Black History Month

Hello, friends!

We are 2 weeks in but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Black History month! In the midst of crazy weather, another potential government shutdown, the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, and the start of a new semester for us folk who work on that schedule, Black History Month can get lost in the shuffle. It's a shame because as I've gotten older, I've seen how important remembering history is to our present. I've also developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for Black History and for my Black brothers and sisters.

I don't remember studying much about Black History Month when I was growing up. Maybe we did celebrate it and maybe we didn't. If we did, I don't remember anything from it. I don't know how much of that is because I don't remember much of anything from my early schooling and how much of it is because I didn't have any Black friends growing up so it was more of an abstract concept. My neighborhood didn't have many Black families in it and I can probably count on two hands the Black classmates I'd had up through high school. 

That definitely changed when I got to college. When I joined ACF at WashU (Go Bears!), ACF was one of 3 InterVarsity chapters, the other two being a Multi-ethnic chapter and another being Harambee, the Black Campus Ministry (BCM). It was through InterVarsity that I seriously made my first Black friends. I spent a lot of time hanging out with Ashley, T-MO, Rae Rae, and Jad and learned a lot about the experience of being Black in America, mostly through osmosis as opposed to intentional conversations. It was a formative time for in more ways than one. 

Once I joined staff with InterVarsity, the implicit became very much explicit. I was having a lot more conversations with staff friends like Ashley (the one and the same), Chioma, and Tony. I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot. I tried planting a BCM chapter on two different occasions and learned made even more mistakes and learned even more. It has been a humbling and enlightening experience. It's given me a fuller understanding of my own ethnic identity and a greater appreciation for the beauty of God's design. 

Don't hear me wrong. I'm not sharing my story so that I can put myself on a pedestal as an "enlightened" person when it comes to issues race and justice. I'm also not saying that personal relationships are the fix to all of the US's problems when it comes to issues of race and justice. There are real, systemic changes that need to happen if we want to see true equity in the country. I share my story and my journey because it's what I know and it's my way of celebrating Black History Month. I am a better person, a better follower of Jesus, a better staff, and a better leader because of the influence and friendship of folk in the Black community. I would be a lesser person without these relationships and I would be missing out on so much of God's goodness. It hasn't always been easy but it absolutely has been worth it. 

For my non-Black friends, for Black History Month, ask yourself these questions: what do I THINK I know about the Black community? How can I find out if what I think I know is actually right? (NOTE: The answer to this question is NOT to find your one Black friend and make them explain everything to you. You can Google stuff...). Am I willing to explore, grieve, lament, and repent? Do I need to stretch my community to include a more diverse set of viewpoints? 

As for my Black friends, please, enjoy yourselves this month and know that you have been a huge blessing to me. Thanks for bearing with me. =0). 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam