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First Ladies & African American Churches

Updated: Nov 5

Negotiating Community, Family & Individual Expectations


The First Lady in the African American church is not just a title, but a position of influence and responsibility. Throughout history, they have been at the forefront of social and political change, advocating for civil rights, equality, and empowerment. More commonly, First Ladies are often looked to for playing a pivotal role in the spiritual, social, and communal development of their congregations. However, why indidivual women are in this role and how they negotiate it varies greatly

Dr. Shauntae Brown White. is a professor in the Department of Mass Communication and interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Dr. White, who also serves as the coordinator of the Women’s & Gender Studies program at NCCU, examines representations of black women in media. Most recently, she co-edited a book, Television Representations of Black Womanhood: Being Mara Brock Akil. She is also the author of The First Lady: African American Pastors’ Wives in Their Own Words, a book exploring the diverse ways that First Ladies support to their husbands, families, and the entire congregation.


To learn more about Dr. White, click here.


Works by Dr. White:



Season 1, Episode 11

Running Time:  25 minutes











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