More than just a spiritual place, the Black Church in America is also the source of much of Black culture and the wellspring of political activism. The Church is the energy that fuels Black businesses and gave rise to Black educational institutions. The Church over centuries in America has given Black people a sense of value and belonging.
Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, and Basic Black and GBH commentator, hosts a virtual conversation with a panel of distinguished scholars on the evolution of the Black church in Boston and the U.S., the role of women in the church over time and the political activism that has always had roots in the church community.
This virtual live event expands upon themes presented in a new, upcoming documentary series by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. [**The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song **](https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/) is a four-hour documentary exploring 400 years of the Black Church in America and its impact as a living institution within American culture. The series addresses the social, educational, financial, cultural and political role the Black Church has played in the lives of generations of African Americans. Major corporate support for the documentary series is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by Lilly Endowment Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.
## Resources
[The Black Church: This is our Story, This is Our Song](https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/) on PBS.
Hear the latest episode of [Under the Radar with Callie Crossley](https://www.wgbh.org/news/under-the-radar-with-callie-crossley)
Listen to the [All Rev'd Up Podcast](https://www.wgbh.org/podcast/all-revd-up)
["The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture—Toward Bridging the Generational Divide,"](http://www.emmettprice.com/documents/PressRelease-TheBlackChurchandHipHopCulture..pdf) Edited by Emmett G. Price III, January 2012
["In the Key of Queer: Gospel music is a calling, a gift from Black LGBTQ musicians’ hearts and souls"](http://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2021/02/in-the-key-of-queer-gospel-music-is-a-calling-a-gift-from-black-lgbtq-musicians-hearts-and-souls/) by Rev. Irene Monroe. Feb. 7, 2021