Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware, Author at Word In Black

Armed with Scotch tape and a typewriter, Willie Pearl Mackey King spent two nights and three days deciphering Dr. King’s handwritten scraps from the Birmingham City Jail. Her largely overlooked work helped create an American classic—and a new foundation intends to preserve her legacy. The museum exhibit above features the actual door from King's jail cell.

The Woman Behind Dr. King’s ‘Letter’ Is Getting Her Due

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 21, 2026August 21, 2026

More than six decades after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. composed his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” the young Black woman who helped transform scattered notes on smuggled scraps of paper into one of history’s greatest writings is finally receiving greater recognition. Willie Pearl Mackey King worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) […]

Philip Anthony Mitchell tells 2819 Church not to idolize him. But as thousands line up before dawn and his influence explodes online, a prophet’s warning has revived a larger question about celebrity, charisma and spiritual authority in the Black church.

Is 2819 Church About Jesus — or Philip Anthony Mitchell?

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 14, 2026August 14, 2026

A new program called “White People School” is asking white Americans to move beyond discomfort and confront what they know — and may need to unlearn — about Black history, systemic racism and reparations.

Yes, It’s Called ‘White People School.’ Here’s What It Teaches

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 11, 2026August 14, 2026

When a marriage ends, couples grieve a profound emotional loss, but churches often step away rather than stepping up, says Dr. Derren Thompson, senior pastor of Greater Than Conquerors Worship Center. Much like helping people process the loss of a loved one, he says, churches must prepare a ministry to counsel their members through a painful emotional time.

Divorce Means Grieving. Why Doesn’t the Church Act Like It?

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 6, 2026August 6, 2026

After years of resisting the ministry, Rev. Joshua Thomas embraced his calling and planted Freedom Church near Atlanta. The son of New Psalmist's legendary pastor is carrying his family's influence into a new generation with a church built around belonging, healing, and innovation.

A Pastor’s Son Builds a Church of His Own

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 5, 2026August 5, 2026

The arrests of Bishop William J. Barber II, center, and other protesters inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Monday marked the beginning of Moral Monday's next chapter as faith leaders shift from confronting Congress to organizing voters in communities nationwide.

Arrests Mark Moral Monday’s Shift From Washington to the States

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 4, 2026August 4, 2026

As the new head of Maryland's public defender system, Natasha Dartigue believes that justice starts outside of the courtroom. She argues that addressing poverty is essential to reducing crime.

Faith

Meet the Black Woman Leading Maryland’s Public Defenders

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware August 4, 2026August 5, 2026

Myesha Chaney says the deepest pain wasn't ending her marriage—it was losing her church community. Her story reflects a growing conversation about divorce, stigma and belonging in Black faith communities.

Myesha Chaney: Divorce Cost Me More Than My Marriage

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Launching in Harlem, Eboni Marshall Turman hopes to create a church where every voice—from children to artists—is essential.

Can the Black Church Be Reimagined? Harlem First Thinks So

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware July 24, 2026July 28, 2026

nterviews with divorced church members, therapists and ministry leaders reveal how patriarchal traditions can shape who is believed, who is blamed and who remains part of the congregation after a marriage ends.

Divorce in the Black Church: Why Women Often Bear the Blame

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware July 10, 2026July 10, 2026