Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, was a protégé of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and among the last remaining icons of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Known for his fiery oratory, he was once nicknamed “The Country Preacher,”
Black History Month is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and courageous acts of people of African descent in the United States and around the world. This year Black History month celebrates its 100th anniversary. Yet Black History Month has failed to fully
Heeding the call for healing The 2026 observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day marks the 41st observance of the holiday. Its theme — “Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way” — already felt challenging in a politically polarized era. With
Even my minister dad could change Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 NIV) Recently I responded to a post about the Black Church experience with LGBTQ+ condemnation and the use of the Bible as a weapon
Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, holds profound significance for our nation and should be honored and celebrated by everyone, including LGBTQ+ people — and in particular, by LGBTQ+ Christians. Here’s why. For starters, Juneteenth for me as a Christian is
Women’s History Month doesn’t do enough to lift up black lesbians. Fifty years ago in Boston, several lesbian and feminist women of African descent founded the Combahee River Collective. As a sisterhood, they understood that their acts of protest were shouldered by and because of
Theater and dramatics rolled up in song Every Black History Month, there is always a tribute to the Black church and its gospel music. The contribution of LGBTQ+ singers to the canon of gospel music, however, is never front and center in celebration of its
This past Valentine’s Day, I pay homage to W. E. B. Du Bois’s 1924 novel Dark Princess because it highlights the least talked-about subject then and now: Black love. Two activities converged for me during COVID-19: When not officiating funerals, I read romance novels and
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10 NIV) I can only imagine a
Whether it’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, World AIDS Day or any other day set aside for us to confront this epidemic, one sad fact remains startlingly true: HIV/ADS remains an overwhelmingly Black disease in the United States. I remember reading a report this time