gOD-Talk: Reimagining Faith in the 21st Century

Join us for an enriching evening as part of the International African American Museum’s (IAAM) Fall Film Series as we delve into the complex relationship between religion and culture in the 21st century. Produced by the National Museum of African American History & Culture, this documentary serves to uncover how millennials interact with religion, create a space for the experiences and voices of millennials to be shared, and provide an opportunity for religious organizations and leaders to better understand the dynamic ways Black millennials engage with religion.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, September 12 as we explore the importance of preservation and our collective role as stewards and advocates of our community’s rich tapestry of stories.

Film Synopsis:

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.

gOD-Talk is the culmination project of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture Center for the Study of African American Religious Life, in association with the Pew Research Center, five-year study of Black Millennials. 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.