Black History Month | February 2025
Black History Month at St. John's Cathedral 2025
Written by Canon Earl Mounger
We've come this far by faith trusting in the Lord.
As we begin our new century here at St. John’s let us not forget how far we have come from the days of the dedication of this building 100 years ago. Some of us, myself included, would not have been invited into the pews of this church perhaps because of our race or sexual orientation. This month as we began to celebrate Black History Month here at St. John’s let us not forget that Blacks who wanted to worship in this is magnificent church were encouraged to attend Saint Philip’s the first historically Black Episcopal church in the dioceses a few blocks away. It was also the largest Black Episcopal Church West of the Mississippi River.
Before I continue let me give a brief history of the origin of Black History Month. Historian Carter G. Woodson was one of the originator of Negro History Week, he believed in the vital importance of protecting and celebrating Black History. The initial focus of the week was on uplifting the teaching of Black American History in U.S. public schools. Woodson wrote in his 1933 book The Mis-Education of the Negro, “If a race has no History, if, It has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
Black educators and students at Kent State University in Portage County, Ohio first proposed the idea of Black History Month in 1969 and first celebrated it in 1970. It was officially recognized by President Ford in 1976. The month of February was chosen to honor the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. It is celebrated in the U.S. and Canada from February 1 to March 1. It is celebrated in the UK and Ireland October 1 to October 31.
Here at St. John’s we believe that in the present political climate where some want to rewrite our history it is important to celebrate the contributions of Blacks in America ,to American History, culture, science, arts and politics. Understanding Black History provides an important context for the ongoing struggles against systemic racism, inequality and injustice. We also, continue Celebrating Black History because it is important for education, recognition, inclusiveness, inspiration and fostering important discussions about equality and justice.
Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History designates a theme for African American History Month.
This year the theme is African Americans and Labor. The following are a few examples of key ways African Americans and Labor intersect:
Slavery and Labor exploitation, The Great Migration, Labor Movements and Unions, and the Civil Rights Movement.
We are grateful that our choir under the direction of Dr. Gravis and accompanied by Dr. Neufeld will continue to highlight hymns and Spiritual throughout the month as they have done during the past year. We also plan to share foods and desserts from Black culture.
Our central focus will be on Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church on February 16. This year we have invited the Dean of Bloy House, and the rector of the Westside’s St. Mary in Palms, The Rev. Paul Anthony Daniels to be our guest preacher.
We will display the “Names Quilt” throughout the month. The quilt is like a community and the threads that bind the quilt are similar to the relationships and experiences that weave the community together. Each square represents an individual person, distinct in its colors, contributing its own unique story to the overall design. Just as the threads connect these squares into a unified quilt, shared experiences and interactions connect individuals, creating a cohesive group. Each patch may vary in color, their diversity enriches the quilt, much like how varied backgrounds and perspectives enhance the liveliness and resilience of the parish community.
Happy Centennial and Black History Month.
