I know the phrase “Black evangelical” makes sense from a certain perspective—what else do you call a Black Christian who is in evangelical circles? It’s also convenient shorthand becuase there may not be another easily accessible descriptor. BUT...

Many Black Christians explicitly reject the label “evangelical.” Sometimes people don’t realize they are part of a group or reject a label even as their actions identify them with it. But it’s also true that actors’ terms and how people self-identify are important.

In my view, “Black evangelical” is a historically rooted term that comes to the fore in the mid-20th century as white evangelicals invite Black Christians into their organizations and institutions (colleges, Bible institutes, campus ministries) in token numbers.

From about the 1950s-1990s there was a generation of Black Christian who self-identified as Black evangelicals. Even in this, however, they felt it necessary to say “Black” and evangelical—it acknowledges their marginalization in white evangelical spaces.

Anecdotally, I don’t know any Black Christians under the age of 40 (mayb even 50?) who use the term Black evangelical to describe themselves. They may say that a belief or a movement or a church is evangelical, but they don’t call themselves that.

I usually see Black Christians, especially those in predominantly white evangelical spaces, explicitly rejecting the term “evangelical” (some white folks do as well). I often say that such Black Christians are “evangelical-adjacent.” The proximity to white Christians is important

So what terms do you use instead of “Black evangelical”? Some say “Bible-believing” Christian. Others say their denominational affiliation (COGIC, AME, Baptist, etc.). I simply say “Black Christian.”