S6E43 Breaking the Silence: Black Experience in Evangelical Institutions

In this episode, I sit down with two longtime friends of the podcast: Osahon Obazuaye, pastor and activist, and Grant Young, who holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from one of America’s leading evangelical universities. Both of them bring firsthand experience as Black men navigating predominantly white evangelical spaces—churches, classrooms, and institutions that shaped their faith journeys in both inspiring and challenging ways.

We discuss the powerful new documentary, “Black + Evangelical”—a film that shines a spotlight on the history, struggles, and contributions of African American evangelicals. The documentary amplifies voices that too often go unheard, voices like Dr. Vincent Bacote, theologian and ethicist at Wheaton College; the late Dr. William E. Pannell, co-founder of the National Black Evangelical Association; historian and author Jemar Tisby; and the unforgettable preacher Tom Skinner, whose Urbana ’70 sermon still resonates today. We even revisit the legacy of Howard O. Jones, the first Black associate evangelist with Billy Graham.

This conversation is eye-opening, personal, and at times raw—but it’s also deeply hopeful. We unpack the film, share stories, and challenge assumptions about what it really means to be both Black and evangelical in America.

So join us —you’ll come away inspired, challenged, and ready for more.