5th place — 2026 First in the Family essay contest: Antonio Drain
FFRF awarded Antonio $1,500.
By Antonio Drain
As an African American, I believe that white supremacy and Christian nationalism go hand in hand because both are rooted in the idea that America belongs more to some people than others.
Christian nationalism pushes the belief that the United States was founded specifically for Christians and should continue to reflect one version of Christian values and culture. The problem is that, historically, the image of the real American connected to that movement has usually been white. Black Americans have suffered because of this connection.
During the slavery era, white slave owners used Christianity to justify enslaving African people, claiming it was somehow part of God’s plan. Later, during segregation, many white churches either supported racist laws or stayed silent while Black Americans fought for equal rights. At the same time, Black churches became places of resistance, hope and community. That contrast says a lot.
However, Christianity itself was never the issue, it was the way religion was used to protect racial power and make inequality seem morally acceptable. Even today, Christian nationalism still carries some of those same ideas. The movement often promotes a version of America centered around white Christian culture while making minorities and people of other religions feel like outsiders.
When politicians or activists talk about “taking America back,” I sometimes wonder who they believe America was taken from in the first place. For many African Americans, phrases like that can feel less patriotic and more like a desire to return to a time when minorities had less power and fewer rights.
As someone who grew up in the South, I have seen how race, politics and religion can become deeply connected. When people talk about “traditional American values,” they often ignore the fact that those traditions did not always include equality for everyone. Even when racism is not openly expressed, Christian nationalism can still create an environment where minorities feel excluded or unheard.
Fast forward to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, which made this issue even more real to me. Seeing crosses, Christian flags and prayers mixed in with anger, conspiracy theories and political violence was unsettling.
Faith should be about compassion, justice and humility, not nationalism or superiority. When religion becomes tied to the belief that one racial or cultural group deserves more control than others, democracy becomes threatened. I truly believe that America is strongest when everyone has equal freedom and equal belonging, regardless of race or religion. I believe Christianity should inspire people to care for others, not divide them.
White supremacy and Christian nationalism both depend on exclusion, deciding who counts as a real American and who does not. That mindset is dangerous not only for minorities, but for democracy itself.
Antonio, 18, will be attending the University of Central Oklahoma.
“I was raised in the historically Black town of Tatums, Okla.,” Antonio writes. “I left my hometown in pursuit of a better education, which is how I ended up at Frederick Douglass High School, where I graduated this year at the top of my class with a 4.0 GPA. I plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. My career goal is to work my way up until I become a marketing director.”
