REFERENCE/READINGS for:
Race, Black Lives, Slavery, Black Culture, Racism, Politics & White Privilege
This year’s national Black History Month theme is “African Americans and the Arts.” To celebrate, the Black History Committee offers these facts about Black Americans in the arts.
Did you know?
In 1948, Gordon Parks became the first Black photographer and writer at Life magazine, and in 1969, he became the first Black American to write and direct a Hollywood feature film (“The Learning Tree”).
In 1974, Lowery Stokes Sims became the first Black curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
In 1996, George Walker became the first Black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.
In 2023, Ruth E. Carter, (from Springfield, MA), made history when she became the first Black woman to win two Oscars. In 2019, she became the first Black person to win the Oscar for best costume design for her win on Marvel’s “Black Panther.” In 2023, she won the award again for her work on the film’s sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Did you know?
· On Ascension Memorial Church’s website, when you click on “GROUPS”, then click on “Becoming Beloved Community” – the site takes you to a reading reference list, and information about the direction and work of the Episcopal church and the North Shore Deanery’s racial justice commission.
As February and Black History month comes to an end, let’s consider something the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, along with the work of the church’s racial justice commission, “in the end, we won’t remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”.
Ascension’s Beloved Community Group
Why Must The Episcopal Church Celebrate Black History Month
February 7, 2024 - Racial Reconciliation by Joe McDaniel Jr.
The Episcopal Church, like many other religious institutions, recognizes the importance of celebrating Black History Month. This monthlong observance provides an opportunity for The Episcopal Church (the “church”) to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions made by people of African descent to the church and society as a whole. There are several reasons why the church must celebrate Black History Month.
This quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
was taken in front of
The Civil Rights Memorial Museum
in Montgomery, AL.
Photo by Joe McDaniel Jr.
Firstly, celebrating Black History Month helps to promote social justice and equality within the church. By recognizing and appreciating the contributions of African Americans, the church sends a powerful message that it values and respects the diversity of its members. It also highlights the ongoing struggle for racial justice and encourages the church to continue working toward a more inclusive and equitable society.
Secondly, Black History Month provides an opportunity for the church to engage in reflection and education. It allows members to learn about the historical experiences of African Americans and the ways in which they have influenced and shaped the church. By studying the achievements and struggles of Black individuals, the church can gain a deeper understanding of racial issues and work toward reconciliation and healing.
Thirdly, celebrating Black History Month encourages the church to confront and address its history of racism and discrimination. The Episcopal Church, like many other Christian denominations, has a complicated past when it comes to race relations. By acknowledging this history and actively working to repair the harm done, the church can move toward reconciliation and create a more racially just and inclusive institution.
Furthermore, celebrating Black History Month can serve as a source of inspiration and empowerment for African American members of the church. It sends a message that their contributions, stories, and experiences are valued and recognized. This can help to foster a sense of belonging and strengthen the faith of African Americans within the church.
Lastly, celebrating Black History Month is an act of solidarity with the wider Black community. It shows that the church stands with and supports the struggles and achievements of African Americans beyond the confines of its own walls. It demonstrates the church’s commitment to social justice and its dedication to the pursuit of equality for all.
In conclusion, The Episcopal Church must celebrate Black History Month because it is an opportunity to promote social justice; engage in reflection and education; confront the church’s history of racism; inspire and empower African American members; and show solidarity with the wider Black community. By recognizing the contributions and experiences of African Americans, the church can work toward a more inclusive and equitable society.
Joe McDaniel Jr. is a member of The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council. He is serving as the convener for the Deputies of Color for the 81st General Convention. He serves as the co-chair for the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast’s Commission on Racial Justice & Reconciliation.
Ascension’s Becoming Beloved Community Group
Martin Luther King Day: Monday, January 15, 2024
For 37 years, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a United States federal holiday. It marks the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr and is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15. The 2024 MLK Day celebration theme is: "It Starts With Me: Shifting The Cultural Climate Through The Study and Practice of King in Nonviolence".
Celebrating and Honoring MLK Day
Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions. It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.
Local Event: In Commemoration of MLK and his dream, the YWCA of Newburyport in collaboration with the Firehouse Center for the Arts, will present a screening of MLK Jr’s final years through the personal stories of those who surrounded him. The film, King in the Wilderness: MLK’s Journey” with post-film discussion is Monday, January 15 at 12:30pm. Students are free; Adults are $11.50.
For more information: www.ywcanewburyport.org
For tickets: www.firehouse.org
Ascension’s Becoming Beloved Community Group
Becoming Beloved Community
Guided by our faith, Becoming Beloved Community helps frame a pathway to address racial injustice and grow as a group of learners, reconcilers and justice makers. We meet once a month and welcome new members to join us as we seek to better our community by embracing the values of love, human dignity, compassion, and equity.
In 2017, the Episcopal Church published a document, Becoming Beloved Community Where You Are, which describes our long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice. See: Becoming Beloved Community… Where You Are: A Resource for Individuals, Congregations & Communities Seeking Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice. See the 237th Annual Convention October 28-29 2022 Workbook for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Included is a “Report of the Racial Justice Commission” starting on page H-16 through H-41.
For education and self-learning, Ascension’s Beloved Community compiled a reading list on topics of race, the history of slavery, black lives and black culture, white privilege and justice. See: REFERENCEs/READINGs: Race, Black Lives, Slavery, Black Culture, Racism, Politics, & White Privilege. See three short articles on unconscious bias (click on the buttons below).
For additional information, contact Ascension Memorial Church at amcipswich@verizon.com or 978-356-2560. Leave a message and your contact information, and a committee member will contact you as soon as possible.