This week – in what may be the best recommendation we’ve ever had – we’re talking to theologian, former American footballer, and probably Rowan Williams' biggest fanboy, Danté Stewart.
With fire in his belly, Danté “takes us to church”, telling us the story of his own faith journey; from his childhood spent learning of Black revolutionary power, to his full immersion into white evangelical culture as a college football star. And, ultimately, his decision to turn his back on white evangelicalism and to re-nourish and re-build his spirituality and identity as a Black man instead.
Plus, all this gets Katherine and Paul asking: what does healthy religion look like? And how can Greenbelt go beyond showcasing diverse performers and do more to create spaces that are designed for everyone?
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT DANTÉ STEWART
Danté Stewart is a writer and speaker whose voice has been featured on CNN, The Washington Post, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, Sojourners, The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, Comment Magazine, and more. As an up-and-coming voice, he writes and speaks into the areas of Black literature, embodiment, and theology. He received his B.A. in Sociology from Clemson University. He is currently studying at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
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LINKS AND RESOURCES
Under The Skin With Russell Brand: #105 Alienation and Extremism w/ Angela Nagle
Where to Start with Octavia Butler
Culture And Imperialism by Edward Said
Harry and Meghan detail royal struggles, from discussions of baby's skin tone to suicidal thoughts
The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety, and Public Witness
The Black Arts Movement (1965-1975)
It is like growing up black one more time by Toni Morrison
Two Days, Two Deaths: The Police Shootings Of Alton Sterling And Philando Castile
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In
00:47 - Katherine and Paul catch up
08:08 - Introducing Danté Stewart
08:06 - Danté joins the conversation
09:40 - Danté on the pandemic
13:40 - Danté on staying resilient
20:00 - Danté on history and change
24:50 - Danté on growing up
28:00 - Danté on white institutional spaces
32:10 - Danté on exile from those spaces
37:50 - Danté on his faith journey
43:08 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Danté
55:35 - Next week on the podcast
56:32 - How to get in touch with us
57:10 - Thank you’s
58:00 - Hidden track
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
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#SomewhereToBelieveIn
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