Exploring Black Creativity Outside The Church Wall after Religious Trauma

For many of us raised in the Black church, our creativity was birthed, shaped, and sometimes confined within its walls. Whether through music, dance, poetry, fashion, or performance—our gifts were often celebrated, but only when they served the institution. Outside the church? Those same gifts were too often labeled as “worldly,” “vain,” or “distracting from God.”
In this support group session, we’ll hold space for Black religious trauma survivors to reflect on:

• How the church shaped our creative expression—for better or worse

• The grief of losing access to our gifts after leaving the church

• The shame or guilt we still carry around expressing ourselves freely

• And most importantly—how we are reclaiming our creativity, our voice, and our joy outside of performance-based faith

This is a safe, affirming space to share your story, your art, and your healing. You don’t have to be a professional artist to belong here—just someone who’s ready to reconnect with the parts of you that were once silenced or shamed.