As a faith
based, Christian organization, UMC takes special pride in recognizing both the
historical, and the ongoing achievements of Black Americans. It was only in
1976 that President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized what had already
become Black History Month in many cities and colleges, calling upon the public
to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of
Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
And endeavor
they did. Under extraordinary, unspeakable circumstances. Through the
abomination of slavery, the gross indignity of Jim Crow, and through the legacy
of economic disenfranchisement that centuries of being voiceless has wrought.
Lest we thought
that the journey to civil rights, equality and justice was largely over, in
2020 we witnessed the unjustifiable deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and
too many other Black Americans. We saw the fracturing of the nation along racial
lines exposing bitter resentments that remained deep in the hearts of too many
of our fellow citizens. It reminded us that our journey as a society and a
country is far from over. Our need to celebrate Black Americans, and remember
their contributions to our collective evolution is far from over.
Black History
Month teaches us that despite the historical and ongoing challenges,
extraordinary Black Americans have consistently transcended institutional
racism and rose through every form of oppression to contribute to the American
story. They’ve brought us ideas and inventions, built huge and successful
businesses that employ thousands, and have flown into space.
They are
writers, poets, athletes, and humanitarians. They are political leaders,
philanthropists, firemen, fishermen, and philosophers. In short, they are
an inseparable part of the tapestry of American achievement and their
contributions benefit us all. They are also an indispensable part of the
community of healthcare heroes that we honor at United Methodist Communities
this month, and every month.
UMC Fair and Just Culture
In support of
Black America and in solidarity with those across the country who in 2020
demanded racial justice, UMC has launched Fair & Just Culture. All
of our communities are recommitted to enhancing and evolving a just culture for
all residents and associates. This action values learning, respect, and open
discussion at all times.
Led by our
Mission Team, this ongoing process has started in our communities with active
participation from our associates. The team will facilitate discussions
that encourage participants to share what they have in common as well as their
differences with one another and help us understand the reasons for those
differences. We will consistently encourage each member of the UMC community to
listen to their peers with empathy, and then speak their own truths
respectfully. To learn more about our Fair & Just
Culture taking place across each community, please visit our website
for President & CEO, Lawrence D. Carlson’s full statement.
Celebrate Black History Month With UMC in 2021
Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., famously said, “…the moral arc of the universe bends toward
justice.” Here at UMC, we ask all our residents, employees, and friends to
celebrate Black History Month by keeping that sense of justice, that fairness,
that kindness that is so American, close to the heart this month, and every
month. The bible says, “The Lord has shown us what is good and what is required
of us: ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.'”
(Micah 6:8)
Original content
posted on https://umcommunities.org/around-the-communities/united-methodist-communities-celebrates-black-history-month/
