This month, The Journey is announcing that we will be coming under the wisdom and knowledge of the organization Be the Bridge as we continue our anti-racism journey as a church body. You can learn more about Be the Bridge by clicking on the logo below.

For more readings by George, click the links below:

Your National Anthem - by Clint Smith

Let America be America Again - by  Langston Hughes

The following content has been taken from the Be the Bridge Blog. To see the original blog post on their website CLICK HERE

In the wake of the widespread reckoning of racial injustice and inequity in the U.S. this past year, many have realized that the history we’ve always been taught during Black History Month is far from the full picture. Instead, what most school curriculums offer are the sanitized versions of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement from a white-centered perspective.

With this awakening comes the realization that there is a lot to learn and unlearn about race and racism in America. As you continue to do the work of piecing together a more complete and accurate understanding of Black history, Be the Bridge is here to equip you with the educational content, resources and community to guide you on your anti-racist bridge-building journey. 

From the transatlantic slave trade and Civil War to Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement, we’ve compiled a collection of resources to help fill in the gaps in our history textbooks and encourage you to reflect on the real history of Black History Month. 

AFRICAN HISTORY

What was Africa really like before the transatlantic slave trade began?

• Africa Before Transatlantic Enslavement

ANTEBELLUM

What was life in America like before the Civil War? What are the unheard stories and narratives about that time period? How do we combat false tropes about happy slaves or loving slave masters?

• 5 Myths About Slavery
• Slaves In Pittsburgh
• Uncivil History Podcast
• “I Freed Myself”

RECONSTRUCTION, THE GREAT MIGRATION, AND JIM CROW

• Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
• The Hairstons Part 1: Snakes on a Plantation

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

We know a lot of names of the Civil Rights Movement, but what ones don’t we know? What else was going on during this time? What led to the current movements for civil rights?

• 5 Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
• Unsung Heroes of Civil Rights
• The Unknown Kenneth B. Clark
• Women in the Civil Rights Movement
• 9 Women Civil Rights Leaders to Celebrate this Black History Month
• How Youth Activists Impacted the Civil Rights Movement

FOR EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES

• Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators & Families
• Black History Month: Teaching the Complete History
• Celebrating Black History Month with Young Kids 
• Celebrating Black History Month with Older Kids