Beyond Sunday Worship Leader Podcast #358: Two White Guys Talking About The Black Church, Black Music, & Black Liberation (An Interview with David Gate)
Today’s topic and subject matter is a tough one. I’m talking with my friend David Gate. David is a writer and poet. He has a new book releasing in 2025 called A Rebellion of Care. But David also has a long history as a worship leader, songwriter, and artist.
David wrote an article recently in response to the new Ryan Coogler move Sinners, starring Michael B Jordan. The title of that article was “How White Charismatic Worship Stole from the Black Church: The Vampires who steal stories and songs and culture.” I know. It’s a bold, often cutting article. And while I don’t agree with everything he says, I believe he gets to the heart of a tension that many feel.
As with most of American culture throughout history, we have not given due credit to the black church. To black music. Black innovation. We have borrowed (or as David would say – stolen) from black culture and profited wildly off of its innovation and yet have not cared about black liberation in the white charismatic church. Which is the heart of what this conversation is about.
Topics Covered:
- A breakdown of the movie “Sinners”
- The theft of black music and culture
- The beauty and story of the Black Church
- Performance in Black vs White contexts
- Becoming aware the causes of black liberation
- The influence of the blues on white rock & roll
Resources Mentioned:
- Show Sponsor: Planning Center
- David Gate Poet
- instagram.com/davidgatepoet
- A Rebellion of Care by David Gate (preorder)
Show Sponsor: Planning Center
My goal in this podcast is to help you grow as a worship leader. Of course that includes your formation, but it isn’t limited to that—it’s also with practical tools to help you in your ministry.
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The post #358: Two White Guys Talking About The Black Church, Black Music, & Black Liberation (An Interview with David Gate) appeared first on Beyond Sunday Worship.