Black History Month Close to Home
This past week I received in the mail a snapshot of the history of Lomax A.M.E. Zion Church, from a member of their Seniors Ministry. While we’ve had the pleasure of worshipping with and getting to know their pastor and members the last several years, I still have so much to learn! I wanted to share this snapshot in hopes that it might spark your own curiosity about the place we all call home.
February is a time set aside to celebrate the history and contributions of black Americans throughout the decades. This year, my commitment (in February and beyond,) is to dig deeper, beyond the well-known stories of Martin, Rosa, and Barack, and learn more about the history of black Americans more locally. The local chapter of the NAACP has been incredibly helpful in getting me oriented. I have just begun, “My Halls Hill Family: More than a Neighborhood,” written by a fourth generation Halls Hill resident. After reading, “On the Courthouse Lawn,” which details lynchings on the nearby Eastern Shore, with Sacred Ground Alumni, several parishioners have begun making plans to invite the congregation to take a pilgrimage to learn more about Harriet Tubman’s life and history. My point is a simple one—understanding who we are, as residents of this particular place, and more specifically, as Christians, is only partial without the fullness of all who have called these parts home. I hope Black History Month might be an opportunity for you to become curious in a new and holy way.
You are Loved. You were missed. You are a blessing.
Beth