhood. She explores the ways in which beauty rituals intersect with spirituality and religious traditions. During the event, she mentions that “there’s something sacred about black womanhood, something spiritual about getting your hair done”. By incorporating beauty rituals into their religious practices black women are able to connect to their spirituality on a deeper level and reclaim it for themselves. This is used as a measure of empowerment and liberation from previous restraints and hardships endured. 

Furthermore, religion has been a source of strength during the freedom struggle. Religion is represented from the beginning of their journey as a sense of hope for a better life. “Antebellum slave communities sustained their hopes for freedom by embracing an egalitarian form of Christianity that assured them that all people were equal under God.” (White, Bay, Martin Jr. 380) Religion was one of the sole reasons to stay optimistic during the tragic times of slavery and acted as a unifying experience. It was a sense of hope for equality and a better life.  During the 1800s women began to gain some authority as they became “church mothers” and held positions that dealt with church affairs such as the selection of preachers and the allocation of church funds. African American women have also played a crucial role in shaping religious practices and beliefs. “Black women were also leaders in and practitioners of African-derived forms of popular, or folk, religion — such as conjure and voodoo, or hoodoo — which had evolved during slavery and continued after emancipation.” (White, Bay, Martin Jr. 529) These practices focused on magic and the supernatural which included healing and harming beliefs and practices. By applying religious practices derived from Africa, black women were able to reclaim their cultural heritage and use their spirituality as a form of strength. However, there was some backlash amongst folk religions as some said that it was an “idolatrous relic of slavery.” Despite this, these rituals were still prominent in rural towns and cities. These rituals acted as a source of community and formed solidarity amongst black women. It was a way for them to express themselves which wasn’t available in other aspects of life. For this reason, the church was a central part of their lives and aided black women with community building and self-expression. Spirituality was an individual as well as communal practice that allowed women to connect to their ancestors and reclaim rituals that descended from Africa. 

Lastly, the event hosted by Benbow coincides with the texts as it challenges black women with how they see god, themselves, and the world. Freedom on My Mind encapsulates the broader historical context of religion and how that influenced feminism and the fight against resistance. It depicts years of struggle and hardships toward the goal of freedom. While Red Lip Theology is a more personal account of the ways black women use religion as a tool of empowerment. At the event, Benbow mentioned that “Black women are often left out when it comes to talking about faith leaders yet they are the most religious demographic in America.” This is shown throughout our course as black women are often cast aside when it came to holding prominent positions in the church and when they are they are referred to as “church mothers.” Yet these same women take part in or often lead religious rituals such as voodoo and are highly spiritual. However, despite these challenges, Benbow offers commentary as to how over the years progress has been made as african american women in the past were silenced while today they are increasingly more able to use their voice. She mentioned an encounter she had with a 90-year-old black woman from her church that encapsulates the progress that has been made in America “I never thought I would see a time where black women could freely say what they want.” This quote is thought-provoking as it highlights the transformations that have occurred in the past decade regarding black women’s freedom and or independence. As seen in the course book we can notice that for many years african american women were marginalized but through perseverance, they have paved the way for black women today to more freely express themselves in society. This progress is due to every black woman that came before and used religion as a means of resilience in the fight towards freedom.

To conclude, the experiences African American women had with their spirituality take form in different ways such as reclaiming their power through feminism and turning to religion as a source of strength in their struggles for freedom and equality. This is shown through the event and novel Red Lip Theology written by Candice Marie Benbow as well as through the text Freedom on my Mind written by White, Bay, and Martin Jr.. These sources provide insight into the importance of religion as a form of empowerment for African American women. Religion stems back decades to the beginning of slavery and we can notice how it progresses and evolves over time as a way for black women to express themselves. Spirituality had been a form of self-empowerment for African American women and has acted as a voice for the voiceless. It is a form of self-expression and a community experience that has served as a tool for liberation.