Associations Between Forgiveness, Spirituality, and Justice Among Black Americans

Forgiveness is embedded within sociocultural elements of identity, including spiritual beliefs and orientation towards justice. Because Black American identity is storied and complex, Black Americans often navigate complex questions of forgiveness. We explored the extent to which Black Americans' spirituality and belief in a just world influenced their capacity to forgive with implications for mental health. A multiple regression analysis conducted using the survey responses of 166 Black Americans indicated spiritual beliefs informed beliefs about whether the world is just, and spirituality was positively associated with Black Americans' capacity to forgive. The positive association between spirituality and forgiveness was only significant when Black Americans perceived that it was beneficial to reconcile the relationship with the person who wronged them. Our findings are consistent with studies that address spirituality as a cultural asset worthy of exploration among Black Americans dealing with complex questions of forgiveness and justice.