by Rudy Logan | Jun 29, 2023
Juneteenth conmemora la liberación de afroamericanos de la esclavitud el 19 de junio de 1865 en la Bahía Galveston, en Texas. A pesar de que la Proclamación de Independencia había ocurrido dos años antes, no todos los afroamericanos esclavos habían sido liberados en territorio de la Confederación. Se necesitó alrededor de 2000 soldados de la Unión para marchar hacia la Bahía de Galveston, en Texas y anunciar que todas las personas esclavizadas en Texas eran liberadas de la esclavitud por decreto ejecutivo. A partir de ese momento, las pesonas que habían sido esclavizadas comenzaron a recordar ese día como Juneteenth. La historia de Juneteenth nos invita a considerar cómo la libertad es una lucha constante y una práctica de compartir las “buenas nuevas”.
El domingo 18 de junio, el Ministerio de Justicia Racial en Silver Spring, “Wade in the Water”, realizó un forum sobre el Juneteenth con propósito educativo. Los presentadores fueron Gabby Whitehurst, del Comité Diocesano de Reparaciones, y Keith Allen, quien creció en la Bahía Galveston, Texas, celebrando el Juneeteenth.
Keith compartió la historia de Harrison Barrett (1845-1917), quien nació como esclavo y recibió la noticia de su libertad en junio de 1865 en Texas. Después de su emancipación, él buscó a los miembros de su familia y encontró a todos excepto a su hermana. En 1889, Barrett compró la parcela de tierra más grande que una persona esclavizada tuvo en el condado Harris, en Texas. En 1947 se construyó una escuela en ese lugar y fue nombrada en su honor. Puedes saber más sobre la historia de Harrison Barrett aquí.
Gabby Whitehurst hizo una presentación sobre Juneteenth y le pidió a la audiencia que reflexionara sobre el feriado y su papel en este momento de cambios. Whitehurst evocó el blues, la memoria y el alma para ayudar a los miembros de la Iglesia Grace a procesar la historia de manera constructiva. Whitehurst compartió una cita del estudioso literario afroamericano Ralph Ellison, relacionada con nuestra historia desafiante y compleja en los Estados Unidos. La cita dice: “El blues es un impulso para mantener vivos los detalles y episodios dolorosos de una experiencia brutal en nuestra conciencia adolorida, para apuntar a su engranaje y trascenderlo, no a través de una filosofía de la consolación, sino sacando de él su lirismo tragicómico.
Después del forum, la Iglesia Grace tuvo su servicio de adoración usando un himnario y con la participación de un coro afromaricano. El Misionero para la Equidad y la Justicia, Rudy Logan, predicó sobre Mateo 9:35-10:8 en el contexto del Juneteenth. Rudy compartió que el Juneteenth nos invita a un recordatorio contante, al amor anónimo, a vivir abiertamente nuestro discipulado y mostrarle a todos lo que se ha cosechado. Al concluir el servicio, la Iglesia Grace, de Silver Spring compartió con San Mateo, en Hyattsville una distribución de comida.
Church of the Epiphany, en DC, también tuvo una celebración de Juneteenth a través de la presentación del saxofonista Irvin Peterson y el organista David Houston, quienes tocaron música de Leo Sowerby, Paule Maurice, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Dorsey, entre otros. Pueden encotnrar un video de la presentación de Irvin Peterson y David Houston en la Iglesia Epiphany al final de este escrito, en la sección de recursos. La celebración también incluye la presentación del bailarín litúrgico P.J. Green-Young a partir de “Sounds of Blackness: Sunup to Sundown” (“Sonidos de la Negritud: del amanecer al atardecer”) y “The Drum” (“El Tambor”). Los poetas C. Etta Powersand y Angie Whitehurst leyeron sus creaciones tituladas respectivamente “1863” y “Juneteenth.”
Las parroquias en la Diócesis Episcopal de Washington nos recuerdan que Juneteenth no es solo un momento para celebrar, sino también es un proceso continuo de memoria y viaje por las realidades de la libertad. Pedimos a Dios que podamos honrar en nuestro trabajo de justicia y en todos nuestros ministerios a aquellos a quienes se les negó la libertad y la justicia. Contacta al Misionero para la Equidad y la Justicia, Rudy Logan si estás interesado en compartir sobre la celebración de Juneteenth en tu parroquia, o si estás interesado en celebrar el Juneteenth en el futuro.
Contacto: Rudy Logan, Missioner for Equity and Justice
by Rudy Logan | Jun 29, 2023
Juneteenth commemorates the liberation of African Americans from enslavement on June 19, 1865 in Galveston Bay, Texas. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation taking effect two years prior, not all enslaved African Americans in Confederate territory were freed. It required around 2,000 Union soldiers to march into Galveston Bay, Texas and announce that all enslaved persons in Texas were to be freed from enslavement by executive decree. Subsequently, the formerly enslaved people memorialized the day as Juneteenth. The story of Juneteenth invites us to consider how freedom is a constant struggle and practice of sharing the “good news.”
