by Tracy McNeal

Image by: GBGM Mission News

It’s been hundreds of years since African people were first brought over to America in ships and sold as chattel. Today, however, the words “African” and “American” sound as natural together as bread and butter.

Why then do we continue to honor this people’s history by calling February “Black History Month?”

For any number of reasons: tradition; a sense of moral responsibility; fairness; guilt; appearances – all of these motivations could, and probably do, influence this nation to celebrate Black History Month.

These reasons, however, are less important than the lessons we learn from this celebration. At the end of the day – or rather, the month – what has Black History Month taught us?

In order have a meaningful response to this question by the close of February we first need to have a sense of the value of the knowledge of history. What we get out of Black History Month, in other words, depends on our passion for knowing the past. Without this passion, black history seems like something abstract and distanced from our own life experiences.

The same is true for all history actually – especially Biblical history. The stories in the Bible are our own stories, meant to teach us deep lessons about faithful living today. Too often, however, scripture comes to us as ancient tales for ancient people that are unworkable in modern times. Being locked in the letter of history like this, unfortunately, cuts us off from the world of faith opened to us by God’s Word.

As people called to be the salt and light of the world, it’s important for us to check whether this is our true image, and Black History Month is our prime opportunity. The struggles that African Americans have faced are part of this entire country’s living history; they continue to shape our collective reality on an individual and corporate level. Changing this reality into a better one for everybody – which is something that every United Methodist is called to do – means knowing the past, applying its lessons, and teaching them to each ensuing generation. This is the spirit of Black History month; without it, all that’s left is the letter of history, which cuts off of the dream of a better, new world.

May each of us use Black History Month as a time to reflect on the importance of black history in the spirit of living our dreams.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  Education |  Human rights |  Race |  United Methodist Church |  Geographic Region: United States |  Source: GBGM Administration
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Date posted: Feb 02, 2005