| In the Midst of Today: Black History Month | |||||||||
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by Maggie Jackson, PhD |
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In future years, stories will be written about the living moment when the first African American was elected President of the United States. I, along with many other African Americans, have lived through the turbulent years with only the dream of success, which is now becoming a reality. Living in the moment, we see and hear many expressions of excitement for the greatness of this time. African Americans are saying, “I never thought I would live to see an African American in the White House.” This expression is embodied in a people deprived of participation in the decision-making arenas of society. Others are saying, “It is about time.” We remain a society in transition toward living up to our creed of equality and justice for all. In this historical moment of change, not everyone will embrace and welcome new leadership from the African-American tradition. Bitterness and resentment are reflected in comments of non-support and the hope for failure. These longstanding views are rooted in the values of a people caught in a way of life that prevents movement toward a more inclusive and just society. Change is difficult, yet not impossible. Does The United Methodist Church offer opportunities that enable African-American participants to have different expressions? Is the church experience different from that of the general society? History has documented and will show that the ugly head of racism is in the church, just as it is in secular society. The task for us is to create an environment, both inside and outside the church, that will sustain equality and justice throughout the church and the world. Although racism is alive within The United Methodist Church, expressions of good will and sustaining the well-being of others are values lived out through education and the mission efforts of the church. We have an opportunity in the church to demonstrate how to live and create a culture that will include all members equally. Even though this will not be an easy task, through our Wesleyan heritage and beliefs, a way to enhance our togetherness already exists. We need to examine the barriers that prevent the living out of our beliefs and values. As we experience Black History Month 2009, let’s challenge ourselves to be involved in documenting a different history. The General Board of Global Ministries provides opportunities for participation in the development of creating good will for persons in local, national, and international communities. Black History Month is a time of revisiting, reliving, and knowledge-building. Are you able to identify examples of how Global Ministries has written Black History? How about our involvement in post-Katrina recovery? How about our national institutions, such as the Marcy-Newberry Association in Chicago or Youngstown Community Center in Youngstown, Ohio? Choose a program you are familiar with and interpret how this program might be representative of Black History. Think about how you will seek opportunities to enrich a dream of African Americans’ inclusion in the total society without question. What will your contribution be? Tell the story of your example to someone. Join the collective community of The United Methodist Church and share in the richness of African-American history. We are a community of faith and are encouraged to tell the story as lived through our African-American brothers and sisters. Maggie Jackson, PhD, is a professor and director in the School of Social Work, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Date posted: Jan 30, 2009 |
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