Madang: Christena Cleveland

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Homebrewed Christianity, rainbow push coalition, Tripp Fuller

Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renown authors, leaders, public figures and scholars on religion, culture and everything in-between.

This has been a dream of mine for many years and now it is. reality. Please join me at madang.

This is the fifteenth episode of Madang where I converse with Dr. Christena Cleveland. She is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people’s spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University’s Divinity School.

Her latest book, “God is a Black Woman” recounts her personal journey to dismantle the cultural “whitemalegod” and uncover the Sacred Black Feminine, introducing a Black Female God who imbues us with hope, healing, and liberating presence.

Praise for her book, God is a Black Woman

“The Black Madonna chose well when she picked Christena Cleveland to tell her story. This page-turner of a book will prove to be a classic on this often-ignored spiritual archetype. Thanks to Cleveland, the Black Madonna stands up and sings in these pages and comes to life anew.” — Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine

“I read this book with my heart beating fast, my breath coming quickly, inhaling the fragrant liberation that Dr. Christena Cleveland delivers with picturesque narrative, psychological insight and theological imagination. She’s offering liberation to Black women like me and to all who would be free, delivering us to our better selves.” — Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, author of Fierce Love

“Cleveland pens a book that is a soul-satisfying read that surprised me with its candor and deft research. This book had me turning pages.” — Dr. Moya Bailey, author of Misogynoir Transformed

“God Is a Black Woman is at once challenging, revelatory and nourishing. It is akin to having a conversation with your smartest friend, the person who can make you think about something that seemed mundane in a whole new light.” — National Catholic Reporter

In this episode, I talk to Christena about whitemalegod, fatherskygod, Black women’s beauty, Imagination is theology, black madannas, her pilgrimage in France and so much more.

I am thrilled to announce that Madang podcast is now hosted by The Christian Magazine. Please visit their website for the latest Madang podcast as well as current articles on Christianity, culture and society. I have written several pieces for the Christian Century and welcome this new partnership.

I am grateful to Homebrewed Christianity, and Rainbow PUSH for their sponsorship of this episode. Please check out their website for their work, events and to donate.

I am also grateful to Dr. Graham Joseph Hill for supporting Madang podcast. You can check out his Global Church Project for all the latest videos, blogs and news.