First, let me tell you what this message is not going to be be.
It’s not going to be another one of the “woke” lectures you’ve been seeing on social media.
It’s not going to be an apology for critical race theory or a dive into the “-isms” that are used to manipulate political and social discourse.
And it’s not going to be an attempt to seize a moral high ground based on race.
But we are going to talk about morality.
Specifically, about why Black History Month should be about the role that African American leaders played as the moral conscience of our country – a morality based on Biblical teaching and Christian principle.
Christianity was at the heart of the civil rights movement and the abolitionist cause. The Christian belief in our fundamental equality before God underlies the entirety of the African American experience.
Moreover, it is a legacy that belongs to all of us, regardless of race. Black History Month is not meant to be a recital of racial grievances. It is a reminder of how a group of fearless Christian leaders changed our country and put us on a more righteous path.
This is why it is so disturbing to see that legacy stolen by those who don’t understand it. In our book, A Dream Derailed, we look at how the Left hijacked the civil rights movement and betrayed the dream of greater freedom and independence for African Americans.
We should celebrate Black History Month. We should teach it, learn about it, and use it as an example of how great our nation can be. But only if we recognize that it is not a point of racial division or a diversity checkbox. It is a unifying principle that belongs to all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or skin color.
Remember Jesus’ response when asked about the most important commandment. First, He told us that we are to love God with all of our being. Then He added:
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
Let us strive to show our love for God and our neighbor.
Happy Black History Month!
