The covert nature of racism in our world today, including in our churches and parishes can seem to make an insurmountable hill for people of color. So in the midst of all this, how do we celebrate or plan to celebrate this special month that means so much to those who know/remember? And how do we continue to teach the new generation and remind the rest of us?
Well, “we who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes” to all. The strong, heightened spirituality of black folks has always been their strength. In the days of slavery, black people were killed with no consequence both in this country and in African nations from where they were stolen. They were hung from trees and families discovered their loved ones in that form. Somehow, the families left behind reached back into their wealth of spiritual strength and moved forward.
It is this spirituality that black folks bring to the table, their gift to give to God in His people, which must be included to make the Church whole.
Celebration of life is important to black people so they celebrate life whenever opportunity avails itself. It is in this celebration that we teach the up-coming generation about the past, in the stories told by the elders, grandparents or relatives who know the stories. Today most of those stories are written down. One such noteworthy book is “The History of Black Catholics in the United States” by Father Cyprian Davis, a Benedictine monk. Fr. Davis’s book was the first of its kind and has received numerous accolades by scholars across the board.
Meanwhile the Church must speak out loudly against these sins. The Church has come a long way and today speaks credibly against racism and dehumanization against all peoples, especially against African Americans. In the history of the Catholic Church be it in the north, south, east or west, free black people have always been in the Church, both in her founding and growth.
Unfortunately, many black families from the new generations have refused to come back to the church of their grandparents and parents. Some see the Church as inauthentic, racist, prejudice and not speaking out for their families when they should have, treating them as second class parishioners. So as our Church continues to reflect on matters of race, we must speak out, teach and help our parishioners understand those behaviors and attitudes that perpetuate racism, which we know is a sin.
David Okonkwo is the Director of the Ministry to Catholics of African Descent in the Diocese of San Bernardino.