My History and Yours

The nation has said farewell to Coretta Scott King, an amazing woman of courage and strength who did not let her personal tragedy defer the vision that she shared with her martyred husband. That her funeral came as we began the observance of Black History Month seems somehow appropriate for the intentional nature of her amazing life among us. I was shocked when I learned that she was not only the first African American woman who was "laid in state" in the Georgia Capitol building, but the first Afrcican American and the first woman as well! This is 2005, right?

I was amazed when I heard a well-intentioned person state that Black History Month was a time for Black children to get in touch with "their history" and some of the important contributions made by African Americans. Far be it from me, a white male, to be the definitive word on this, but I say, "WRONG!" Black History Month is a time for all of us to understand that who we are and what our country has become is a story that was not played out exclusively by old white men in starched white shirts. Black History Month is so important because my memory is still woefully imcomplete when it considers who were the real shapers of this wonderful country we enjoy. While some of the persons we remember made contributions that earned them a place in the history books because of the positions of priviledge and power they were born into, others earned a right to be remembered because of commitment, intelligence, courage, imagination, compassion, creativity, and perseverance through suffereing from positions of being second class citizens, and often much worse.

So if you are considering whether Black History Month is anything that should attract the attention of you or your church, and your decision is made by looking around and seeing if there is anyone present whose skin is darker than yours, remember that this is about my history and yours as well, and we are the ones who desperately need the education.

(For resources your church on Black History Month, can be found at http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/special_pages/blackhistorymonth.cfm)