Black History Month: Honoring Black Religious Leaders, Then and Now

 

Black History Month is a time to honor the voices that have shaped our nation’s soul. Among the most powerful of these voices are Black religious leaders—those who preached liberation from pulpits, marched for justice in the streets, and carried the spiritual weight of a people determined to be free.

Then: Prophets of Liberation

From the earliest days of resistance, Black faith leaders have been central to the fight for dignity and equality.

• Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, created a spiritual home where Black worshippers could gather free from white control.
• Sojourner Truth, both preacher and abolitionist, fused faith and feminism in her call for justice.
• Howard Thurman offered a theology of radical love that would later inspire the Civil Rights Movement.
• Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the intersection of scripture and strategy, turning sermons into social change.

These leaders didn’t just speak to congregations—they spoke to the conscience of a nation.

Now: Shepherds of Justice and Healing

Today’s Black religious leaders continue that legacy, navigating new challenges while remaining rooted in spiritual truth.

• Rev. William Barber II leads the Poor People’s Campaign, echoing King’s call for economic justice and moral revival.
• Rev. Traci Blackmon blends pastoral care with prophetic activism, advocating for racial equity and community healing.
• Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid brings Black Muslim voices into interfaith dialogue and social justice work.
• Bishop Vashti McKenzie, the first woman bishop in the AME Church, expands the vision of leadership and inclusion.

These modern prophets remind us that faith is not passive—it is a force for transformation.

Why This Matters

Black religious leadership is not just about theology. It’s about survival, resistance, and renewal. It’s about creating sacred spaces where Black lives are affirmed and where the divine is understood as a liberator, not a bystander.

Their sermons are not just words. They are roadmaps.
Their prayers are not just petitions. They are power.

An Invitation

This month, listen to a sermon by a Black faith leader. Read their writings. Reflect on how spirituality has fueled movements for justice. Let their voices—then and now—remind us that liberation is a holy calling.

a post inspired by Cyntia MacGregor (Everybody's Little Book of Everyday Prayers)

Book description:

People are often at a loss to find the right words to say in prayer. Whether you're a believer but unchurched or are a devout member of a religion, if you wish to expand your home worship, finding the right words to say to God can be a problematic issue. The prayers in Everybody's Little Book of Everyday Prayers are nonsectarian-suited for Protestants, Jews, and Catholics, as well as unaffiliated deists who believe in God but not in organized religion. They cover a raft of occasions on which individuals or families may wish to say a prayer. If prayer is an integral part of your life, or you would like it to be, you'll find the help you want in Everybody's Little Book of Everyday Prayers.

For more posts about Cyn and her book, click HERE.

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