An Invitation to Mark Black History Month
Black History Month is a time for all of us to both celebrate and uplift the achievements and contributions of African Canadians, as well as recognizing and learning more about the historic and systemic challenges people of African descent were and are still faced with in Canada. To that end, the Racial Justice Committee of the Eastern Synod will be releasing a series of videos over the next three weeks to provide you with opportunities to learn more about Black History Month and listen to racialized perspectives from across the Synod. Finally, the Racial Justice Committee and Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Waterloo, invite you to conclude the month by joining Mt. Zion’s Black History Month Service, either in person or by live stream, on Sunday, February 23rd at 11am.
Invitational Video
Week 1
Black History Month is the annual celebration to commemorate the achievements of Black Peoples and their contributions throughout history to make Canada and the world a more culturally diverse place in which to live.
In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Dr. Augustine. The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.
As we welcome Black History Month throughout the month of February, it is another opportunity to learn and reflect on some of the important contributions and events by our Black sisters and brothers throughout the world and within our own churches as well.
For many, this month is also a reminder that we live in a diverse world, and that the contributions to this world and to our church are made not only by our Black brothers and sisters, but also by our Asian and Indigenous families as well. These contributions are not often fully captured in the annals of history or taught in our schools.
Two key factors in learning how we can all do our part to become a more effective and fully inclusive church include:
- continuous learning about the history and lives of our Black sisters and brothers. This includes listening with empathy and actually ‘seeing’ each other as people with shared interests.
- using one’s own influence to promote inclusion, equity and fairness; it is an ongoing commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed.
It has been nearly 57 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), one of the most influential voices of the Civil Rights Movement, in Memphis, Tennessee. Yet, his words endure: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Even just those four words alone—“I have a dream”—invoke his legacy.
This year, in our ELCIC-Eastern Synod Weekly Newsletter, we celebrate the achievements of some of our own ELCIC members. We hope you will join us in celebrating these featured leaders.
On behalf of the Racial Justice Committee, we wish you all abundant blessings this month as we learn and celebrate Black History Month. May we all have the audacity to believe we have the power to make the world better for all of God’s children!