UnShaded Revelations

Hey friends!

This blog post is gonna be a tad different from what I normally talk about. I typically focus on faith, healing, and personal growth, but today, I want to touch on something that’s been on my heart, cultural competence and sensitivity. It’s something I’ve had to navigate both personally and professionally, and honestly, it’s not optional if we want to build real, meaningful connections with others. This might be a long one y’all. 🫣🥴☺️

Over the last couple of weeks, there’s been a social media discourse sparked by what has been dubbed the “Beyoncé Bowl”— her Christmas Day NFL halftime performance. One content creator took to TikTok and called Beyoncé “one of the country’s best propagandists” because of her Americana-themed performance. She referenced Beyoncé’s use of Black country performers, horses, rodeo style, and the infusion of Black culture into a quintessentially American aesthetic. While admitting she loved the performance, she ultimately dismissed or categorized it as propaganda.

This commentary opened the floodgates for a myriad of comments, video stitches, and think pieces. Some agreed with the TikToker, many of whom didn’t look like Beyoncé (you know exactly what I mean). Others, however, pushed back, noting that the original creator, who is biracial and was raised by a white mother, lacked the cultural competence to spearhead or even participate meaningfully in a conversation about Black Southern culture. They felt she lacked the lived Black experience necessary to lead such a nuanced conversation. Her lens, shaped by her upbringing, differs from that of monoracial Black individuals, which can lead to a different understanding of Black culture. They pointed out that she missed key aspects of Black Texas culture, particularly Houston’s unique identity.

Adding to the discourse, there was another creator, a white woman, who claimed that Beyoncé, because she grew up middle class in Third Ward, wasn’t relatable to Black people. The implication was clear: Blackness was being tied to poverty, as though all Black people share the same experience of struggle. This completely missed the nuance of Black experiences and reduced us to a monolithic, impoverished society. This assertion hit me hard because it erased the richness of our varied identities and experiences, including my own. It ignored the fact that Blackness isn’t a singular experience tied to struggle—it’s diverse, layered, and shaped by so many factors beyond economic status. That’s not my story, my family’s story, or the story of many of my friends. Reducing Black identity to one narrative is detrimental and overlooks the beauty of our varied experiences.

Here’s the thing: Third Ward is a predominantly Black area in Houston, Texas; home to Texas Southern University (an HBCU that I just so happen to be a PROUD ALUM of) and the University of Houston (a PWI). And yes, Third Ward is considered the hood by many. To suggest that Beyoncé wasn’t relatable because of her upbringing is not only inaccurate, it’s dismissive and exclusionary. To dismiss Beyoncé’s cultural expression because of an assumed lack of “authentic” struggle is again inaccurate and problematic; it’s a prime example of how cultural insensitivity can lead to sweeping generalizations about an entire community. It reflects how often cultural nuance is overlooked in favor of oversimplified narratives.

How often do we mistake familiarity for understanding? How often do we assume we’re culturally competent without doing the work of listening and learning?

This discourse reminded me of moments in my own life where I was misunderstood, mislabeled, or expected to conform to someone else’s limited perspective.

Understanding Isn’t Instinctive—It’s Intentional

Cultural competence doesn’t come naturally—it requires intentional work. It’s not about being “well-meaning” or “open-minded”—it’s about actively seeking to understand. Too often, people assume that because they have diverse friends or enjoy aspects of another culture, they automatically understand it. But understanding takes more than proximity. It takes humility, curiosity, and action.

I remember a moment at work when a colleague described my tone as “aggressive” and “too direct.” That comment caught me off guard, not because I hadn’t heard it before, but because it forced me to confront how my communication style was being filtered. My communication style is straightforward, and I often speak with my hands—something that’s common in Black communities. But instead of being seen as passionate or clear, I was labeled intimidating. In that moment, I didn’t just feel misunderstood; I felt isolated. It was a stark reminder that in many spaces, cultural differences are often filtered through a lens of discomfort rather than understanding.

Without intentionality, we default to assumptions. And assumptions, even well-meaning ones, often miss the mark.

Beyond the Surface: What Cultural Sensitivity Really Means

Knowing about cultural practices or traditions is just the surface level of cultural sensitivity. True sensitivity goes deeper—it’s about empathy, listening, and engaging without judgment. It’s about understanding that what’s normal for one person might not be for another and learning to see beyond your own lens.

Recently, after watching Mufasa (it’s so good 🤭btw), I had a conversation with my son, Canaan, about why his locs or skin color might draw attention in certain spaces. I told him, “Some people won’t understand your hair or who you are, and they may treat you differently because of it.” It’s tough to prepare an 8-year-old for that reality, while still encouraging him to take pride in his identity. But it’s necessary because cultural insensitivity isn’t just inconvenient—it’s damaging.

Cultural sensitivity is about creating spaces where people don’t have to code-switch to be accepted. It’s about making room for others to exist as they are.

