Black Love & Literature: The Role of Faith and Systemic Factors in Relationships

Greetings,

Let’s meet again for another Last Sunday of the month book discussion. The featured texts include the 2025 release of local DMV Pastor Stephan Chandler’s —of Union Church in Maryland, Relationship Road Map— & Dr. Dianne Stewart’s 2020 book (African American Studies professor, developed the inaugural “Black Love” course at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2004) centered on systemic impediments to healthy relationships in black and minority communities. Whereas Pastor Chandler focuses on the role faith has in strengthening romantic relationships, Dr. Stewart’s book supplements the discussion with a focus on institutional barriers that jeopardize intimate relationships—certain concepts from the authors can be applied to both platonic and business relationships as well.

Topics from Pastor Chandler’s ‘Relationship Road Map’ include but are not limited to:

• The Role of Faith and Shared Values in Facilitating Stronger Relationships
• The Importance of an Aligned Purpose, Vision, and Mission
• Establishing Non-Negotiables/Negotiables Based on Personal Values
• Noticing both Red & Green flags in Dating (based on direct and indirect experiences)
• Serving and being committed to personal development regardless of relationship status and season
• Complementing prospects spiritually, mentally, emotionally, & physically
• A Different Conceptualization of the Proverbs 31 Woman—(In light of Modern Dating, “Intersex Dynamics,” and The Influence of Modern Media Narratives & Gender Based Socialization)
• Leadership, Submission, & Gender Roles
• The Different Phases of Relationships:Talking, Dating, Engagement Marriage
• Seeking Counsel from a Community of Elders, Mentors, & Peers throughout the Journey (how social environment impacts the quality of your romantic, platonic, and business relationships—vetting)

Dr. Dianne Stewart’s emphasis includes ways to address systemic factors such as:

• Higher Rates of Mortality (primarily amongst African American men; the “disappearance of men” and skewed ratios)
• Economic Disparities (between ethnicities and genders)
• Deficits in Job Skills within the Community
• Mass Incarceration/The Prison Industrial Complex (e.g., the ‘War on Drugs’)
• Phenotypic Stratification
• Historic Public Assistance (welfare) policies (“No man in the house” rules)
• Educational Inequities
• Transgenerational & Structural Oppressive Factors
• Intergenerational Trauma & Remnants of the Post Reconstruction Era (e.g., Emancipation)

All are welcome to participate, to include those of different ethnicities and backgrounds. For those interested in the discussion, feel free to RSVP. Open to both in-person (similar to 2022 to 2024 two year Last Sunday of the month relationship series at Busboys and Poets) and virtual meetings. If you or someone you know would like to lead, partner, collaborate, speak, contribute, research, or produce free to message via meet-up messages or phone (contribution optional). If there are any questions, comments, suggestions (e.g., days, dates, times, locations) regarding this discussion please do not hesitate to reach out via meet-up messages or phone also, thank you.

Links to Books:
Pastor Stephen Chandler’s Relationship Road Map: Step-by-Step Directions to Finding Your Spouse (2025): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593194284/?bestFormat=true&k=relationship%20road%20map&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k0_1_21_de&crid=27NJ3X8G5S31Y&sprefix=relationship%20road%20map
Dr. Dianne Stewart’s Black Women, Black Love: America’s War on African American Marriage (2020):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHSRTCY/?bestFormat=true&k=black%20women%20black%20love&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k0_1_22_de&crid=2KC6ULTTLVIUQ&sprefix=Black%20Women%20Black%20Love
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Alicia
(202) 627-0361