gOD-Talk

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It is the culmination project of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in association with the Pew Research Center. The featured length film explores the lives of seven Black Millennials-Atheist, Buddhist, Christians, Muslim, Ifa, and Spiritualist-and the challenges and discoveries with faith and spirituality. According to the 2021 "Faith Among Black Americans Survey" conducted by the Pew Research Center, American millennials-persons born between the years 1981 and 1996-are less religious than older Americans. While millennials are less likely to ascribe to traditional forms of religious observance, the study maintains that they remain religious, nonetheless. With the rise of the "spiritual but not religious" designation has come the overall decline of participation in mainline religious traditions for Americans. While the decline in Black religious communities has not been as drastic as White communities, there are still lingering questions concerning the relevance, mission, and overall purpose of organized religion in the 21st century for Black American Millennials. From issues pertaining to gender and sexuality, abuse and trauma, hip-hop culture and music, gentrification, race and racism, patriarchy, and more, the film explores a rising phenomenon of religious and spiritual shifts among the largest generation and one of the most influential demographics in the U.S, Black Millennials.