Personal Observations from a Black Woman Minister
I’d like to begin by saying this is not a post filled with fancy words or complicated theories. Instead, I’m sharing what’s on my heart as a Black woman who is also a minister—someone who has spent much of her life thinking about what it means to love God and to love people. I’m still learning, and my thoughts about racism and faith keep growing and changing. If you’re reading this and feel like you’re still figuring it out too, you’re not alone. We’re on this road together.
Learning as I Go
One thing I know for sure: the more I learn about racism, the more I realize how much I still have to understand. As a Black woman, I’ve seen and felt the pain of racism in big and small ways. As a minister, I’ve spent a lot of time with people from all walks of life, and I get to hear their stories—stories of joy, hope, and sometimes, deep hurt.
When I was younger, I thought racism was just about people being mean because of skin color. Now I see it’s much more complicated than that. Racism shows up in the ways people think, in the rules and systems that shape our lives, and even in the things we don’t notice until someone points them out. There are times when I’ve been treated unfairly and times when I’ve seen others struggle too. Sometimes, the hardest part is that it can be hard to name or explain, especially when it’s part of “how things have always been.”
I want to be honest: I’m not sure I’ll ever have all the answers. But I do know that staying silent or pretending the problem isn’t real won’t help anyone. That’s why I keep talking about it, keep learning, and keep trying to do better. Each day, I ask myself tough questions. Where do I see unfairness, even in my own heart? How can I be part of making things right?
What God Says About Us
As a minister, I naturally turn to the Bible when I’m wrestling with tough questions. There’s one passage in particular that means a lot to me—Acts 17:26-31. These verses talk about how God made every single person from one ancestor, how He set us in different places and times, and how He’s close to each one of us. What does that mean for us today?
”From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. “For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
It means that, in God’s eyes, there’s no such thing as someone who matters more or less than anyone else. Our skin color, our backgrounds, our languages—these aren’t mistakes. They’re actually a part of God’s beautiful design. When we look at each other and see only differences, we miss the bigger picture: God made us all, and He made us for a reason.
When I think about racism in this light, it’s clear that it stands against everything God wants for His children. Treating someone as “less than” because of their race or background is not just unfair—it goes against the very way God created us. Every act of kindness, every effort to understand someone different from ourselves, is a step toward the world I believe God wants us to build.
Why Racism Persists
But if God made us all equal, why does racism keep hanging around? I don’t have a simple answer for that, but I do have a few observations. Racism survives because of old habits, stubborn beliefs, and sometimes, just plain fear of things we don’t understand. Sometimes, it’s kept alive by systems that were built a certain way a long time ago and never really changed, even though the world around them did.
Sometimes, the hurts and wounds just keep getting passed down from one generation to the next. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start. But I believe that every honest conversation, every time we choose to listen and learn, chips away at the mountain—bit by bit.
Small Steps Toward Change
I don’t claim to have all the solutions. But from what I’ve seen and learned, change often starts with small steps. Here are a few things I try to remember:
· Listen first. Sometimes, the best thing I can do is simply listen—to the stories and experiences of others, even when it’s uncomfortable.
· Check my own heart. I try to stay honest about my own attitudes and assumptions. Am I judging someone unfairly, even without meaning to? Am I open to learning something new?
· Speak up when it matters. Silence can send the wrong message. If I see something that isn’t right, I try not to look away.
· Celebrate differences. The things that make us different are often the things that make life beautiful. I want to appreciate and honor those differences, not fear them.
· Keep learning. There’s always more to understand, and that’s okay. I ask questions, read, and talk to people who see the world differently than I do.
The Challenge—and the Hope
It’s easy to feel discouraged when racism seems so deeply rooted. Sometimes, I feel tired, angry, or just plain sad. But I also feel hope. I’ve seen people change. I’ve seen communities come together and lift each other up. I’ve seen young people stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard.
God calls us to love one another, to turn away from ignorance and division, and to treat each other with respect and kindness. It’s not an easy path, but it’s the one I believe we’re meant to walk.
As followers of God—or simply as people who want to do what’s right—we have a choice. We can hold onto old, hurtful ideas, or we can open our hearts and minds to something better. We can let differences divide us, or we can learn, grow, and love as God intends.
A Prayer for the Journey
If you’re like me—still learning, still growing, sometimes stumbling along the way—I hope you’ll keep going. I hope you’ll keep asking questions, keep reaching out, and keep believing that change is possible.
Here’s a simple prayer I often say for myself and for others who are on this journey:
God, help me to see every person through Your eyes. Remind me that we are all part of one family, created and loved by You. Give me the courage to stand against what’s wrong and the wisdom to build what’s right. Help me to love others as You love me—fully, freely, and without fear. Amen.
Let’s Keep Going Together
So, where do we go from here? I believe it starts with honesty—the willingness to admit we don’t have it all figured out but that we’re willing to try. It grows with community—learning from each other, challenging each other, and lifting each other up. And it’s sustained by faith—in God, in ourselves, and in the possibility of something better.
Let’s keep walking this road together. Let’s keep choosing love, respect, and understanding. In doing so, we honor the One who made us all, and we take one more step toward the world we long to see.
Minister A Francine Green
July 2025
afrancinegreen.com 