Natasha Smith sits with Dawn Mann Sanders to discuss the unique struggles of Black women experiencing grief both in personal and professional spaces. Dawn shares deeply personal stories of loss, including the deaths of her father and husband, as well as multiple miscarriages. The conversation underscores the impact of societal and cultural factors on the grieving process and emphasizes the importance of open dialogues about Black woman grief. Insights on rebuilding life post-loss are provided, drawing parallels to biblical scripture and illustrating the transformative power of faith and community support. Come and join the conversation on how to navigate communal grief and rebuilding.
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Birthing something new comes with labor. It’s not gonna be easy, but the Bible is clear in Deuteronomy, it says, this task, this assignment that I have given you is not too hard for you.
Dawn Mann Sanders
Dawn Sanders has traveled this path before and lived to tell the tale―not once but twice. After a divorce and then the sudden death of her second husband, Dawn discovered a buried treasure in Genesis 1: God’s process for creating new life out of chaos. In When Your World Ends, Dawn digs deep into the creation story and unearths a seven-step process by which God brings us out of the void and into new beginnings. With her unique perspective, authenticity, and courage, Dawn meets those who are starting over and guides us into renewed hope.
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Main Points:
- Unspoken Grief
- Breaking the Silence
- Navigating Cultural and Societal Forces
- Rebuilding Through Faith and Community
Episode Talking Points:
- 00:00 Introduction: Embracing Black Woman Grief
- 00:29 Experiences of Grief in the Workplace
- 04:30 Historical Context and Silence
- 20:57 Navigating Grief in the Black Community
- 37:01 The Role of Caregivers: Personal Experiences
- 38:03 Challenges in Healthcare: Personal Stories
- 38:51 The Importance of Advocacy in Healthcare
- 39:14 Family Dynamics and Caregiving
- 44:11 Black Women and the Burden of Caregiving
- 45:39 Rebuilding After Loss: A Personal Journey
- 50:32 Trusting God Through Grief and Rebuilding
- 57:59 Encouragement and Hope for the Future
- 01:05:33 Final Words and Resources
Other Ways to Listen to this Podcast with Dawn Mann Sanders:
About the Guest:
Dawn Sanders (MDiv, Bethel Seminary) is an associate minister at First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG), where she serves as the director of the sermon-based life groups ministry. Her passion is expository teaching and sharing the wonderful insights God has shown her in his Word. She does this through writing weekly discussion guides for the life groups as well as teaching several in-depth Bible studies. Dawn has written and taught extensively on overcoming adversity and creating a new life, both at FBCG and on her personal blog. Connect with Dawn here.
Mentioned in this episode:
Black Woman Grief by Natasha Smith
When Your World Ends by Dawn Mann Sanders