Black Texas Culture: The Overlooked Stories

Beyoncé’s performance felt personal to me. As someone who grew up in Texas, I didn’t see it as propaganda—I saw it as a celebration of Black Southern culture. The cowboy aesthetic wasn’t just a performance prop; it was a nod to Black cowboys and cowgirls, who have always been part of that history, even though they’re often erased from the narrative.

Growing up in Oak Cliff, I remember seeing Black men on horseback, hearing stories from classmates and neighbors who attended horse races, and being surrounded by elements of Southern Black culture that don’t often make it into mainstream narratives. My first experience riding a horse wasn’t at a fancy event—it was because someone my mom dated owned horses in Oak Cliff (iykyk). Black cowboy culture wasn’t something I learned about later; it was something I grew up seeing firsthand.

You often hear me say that I’m a proud alum of an HBCU, Texas Southern University. Here’s why: while I was in school, I didn’t fully see or appreciate the value of the experience—it wasn’t until after graduation that I truly understood what TSU and Houston had given me. TSU didn’t just offer an education; it gave me a deep-rooted pride in my culture. I’ve always been proud to be Black, but attending an HBCU in one of the Blackest and most diverse cities in Texas taught me how to be unapologetically Black.

Houston, with its rich Black history and vibrant multicultural community, exposed me to people from across the diaspora. My major required me to take a class on cultural sensitivity and competence to graduate. But living in Houston, surrounded by a vibrant and diverse Black community, was the real-life application of those lessons. It helped me understand that Blackness isn’t monolithic—it’s rich, layered, and expressed in countless ways. TSU provided a space where I could learn about cultural competence in theory, but it was living in that environment that truly solidified those lessons.

The Impact of Ignorance: Why It Matters

The cost of cultural insensitivity is exclusion, misunderstanding, and even systemic inequity. As a special populations educator, I spent years in the classroom witnessing how a lack of cultural awareness led to Black and Brown students being unfairly labeled as “troublemakers” or “disrespectful.” I often had to advocate for Black boys, explaining to teachers that they weren’t being disrespectful—they just hadn’t learned to code-switch yet.

Code-switching is a survival skill many of us learn over time. But expecting children to do it without understanding their cultural background is unfair. Without cultural sensitivity, we risk marginalizing people for simply being themselves.

This isn’t just an issue in schools. It shows up in workplaces, churches, and social spaces—anywhere people from different backgrounds come together. Ignorance isn’t neutral; it has real consequences.

The Role of Faith in Cultural Competence

For me, cultural competence isn’t just a professional or personal goal…it’s a reflection of my faith. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and meet them where they are. This means embracing people’s differences with empathy, humility, and grace. Cultural sensitivity is one of the ways we live out that calling. Cultural insensitivity can cause division where there should be unity. But when churches embrace cultural competence, they create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and understood.

Cultural competence isn’t just about how we interact with others; it plays a crucial role in how we approach and interpret the Bible. Too often, we read scripture through a modern lens, forgetting that these words were written in a specific cultural context that may not align with today’s norms or expectations. Understanding the cultural backdrop of Biblical stories (the societal roles, traditions, and values of the time) helps us better grasp the message being conveyed.

Take, for example, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Without understanding the cultural tension between Jews and Samaritans at the time, we might miss the radical nature of Jesus’ interaction with her. He wasn’t just offering her living water—He was breaking cultural and societal barriers. By taking the cultural context into account, we avoid reinforcing harmful misunderstandings and gain a deeper understanding of the love, inclusion, and grace central to Jesus’ message.

James 1:19 reminds us, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” This principle applies not only in our personal relationships but also in how we approach scripture. Cultural sensitivity requires us to listen first, seek understanding, and resist the urge to jump to conclusions based solely on our own experiences or worldview.

Faith, at its core, asks us to step beyond our comfort zones. It calls us to serve and love others, not by demanding assimilation but by embracing and learning from their unique perspectives. Whether we are interacting with others or reading God’s word, cultural competence reminds us to approach with a heart of humility and a mind eager to understand.

Practical Steps Toward Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity isn’t something you master overnight—it’s a lifelong process. Here are some practical steps toward building it:

• Self-awareness: Acknowledge your personal biases and areas of ignorance.
• Active listening: Create space for others to share their stories and perspectives without judgment.
• Ongoing learning: Be committed to continuous education; read books, have conversations, seek experiences outside your norm.
• Speak up: Use your voice to advocate when you see cultural insensitivity, even in subtle forms.
• Extend grace: Understand that everyone is on a journey, and mistakes will happen. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

The Unseen Work That Transforms Communities

Cultural sensitivity isn’t a one-time goal—it’s an ongoing practice. It’s the unseen work that transforms communities, workplaces, and relationships. It requires humility, empathy, and a willingness to learn. It’s about recognizing that what might seem insignificant to one person can be deeply meaningful—or harmful—to another.

So, friends, here’s my challenge: Let’s do the work. Let’s ask the questions, have the hard conversations, and commit to becoming more culturally competent—not for the sake of appearances, but for the sake of real, meaningful connection.

Where can you start doing the work of cultural sensitivity in your life today?

Grace & Love,

Chels