Black History Lesson

Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, is considered the “Father of Black History.” Disturbed that history textbooks largely ignored America’s Black population, Woodson took on the challenge of writing Black Americans into the nation’s history.

In 1926, he developed Negro History Week to celebrate the achievements of the Negro and proclaim their contributions to human progress and civilization. In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month.

Read the full CNN article shared on GCORR’s Facebook page.

Make A Commitment 

Participate in one or more of the many Black History Month opportunities available in our area.

Museums

• Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Exhibits
  • Collections
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center
  • Black Wings Exhibit
• Frederick Douglass Historic Site/Cedar Hill
  • Cedar Hill Virtual Tour
• Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
  • Exhibits
  • At-Home Activities
• The Library of Congress
  • Special Black History Month Events

Festivals, Walks, and Other Activities

• Association for the Study of African American Life and History Black History Month Festival – many free virtual offerings
• Walk the African American Heritage Trail virtually or along the Potomac with this guide
• Add a habit with the 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge
• Follow rachel.cargle on Instagram for short daily activities
• Watch something specially curated for Black History Month (this article/list has not been reviewed nor is it promoted by Floris UMC)
  • Netflix (search for “Black History”)
  • Amazon Prime
  • HBO
  • Hulu
  • PBS Black History Month Schedule
  • Google for options on other services

Take a Quiz (or two or three!)

• Freedom Summer
• Jackie Robinson
• Famous African American Quotes

Webinars/Lectures

• In Dialogue: Social Smithsonian Objects and Social Justice—Race and Medicine – February 11, 5-6 p.m.
• Artful Observations – February 13 & 17, 4-5 p.m.
• Historically Speaking: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the African American Community – February 23, 7-8 p.m.
• Making African America: A Symposium on Immigration and the Changing Dynamics of Blackness (6 sessions from March 5 – 20)
• NYU DC Dialogues

Other Ways to Celebrate

• Bone Marrow, Song, and Black Businesses

Social Media Shareables

Actively posting content on your social media profiles is an important part of engaging your family and friends in this conversation. Get Black History Month shareables from Floris UMC’s Facebook page.

Dismantling Racism Zoom Forum (Virginia Conference UMM)

Reserve Tuesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. to be a part of this very important UMC event. A panel of five UMC pastors from across Virginia will discuss how we might be moved toward racial justice through:

• Promoting dialog on race
• Becoming allies for change
• Recognizing that as lifelong learners, we may be of much greater help when we actively listen to victims’ stories of hate and exclusion

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89824607164
Meeting ID: 898 2460 7164

Criminalizing Mental Illness

Join with our friends in VOICE (Virginians Organizing for Interfaith Community Engagement) to learn and raise our voice for those who can’t.

February 15, 7-8:30 p.m.

VOICE will begin to explore the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system, including learning about the pioneering work being done in this arena by VOICE’s sister IAF organizations around the country. This research action will feature a presentation by Donna Weinberger, Criminal Justice Project Coordinator with Greater Cleveland Congregations. We encourage you to join and invite others who may be interested.

Share this newsletter with family, friends and neighbors. We invite all to join in this work for racial reconciliation. Our vision is to transform ourselves, our church and our community through education, advocacy and action.

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