Black History and Anti-Racism
02-09-2022
By Blake Collins, Senior MDIV
Can I be honest? I can’t help but roll my eyes when major corporations spend millions on commercial spots to make sure the consumer knows they circled February 1st on their corporate calendars. Then moments afterwards, usually, some sense of optimism sets in – because representation is absolutely important in 2022 when truth feels more subjective than ever and local school board reps are getting elected because they wrote “Ban Critical Race Theory” on their Facebook page. Spoiler: they don’t even know what Critical Race Theory is…
I grew up in a planned community where Black History was taught by the people who cared intimately about it. They didn’t learn the history from academic journals or pop-culture movies, they learned it from their aunts and uncles, grandparents and pastors. And it wasn’t taught in isolation: this was everybody’s history because it took place in our nation. And in white America, having a teacher-of-color at every grade level from kindergarten to high school is rare. Still, I have to be honest about my hometown. For all its wonderful socioeconomic and racial diversity (which truly is wonderful) it still fails to embody actual anti-racist frameworks that my teachers and mentors worked so passionately to teach and celebrate.
And so I wonder how can Black History Month both celebrate and manifest tangible change in our structures and lived experiences, because friends (and I know I’m preaching to the choir), change is due.
In our McCormick Anti-Racism Book Study (which you can still participate!), we’re reading Kelly Brown Douglas’ What's Faith Got to Do with It? Black Bodies / Christian Souls. Last weekend, we explored the question that sparked Dr. Brown Douglas to write her book: "How could you, a black woman, possibly be a Christian?" We’re reflecting on what is it about Christianity that lends itself to racism and its violent abuses. What is it about Christianity that has allowed it to be both a bane and a blessing for Black America? One of the most profound takeaways from our last meeting was a student’s prophetic reminder: “it’s hard to claim what we don’t name.” Amen.
Saida Grundy, feminist sociologist of race & ethnicity at Boston University, challenges in The False Promise of Anti-racism Books that raising awareness about racism cannot be the solution to correcting injustice alone. “When offered in lieu of actionable policies regarding equity, consciousness raising can actually undermine Black progress by presenting increased knowledge as the balm for centuries of abuse” (italics mine).
And so, encouraged by the Spirit that Black History Month demands, our group is committing to both raising our collective consciousness while also considering concrete systemic changes for our theological institution. And this work is two-fold. For white students, we commit to learning about our privilege and power alongside the actual implications of sacrifice. For folks of color, it means caring for oneself while reflecting on historical and present-day realities. And we all commit to take seriously how theological frameworks intended to marginalize Black bodies extend to other marginalized groups as well, especially in our classrooms – both Zoom and in-person.
In the remixed words of the prophet James Baldwin, we love McCormick more than any other seminary in the world and, exactly for this reason, we insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.
Happy Black History month, McCormick! May it lead to us to the lived realities of that Holy Celebration we partake in at God’s Table – where all are welcome, seen, provided for, and sustained.
Click here to request more information on McCormick Anti-Racism Book Study!
