A Christian Take on Black History Month
By Ricardo Fortune
As the month of February has come to an end, I would like to share with our Canadian followers of Christ some of the thoughts that have come to my mind as we celebrate Black History Month. There were plenty of reminders in 2020 that racial tensions are far from being over. From the killing of George Floyd in the US, who suffocated after a policeman knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes, to the death of Joyce Echaquan in Quebec, whose death was caused by the negligence and abuse by the healthcare workers who were taking care of her. Even 2021 already has racial events making headlines with the arrest of Mamadi Camara, a black man in Montreal, who was wrongfully accused of attempted murder of a police officer. He spent six days in jail before they realised that they had the wrong person.
“When we think about the horrors of slavery and colonialism, it becomes evident how far we have strayed from what God originally intended for humanity.”
Racism is likely not going to end until Jesus comes back, and Black History Month is a reminder of the horrible sins perpetrated against black people throughout history. When we think about the horrors of slavery and colonialism, it becomes evident how far we have strayed from what God originally intended for humanity.
The Bible starts by describing humans as the creation of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Since we were all created by Him, we therefore all bore His image and likeness. After the fall, God planned to redeem all of mankind, not only Israel. He told Abraham “…in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). God wants all of the nations to benefit from His blessings. He wants worshippers from all tribes, tongues, people and nations (Revelation 5:9). This will make heaven look like a garden full of flowers of different colors.
Black History Month is unfortunately a reminder of the segregation in the American South. What a shame that even the churches were segregated. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “11 am on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America”. Christian schools and seminaries were also segregated. Bob Jones University had a ban on interracial dating until the year 2000. It is a shame that the black church had to be created because of those circumstances, but even in those dark times, God reserved for Himself a remnant that would fight for racial equality and justice. However, a lot more work still needs to be done in this area.
“It is a shame that the black church had to be created because of those circumstances, but even in those dark times, God reserved for Himself a remnant that would fight for racial equality and justice. ”
I’m however glad that Black History Month is also reminiscent of the victories that Christianity won against the sin of racism. I am reminded of great men like the abolitionist William Wilberforce who tirelessly fought to abolish the slave trade. We are reminded of powerful conversion stories such as that of John Newton, a slave trader who became an abolitionist after converting to Christianity. We know him for his phenomenal hymn “Amazing Grace”. Because of the miracle God operated in his life, Christians from all cultural background can now sing about how they were once blind but are now able to see.
As an apologist it quickly became obvious to me that centuries of racial prejudices had greatly affected the way blacks and other ethnic minorities respond to the gospel when we witness to them. For many, identifying as a Christian brings back the memory that the oppressors of their ancestors were also Christians. This caused many to reject the faith and created a spiritual void that some have filled with the false teachings of cults such as The Nation of Islam or the Black Hebrew Israelites. Many have gone back to traditional religions. They find in these black nationalist movements and false religions a restoration of black dignity. Black history month for them is merely an occasion to reassert their black identity.
“… there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11)”
In the days we are living in, many are confused about the topics of identity, meaning and purpose. For some, fighting for social justice becomes the reason for which they live. Others seek fulfilment in gender identity or sexual orientation. Likewise, for blacks, they risk succumbing to the trap of basing their identity on their race. The Bible says “… there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11). For Christians, the basis of our identity is found in Christ. To know that we are His sons and daughters and that we are created in His image gives us dignity, value and purpose. A Black History month that doesn’t take this fact into consideration is an incomplete celebration. The conversation about race is not going well in our country because we’re not listening to each other and are not trying to learn from each other. As someone around you is celebrating Black History month, please take some time to learn about their story and their struggle. Let’s be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19) so that the world may know that we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.