On Sunday, June 18, Grace, Silver Spring’s Racial Justice Ministry–Wade in the Water–conducted an educational forum on Juneteenth. Speakers were Gabby Whitehurst of the Diocesan Committee on Reparations, and Keith Allen, who grew up in Galveston Bay, Texas, celebrating Juneeteenth.
Keith shared the story of Harrison Barrett (1845-1917), who was born enslaved and received the news of his freedom in June 1865 in Texas. Following his emancipation, he searched for his family members and discovered all except for his sister. In 1889, Barrett purchased the largest settlement of land to be acquired by a formerly enslaved person in Harris County, Texas. In 1947, a school was built on the settlement and named in his honor. You can learn more about Harrison Barrett’s story here.
Gabby Whitehurst presented on Juneteenth and prompted audience members to reflect on the holiday in light of the changing times. Whitehurst evoked the blues, memory, and soul to help members of Grace process history constructively. Whitehurst shared a quote from African American literary scholar Ralph Ellison, in consideration of our challenging and complex history in the U.S. that reads, “The blues is an impulse to keep the painful details and episodes of a brutal experience alive in one’s aching consciousness, to finger its jagged grain, and to transcend it, not by the consolations of philosophy but by squeezing from it a near-tragic, near-comic lyricism.”
Following the forum, Grace conducted their worship service using the African American hymnal and following the lead of an African American choir. Missioner for Equity and Justice, Rudy Logan, preached over Matthew 9:35-10:8 in the context of Juneteenth. Rudy shared that Juneteenth invites us into constant remembrance, anonymous love, and living out our discipleship to bring about a harvest for all to experience. Following the service, Grace, Silver Spring partnered with St. Matteo, Hyattsville, to facilitate a food distribution.
The Church of the Epiphany, DC also held a Juneteenth celebration, hosting saxophonist Irvin Peterson and organist David Houston, who performed music of Leo Sowerby, Paule Maurice, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Dorsey, among others. You can find the video of Irvin Peterson and David Houston’s performance at Epiphany below in the resources section. The celebration also included performances by liturgical dancer P.J. Green-Young, drawing on “Sounds of Blackness: Sunup to Sundown” and “The Drum”, and poets C. Etta Powersand Angie Whitehurst, who performed their respective works titled, “1863” and “Juneteenth.”
Parishes across the Episcopal Diocese of Washington remind us that Juneteenth isn’t just a moment of celebration but an ongoing process of remembering and journeying for the realities of freedom. May we honor those denied freedom and delayed justice in our justice work and all ministries. Contact Missioner for Equity and Justice, Rudy Logan if you are interested in sharing about your parish’s Juneeteenth celebration, or have interest in holding Juneteenth celebrations going forward.
Contact: Rudy Logan, Missioner for Equity and Justice
by Allen Fitzpatrick | Mar 29, 2023
How can we align the daily act every one of us does – eating food – with our core faith-based values of social justice, animal welfare, environmental protection, and health? Theologians and food activists will explore this challenge in a special Earth Day program at St. Alban’s Church.
Keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, whose book The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, and Food Justice merges a history of Black American foodways with a Christian ethical response to food injustice.
Other speakers will include:
- The Rev. Melanie Mullen (Director of Reconciliation, Justice, and Creation Care for The Episcopal Church);
- Aysha Akhtar, M.D. (neurologist, animal welfare activist, author);
- St. Alban’s parishioner Mary Beth Albright (journalist, author, food expert);
- Chef Todd Gray & Ellen Kassoff Gray (co-founders, Equinox Restaurant);
- Pamela Hess (Executive Dir., Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture);
- Danielle Nierenberg (President, Food Tank); Sara Polon (co-Founder & CEO, Soupergirl); and
- The Rev. Derrick Weston (Creation Justice Ministries).
Attendance is free of charge but registration is required in order to receive lunch. Register here
Nursery care and children’s programs will be available. The program will also be live-streamed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, EMAIL MERY MONTENEGRO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH OR CALL 202-363-8286.
by Allen Fitzpatrick | Feb 21, 2023
Daryl Davis will join us at Transfiguration Church to share his experiences of dismantling racism and to offer a powerful call to action.
Daryl is an international recording artist, who has performed with the greatest artists in the music industry. He is also a lecturer, author, and race reconciler who has confronted racism at the most personal level for decades.
Daryl’s impassioned presentations feature stories of dramatic encounters and amusing anecdotes. They empower the audience to confront their own prejudices and overcome their fears.
We hope you will join us for this special event! Daryl Davis is truly a prophetic voice, for such a time as this.
by Emily Snowden | Jan 5, 2023
Tell Me the Truth About Racism is a story that frames racism through the lens of Christian faith for children aged 5-12. Leaders Will Bouvel and Jen Holt Enriquez, first built the foundation of this work in Lent 2021 to teach to children at churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Soon thereafter they began training other Christian formation leaders to do this work in their own churches.
Tell Me the Truth About Racism is respected throughout the church and received a Becoming the Beloved Community grant from the Episcopal Church. The entire training is 7 sessions. This 2-hour workshop, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington is an opportunity to learn more about the training and to discern if it is a good fit for your community.
The workshop takes place at Diocesan Church House on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to all. Registration is required. You can register on the learning hub here or at learn.edow.org.