We enter Black History Month 2021 after a year which saw, among many other things, the Movement for Black Lives manifested in the largest and most diverse demonstrations for equity in our nation’s history. More and more Americans affirm the need to dismantle the Culture of White Supremacy and the need to center the voice of Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Black History Month was made a national celebration in 1976 during the US Bicentennial. But the celebration traces back directly to historian Carter Woodson, who, with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which he founded, announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week” in 1926.
Woodson wrote: “If a race has not history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
He described the operation of internalized oppression: “When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it.” (The Mis-Education of the American Negro, 1933)
Woodson and the materials prepared for Negro History Week attempted to combat the growing myth of the South’s “lost cause,” and the picture of slavery as a benevolent institution epitomized in Gone With the Wind.
In this month when Wholeness is our spiritual theme, there will be many opportunities to bring Black voices to the center of our reflection. Telling a story that includes the contributions of Black authors, artists and thinkers is part of the church’s journey toward wholeness.
Throughout February, with the exception of this Sunday, February 14 (see my P.S. below), DeReau and Dustin, along with the full music team, plan to use only music and hymns by Black composers and arrangers. This will be true for both the 9:15 Family Worship and the 10:15 Worship Service.
I will be including at least one reading from a Black author in every service I preach as well. That, it may surprise some of you, will not be new. Every service in which I have preached has included at least one reading authored by a person of color…since I was called to the church 10 years ago.
The Program Leaders had a rich conversation about whether this music plan should be announced. Would it be better to announce it after the fact? See if anyone noticed? See if anyone complained? See if anyone applauded after the fact? I decided to let you know the plan in advance. Part of the transformation called for in the 8th Principle and in making our long-standing commitment to the Movement for Black Lives real is intentionality. That intentionality calls us to inspect how we are living and worshiping, and to ask ourselves whether our actions are in concert with our intentions.
Speaking for myself, I am looking forward to the music throughout this month and to pointing toward what wholeness might look like, could look like for First Unitarian.
Blessings,
Bill
P.S. The weather forecast continues to predict significant winter weather beginning today and continuing through the weekend. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect. Sunday’s 10:15 Service will be streamed at the normal time, but we are offering elements that were recorded earlier so that none of our staff have to navigate the roads/public transportation during the severe weather. The Family Worship at 9:15 is always recorded earlier in the week. That service, too, will be streamed at the normal time on Sunday.