| abstract |
This project explores the experiences of grief among Black women through the development of sacred listening spaces rooted in womanist theology, pastoral care, and African diasporic spiritual traditions. Titled Beyond the Eulogy, the study emerged from pastoral observations within the congregational life of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, where grieving families were often encouraged to "call the church if they needed anything," yet many did not seek support after the homegoing service. This absence raised a critical pastoral and theological question: What happens after the funeral, and how can the church create meaningful structures of care that accompany Black women beyond the moment of public mourning?
Grounded in womanist theology and trauma-informed pastoral care, this project examines the ways Black women's grief is shaped by historical trauma, communal expectations of strength, caregiving responsibilities, racialized oppression, and disenfranchised forms of mourning. Drawing upon the works of scholars such as Emilie M. Townes, bell hooks, Howard Thurman, Joy DeGruy, and Albert J. Raboteau, the study argues that grief among Black women is not solely personal but communal, spiritual, historical, and embodied.
The project incorporates African-centered concepts such as Maafa, Sankofa, and Ubuntu as theological and cultural frameworks for healing. It also explores the legacy of hush harbors, sacred memory, ancestral naming, storytelling, ritual practices, and communal witnessing as sources of resilience and restoration within Black communities. Through sacred listening sessions, grief support gatherings, and pastoral reflection, the research demonstrates how intentional spaces of listening and communal care can help disrupt silence, isolation, and unresolved grief.
This study further argues that sacred listening is not simply a counseling technique, but a spiritual and ethical practice that honors the dignity, humanity, and lived experiences of Black women. The findings suggest that churches must move beyond generalized offers of support and instead create concrete, culturally responsive pathways for sustained grief care. By centering the voices and stories of Black women, Beyond the Eulogy offers a womanist pastoral framework for communal healing, sacred accompaniment, and transformative care within the life of the Black church.
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