Black Catholic Messenger

In the autumn of 2020, the Black Catholic Messenger was established by a group of Black Catholic laypeople and their supporters who recognized a gap in Catholic media: there was no dedicated online platform for Black Catholics. We took it upon ourselves to fill this void. While there are narratives about Black Catholics being shared, these stories often lack representation from Black Catholic voices. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does come with several challenges. Writers outside of the Black Catholic community may miss the subtleties of our faith and the Catholic Church, and those who aren't familiar with Black culture might not fully grasp the significance of the Black Church. This issue manifests in various ways, such as mainstream outlets misrepresenting the Black Catholic Movement or independent Catholic media publishing pieces by non-Black writers that can come off as dismissive or unappreciative of Black experiences. When our stories are told, they often portray us in a way that feels exotic or pitiful, failing to recognize our worth or the need for dedicated coverage. Additionally, many of the prominent Black Christians discussing Black Catholic matters are either not part of the Catholic faith or write for audiences primarily composed of White readers, which skews the narrative. A story crafted for White audiences will differ significantly from one aimed at Black readers, and there’s a notable distinction between narratives intended for Black Catholics versus those for Black Protestants. The current Catholic media landscape tends to swing towards Traditionalism—often adopting a critical stance towards the Pope and the Vatican—or Cafeterialism, which presents its own set of issues. The Black Catholic Messenger aims to take a balanced approach, affirming Catholicism while honestly reporting the news. Following in the footsteps of Daniel Rudd, we emphasize that advocating for Black Catholics aligns with Church teachings as they stood in 2020. Black culture is real, and the Black experience is distinct. We have particular concerns and needs shaped by our history in the United States, which has often been unwelcoming. We are not a homogeneous group, but we are certainly not blank slates. Our platform is designed to amplify Black Catholic voices within a context that is distinctly Black Catholic, rather than adopting a secular, general (often White) perspective or a Black Protestant lens. Daniel Rudd recognized the importance of this 125 years ago, and many of us recognize it today. That’s the essence of our mission.