by James Melson | Apr 4, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
Fifty seven years ago this week on April 4, 1967 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the landmark speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” at Riverside Church in New York City. Although it is not nearly as well known as “I Have a Dream” or “I’ve Been to the...
by James Melson | Mar 28, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
During this Holy Week, Christians in this country and around the world commemorate the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus 2000 years ago. This provides an opportunity to reflect on what this means for our world and our lives today. Jesus was executed by the...
by James Melson | Mar 21, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
100 years ago this week, Virginia passed an infamous piece of legislation called “The Racial Integrity Act.” It required all babies born in the state to have their race recorded as either “white” or “non-white.” All those classified as non-white were referred to as...
by James Melson | Mar 14, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the contributions of women who engaged in the struggle for freedom and justice for all people. For Black women, the struggle was not only against entrenched political and social patriarchy but also against entrenched white...
by James Melson | Mar 7, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
As we enter the month of March, it is easy for most people to relegate Black history to the back of our minds and priorities until Black History Month comes around again next February. Yet we are living through momentous times that call for a deeper understanding of...
by James Melson | Feb 29, 2024 | 2024, Weekly Reflection
Today is Leap Day, and February has 29 days as it does every four years. So Black History Month is extended by one day. This is a good time to emphasize that Black history is American history and needs to be a focus not only in February but throughout the year. In...
