Black History Month 2024
This month is referred to as Black History Month and sometimes Black Heritage or Black Futures Month. I’m hoping that your congregation is recognizing it in some tangible way and making important connections in your wider community by supporting events and activities marking this month. An important reminder that was shared with me years ago was that if you’d like to amplify Black History - you don’t have to limit such things to the month of February.
If you are looking for resources to enhance your congregation’s worship life or to engage in learning more about black history, anti-racism, white supremacy, or intercultural ministry, we’d offer the following suggestions:
The Presbyterian Church in Canada
This month would be a good one to share The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Confession regarding Racism in the Church. For ideas or just personal reflection, you or your ministry context might wish to watch the service that was organized by the Assembly Office.
In 2023, the General Assembly adopted a Confession addressing how The Presbyterian Church in Canada has silenced, mistreated and slandered the “ethnic contingent” of the church. Following the Assembly’s direction, a Service of Repentance, Healing and Hope was held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, Etobicoke, Ontario. The service featured leadership from the diversity of our denomination, including the Rev. In Kee Kim of St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, who preached the sermon, and the Rev. Drs. Heather Vais and John Vissers. We pray that this service of repentance will lead to a renewed journey of healing and hope within all parts of our church.
The PCC website also has a variety of resources around honouring Black History Month as well as Anti-Racism resources.
The Season of Lent is often a good time to share learning opportunities in our ministry settings - perhaps a group might want to gather to study “Speaking Out Against Racism and Hate in Canada,” a study guide produced by Justice Ministries.
Find More resources on the PCC website:
The United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada also has a wealth of resources to mark Black History Month.
Here is an archive of resources including worship services, liturgies, Bible Studies and more.
Anti-Racism and White Supremacy
Finally, I’d personally recommend a book, Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. This is an accessible and comprehensive journey to better understand white supremacy and many of the terms that are used today.
Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor leads readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on black, indigenous and people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. The book goes beyond the original workbook by adding more historical and cultural contexts, sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and includes expanded definitions, examples, and further resources.
And if you are interested in exploring more around the basics of Anti-Racism, I’d encourage you to sign up to attend the next offering of The Antiracism Course by Selam Debs.
The Anti-Racism Course with Salem Debs:
An Experience of Inner and Out Revolution.
The six-module Antiracism Course will run for 12 consecutive weeks. Every two weeks you’ll receive new video lessons from Selam, covering foundational Antiracism topics, relevant to the Canadian experience. You’ll also get 8+ Bonus LIVE sessions to internalize your learning. We’ll talk about real Canadian history, white priviledge and white fragility, implicit bias, dismantling systemic racism, allyship, and how to develop an antiracist lens in your daily life.
Perhaps one or many of these suggestions and resources will be the things you take up during this season of reflection and repentance.
May you mark a Holy Lent.