“The South is the origin point of Black culture in America. It is impossible to be a proud Black person in America and to be ashamed of the South, to be averse to the South, to consider southern Black culture inferior and wanting. Southern heritage is intertwined with the very concept of American blackness.”
CHARLES M. BLOW
LATEST REFLECTIONS
BLK South seeks the development, vibrancy, and well-being of underserved, historically Black neighborhoods in the South through community development, cultural reclamation, and spiritual formation.
In May 2025, we made our reverse migration from Phoenix, AZ to Durham, NC—returning to the South not only as a place of ancestral memory, but as sacred ground for the flourishing of Black communities. BLK South was birthed from the concept of reverse migration, urging a return to the Black South to mend narratives and ancestral heritage while reclaiming cultural aspects lost during America's historical reconstruction efforts. We aim to actively engage with and contribute to existing work, particularly in Durham, NC, by offering martial arts and leadership development, creative justice through art, and spiritual formation.
Now rooted in Durham’s historic Hayti District, we are carrying out our mission through:
Martial arts and trauma-informed leadership development programs
Creative justice through art and storytelling
Spiritual formation
Our focus is on unlearning and relearning Jesus on the margins while embracing the rich tapestry of history, voices, and identities that have shaped the Black community in the South.
As we serve the city of Durham, our intention is not to overshadow or assimilate; rather, we wholeheartedly embrace the time-tested and proven methodology of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). It's all about recognizing the incredible strengths, talents, and resources that already exist within the community. Instead of focusing on what's lacking, we are committed to learning from and contributing to the inherent beauty that surrounds us.
This is just the beginning.
We are actively forming partnerships with local nonprofits that share our passion for healing, justice, and joy. In the coming year, we will launch three community-based initiatives designed to amplify Black stories, leadership, and spaces of belonging in Durham.
Our hope is that what takes root here will not stay here—but ripple across the South, inspiring other cities and communities to reimagine their future through the lens of justice, memory, and sacred place.
→ Learn more about our pilgrimage to Durham
→ Support our ongoing work through our Matching Campaign
Our Vision
BLK South Offerings
-
Soulwork
Soulwork is a community-led theological experience designed for Black souls seeking a deeper, more liberating spirituality. It’s a space to unlearn harmful theologies shaped by White Supremacy and reimagine faith through the lenses of justice, beauty, and belonging. Through story, contemplation, and shared exploration, we cultivate spiritual formation rooted in solidarity, creativity, and collective wisdom.
This isn’t traditional seminary—it’s formation for everyday life. Our long-term vision includes partnering with HBCUs and local communities to offer theological education in unconventional, accessible, and life-giving ways.
-
Healing Through Play
With a Black Belt and over 20 years of experience in Martial Arts, Kendall is now launching a trauma-informed program for youth that centers healing through play, movement, and creative expression. Rooted in practices like art-making, breathing exercises, and embodied movement, the program draws inspiration from Tang Soo Do—a martial art historically born out of oppression—highlighting its deep connections to emotional resilience, mindfulness, and self-confidence. Designed especially for Black and under-resourced communities, the program fosters safety, joy, and connection while helping youth process trauma and discover their inner strength.
-
Creative Justice
Imagine using all forms of art (storytelling, film, dance, writing, music, painting, drawing, etc.) to create a community that is collectively focused on truth-telling in art form. A seasonal, project-based initiative that platforms the voices of those most marginalized, to tell the truth and further the process of healing and liberation in a community. This is what we like to call Creative Justice!
-
The Land Speaks
In collaboration with Durham Cares and Amplify Peace, "The Land Speaks" is a pilgrimage into the soul of Durham, NC, centering the powerful Black story of the Hayti District—a place rich with history, resilience, and cultural significance. This journey is designed to engage every part of the body and spirit, awakening what we see, hear, feel, taste, and create. Participants will walk the sacred grounds of Hayti, listen to its stories of triumph and struggle, touch the spaces where history was made, savor the flavors of its culinary traditions, and create art inspired by its legacy. This immersive experience is more than education—it’s a holistic journey of connection, healing, and renewal, where the land itself speaks to the stories we carry and invites us to reimagine how our own lands and lives might flourish in justice, dignity, and hope.
Buy Clothing
Buy Clothing
Introducing the BLK South Saint Collection – honoring the impactful legacy of Black ancestors who left an unforgettable mark on the South and our nation at large. Designed by Erin, our tees celebrate these figures, affectionately called "saints" for their profound impact on the Black community and culture. Click below to explore their stories and support our work in Durham, NC.
“Black culture is in the jazz and blues that were born in the South, and in the Black social welfare organizations and Black fellowship organizations that thrive there. ”
In the South, Black culture is primary: it is expressed in powerful Black churches and impressive Black colleges, which, according to a Newsweek report citing United Negro College Fund data, ‘produce 70 percent of all Black dentists and doctors, 50 percent of Black engineers and public school teachers, and 35 percent of Black lawyers.’”
Excerpt From: Charles M. Blow. “The Devil You Know.”
Today’s the day — it’s May 1st, and we’ve officially hit the road to Durham, NC!
This summer, we’ll be taking a break from our usual weekly reflections and will return in the fall. Instead, we’ll be sharing more frequent updates about our 12-day road trip and all that we’re learning along the way. You can follow along in two ways:
Subscribe to our Substack The Way Back Home for real-time updates.
Bookmark the Pilgrim With Us page on our website: blksouth.org/pilgrim.