Often depicted as a ruler of the deep sea, Olokun is sometimes viewed as male, sometimes female, and sometimes an androgynous or gender-fluid being who embodies the vast, unknowable mysteries of the ocean.
While the term "shemale" is widely considered a slur and is increasingly replaced by "transgender woman" or "gender-expansive" in respectful discourse, the "full story" of Black gender-diverse divinity can be understood through three primary lenses: 1. Mythology and Orishas
Black authors and activists have long explored the intersection of race, gender, and the sacred:
Modern artists use the imagery of "Black Goddesses" to reclaim power for Black women and trans individuals:
Her work frequently interweaves the mythic and the mundane, centering the Black American experience as a site of profound spiritual struggle and cultural identity.
A famous mural at the East Side Gallery by artist C.F. challenges viewers to rethink the traditional image of God by depicting a Black woman, dedicated to a Black German lesbian who faced discrimination. 3. Cultural and Literary Identity