The once enslaved were free but only as free as America would allow them to be.…
Why Juneteenth Should Be a National Holiday
America fought it’s bloodiest war mainly over the issue of slavery. It took the deaths of over half a million citizens to abolish the heinous institution. This figure does not account for the untold n…
We Return Fighting: How Memorial Day Can Mean Something Different for African American Soldiers
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. By setting aside a time to recall soldiers who died fighting for this nation, American citizens rightly honor their sacrifice and that of their family and friends…
Honor & Soul at the Opening Ceremony for the Lynching Memorial and Museum
Montgomery, AL– Bryan Stevenson and his team at the Equal Justice Initiative capped off the grand opening of the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice with an evening filled …
Honor the Real King
The idealized version of Dr. King buries the injustices that he fought against, most of which remain today.…
5 Reasons You Should Celebrate Black History Month
It pains me to see people overlooking Black History Month because Black history (just like Hispanic, Asian, European, and Native history) belongs to all of us — black and white, men and women, y…
My 10 Favorite History Books of 2017
After reading dozens of U.S. history books for my PhD coursework this year, I find myself circling back to a few works time and again. So I decided to put them in a of list my ten favorite history boo…
In Mississippi’s Museum Openings, a Victory for ‘Local People’
NOTE: This article originally appeared in “Opinion” section of the New York Times. JACKSON, Miss. — When President Trump decided at the last minute to attend the grand opening of the Museu…
Tolerance for Racism Paved the Way for the Moral Bankruptcy of This Moment
American citizens should not be surprised at the paucity of character we are currently seeing in our politicians.…
How the Protestant Reformation led to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Luther’s heirs are known as Protestants today because his movement was so centered on protest. Nearly 450 years later, King would likewise use public protest to confront the social devastation of fals…
Singin’ Us to Glory: The Life and Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer
Celebrated for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, her greatest contribution is the model she gave on the Christian life.…
Martin Luther King’s Eulogy of the Four Girls Killed in a Birmingham Church Bombing
September 16, 1963 brought news of one of the most horrific acts of hate and violence ever perpetrated during the Civil Rights movement. Four young black girls–Addie Mae Collins, Carol Denise Mc…
The Misunderstood Dream: A Reflection On the Anniversary of King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
August 28 marks the anniversary of one of the most iconic speeches in American history and a high point of the twentieth century Civil Rights Movement. On this day, Martin Luther King, Jr., a preacher…
Reject Overt and COVERT White Supremacy
Overt expressions of White Supremacy engulfed Charlottesville this past weekend. The evil, hatred, and violence incited by White Supremacists resulted in a death and injuries of brave image-bearers op…
How Should You Celebrate the Fourth of July? Make Juneteenth a National Holiday.
For most minorities, especially African Americans, “Independence” Day always comes with quotation marks around it. That’s because the document that declared “all men are create…
Emmett Till and erasing the reality of racism
Note: This article originally appeared in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. An Emmett Till marker has been vandalized yet again, and the form of vandalism symbolizes a larger story. While defacing a marker …
The Orphans of Broken Justice
30-year-old Charleena Lyles had 3 children (ages 11, 4, and 1), and was pregnant with her fourth, who watched and listened as their mother was gunned down. They heard the pleading, promises, screams a…
Revisiting the Theology of the Negro Spiritual
June is African-American Music Appreciation Month. We pay tribute to the legacy and contributions African-Americans have made over the centuries. As I reflected on this history, I was taken back to ar…
Suggested Resources on Race and our History for the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley
This compiliation was originally posted on Ligon Duncan’s personal blog. You can find the original, as well as more great content here. Important Online Resources: Race and Church Thabiti Anyabw…
What Is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It is recognized on June 19th every year. In Texas, where it is a state holiday, slaves learned of the Emancipation Pro…