Episode 60: Healing, Boundaries, and Unlearning White Male God | Christena Cleveland

In this powerful episode, Dr. Kristian Edwards and Christena Cleveland, author of God Is a Black Woman, explore how societal and familial conditioning shape identity, worth, and faith. Christena opens up about unlearning the “white male God gaze,” reclaiming her sacredness through the Black Madonna, and redefining beauty, relationships, and authenticity. Together, they discuss healing, vulnerability, and the ongoing journey toward self-discovery and liberation.

Callout Quote: “Only people who have a problem with you setting boundaries are people who benefited from you not having them.” 

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:

• Reclaiming Black feminine sacredness requires self-reflection, vulnerability, and authentic connections.
• Boundaries are essential for preserving personal wellness, and setting them can transform relationships.
• Unlearning societal conditioning especially ideas instilled in childhood is an ongoing process.
• Healing and personal growth are non-linear; embracing the journey without comparison is key.

Check Out These Highlights:

• White male God and the myth of rugged individualism versus communal Black feminine power. (9:09)
• Vulnerability and authenticity as privileges in a society that discourages them. (12:20)
• The dominance mentality ingrained in Black women and how it affects boundaries and self-care. (18:23)
• Early conditioning around marriage and beauty, and the long journey to unlearn it. (22:11)
• Healing journeys are nonlinear; personal growth often unfolds in spirals, not straight lines. (27:26)
  

Memorable Quotes:

• “Is it a privilege to be able to talk, be authentic and be weak? Because everyone can.”
• “Only people who have a problem with you setting boundaries are people who benefited from you not having them.”
• “Life is spirals… maybe we’ll learn it on the third trip, maybe the fourth. Healing is not linear.”