Reflections on Black History Month 2012 by The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns

The Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church recognizes the historic achievements of African Americans during Black History Month and throughout the year. This February, we call all local churches to bring a special focus to Black History, and especially the accomplishments of CMEs, on the Fourth Sunday (February 26, 2012) during the Sunday School and worship hours. A special Litany is available at: www.c-m-e.org/Announcements/BlackHistoryLitany2012.pdf

Dr. Carter G. Woodson initiated this annual celebration of Black History eighty-six years ago with the institution of Black History Week. Black History Month was formally adopted in the United States and Canada in 1976. The Month is observed in many other nations, including Great Britain—where it is observed in the Month of October. The purpose of the observance is to recognize the contributions of African Americans and others from the African diaspora to the world.

We encourage our members to learn our history and read the timeless books by our living African American icons, Dr. Maya Angelou, Lerone Bennett, Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Toni Morrison, Rev. Jesse Lewis Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Tavis Smiley; and our late legendary trailblazers including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Dr. Dorothy Heights, Fannie Lou Hamer, Alex Haley, Dr. John Hope Franklin, Barbara Jordan, James Baldwin, Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Langston Hughes.

Additionally, let us encourage our members to learn about the history of our Zion by reading such books as The Soul of the Black Preacher by Bishop Joseph A. Johnson, The History of the CME Church by Bishop Othal H. Lakey, A History of the Women’s Missionary Council of the CME Church by Dr. William C. Larkin, and The History and Heritage of African American Churches by Dr. L.H. Whelchel, Jr.

As we celebrate Black History, it is also important for us to remember and share the 141-year history of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Since 1870, the CME Church has led the way in a three-fold ministry of Salvation, Education, and Liberation, and shared the good news around the world that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Let us also remember that nearly all of our historic Black colleges and universities were founded by the Black church and have helped us to educate millions of African Americans over the past 100 years. This month we celebrate the story of how the CME Church developed educational institutions after slavery, and still maintains four fully accredited colleges: Lane (Jackson, TN); Miles (Birmingham, AL), Paine (Augusta, GA), and Texas (Tyler, TX), and one seminary, Phillips School of Theology, which is an affiliate member of the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA).

During this month, we must not only celebrate Black History, we must make it by registering and mobilizing at least three individuals to vote in all upcoming elections. In light of the current Tea Party-led attempts to throwback Civil and Voting Rights with the effort to require photo-ID Cards for every voter, we must educate our congregations and communities about having Drivers Licenses and/or State IDs that represent our current addresses and vital information. Additionally we encourage our members to renew their memberships in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Rainbow PUSH, National Action Network (NAN), Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the National Urban League (NUL), the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and other affiliate organizations.

We join with Dr. Marian Wright Edelman and the Children’s Defense Fund’s mission to ensure that every child has a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. We encourage local churches to establish One Church One School and Freedom School partnerships to nurture strengthen and fortify our children for our global society.

During Black History Month, let us take this opportunity to recognize President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States, and Michelle Obama, our First Lady! We are grateful for the leadership of President Obama. His journey, values, and Christian beliefs are quite amazing, and should inspire our young people to fulfill their dreams and destiny.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. and its College of Bishops, is a 141-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 1.2 million members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica and fourteen African nations. For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .

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Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., CEO

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.

Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.,

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.

Bishop Kenneth W. Carter

Bishop James B. Walker

Bishop W. Edward Lockett (Deceased)

Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr.

Bishop Teresa Snorton

Bishop Godwin T. Umoette

Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham

Bishop William H. Graves, Retired

Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Retired

Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, Retired

Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr., Retired

Bishop Marshall Gilmore, Retired

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey, (Deceased)