What words do we use to lift up the history of oppression, current struggles and future hopes?
How is our language in worship shaped by race?
What colours do we see as we speak the words of our faith?
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. -Psalm 68:31
How might the colour of Jesus effect our devotion?
Black History Month (October in UK, February in USA) offers Christians the opportunity to use worship words that both bring the disparities of history before God and God’s people and celebrate diversity, past and present.
Worship resources
a section from Maya Angelous’s poem “Solidarity”
What Churches Can Do to Uncover the Black Presence in the Bible During Black History Month and Lent:
- If you use Biblical images, make sure they are historically accurate.
- Utilize the African Heritage Study Bible, edited by Dr. Cain Hope Felder of Howard Divinity School, which includes essays and maps to aid your Bible study. Each passage of Scripture related to Africa is highlighted.
Reading List:
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- How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity (InterVarsity Press) by Thomas C. Oden, who dedicated his life to uncovering of the buried treasure of African Christianity.
- Africa’s Roots in God by Rev. Dr. Sed Yankson, Pastor of East New York SDA Church & Akan Royalty.
- The Black Presence in the Bible: Discovering the Black and African Identity of Biblical Persons and Nations by Dr. Walter A. McCray, President of The National Black Evangelical Association.
Onleilove Alston is the Executive Director of PICO Faith in NY, a board member and contributing writer for Sojourners, and founder of Prophetic Whirlwind: Uncovering the Black Biblical Destiny, an organization dedicated to uncovering the Black presence in the Bible via workshops, lectures, Bible study and devotional material. This was originally written for article in Sojourners Magazine.
Black History Month UK website provides reflective words in a Poets Corner.
The stained-glass window above commemorates the 1980 New Cross Fire, London. It was installed at St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Brockley, London UK on the 10th anniversary of the fire.
