Taking a Deeper Breath

Another Black History Month has come to a close. Perhaps it brought new knowledge to you, too. Recently I shared the stories of Frazier Baker, George Dinning, and Claudette Colvin, three Black heroes who were unknown to me before this month. I am grateful for the heightened exposure that Black History Month brings. And yet. So much more Black history was -- and still is --  outside my awareness. We did not have Black History Month when I was growing up. I remember when President Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month in 1976. But that was hardly the start. The story of Black History Month begins over 100 years ago, with  Dr. Carter G. Woodson,   a man now known as the "Father of Black history." 

It was 123 years ago today that  Frazier Baker,  a 40-year-old schoolteacher and postmaster of Lake City, South Carolina, and the youngest of his six children were lynched. The alleged crime? Doing his federal job. In 1897, Baker had become the first African-American to serve as postmaster of the Lake City Post Office. And for refusing to give up that post, he and his entire family were attacked in their home. Baker was one of hundreds of Blacks appointed to postmasterships across the South by the new McKinley administration after the election of 1896. The local White community tried to force Baker from his position. When that failed, a mob came at night to set fire to his family's home, which also served as the local post office. Baker and his wife were at home with their children. When the mob started firing at the trapped family, little Julia, just two, was shot and killed. Trying to save his family from the flames, Baker opened the front door to lead them out. He was immediatel

Like so many privileged people, I hoped for a time that life would return to some semblance of "normal" after the 2020 election and after the pandemic fades. As time went by, I began to hope as well for the "new normal" that pundits told us to expect. Months of sheltering in place and socially distanced connections had left me both longing to hug my loved ones and ready to let go of the busy lifestyle I'd had before COVID. I hoped that we could bring to our world the benefits of slowing down and traveling less that had allowed the air to clear and the oceans to quiet (see  April 22, 2020 post ).  I do still hope for that. But thanks to  Reverend Phiwa Langeni,   Ambassador for Innovation & Engagement of the United Church of Christ and founder of Salus Center , the only LGBTQ resource and community center in Lansing, Michigan, I no longer hope for a return to what I took as "normal"; my sense of that has  shifted. I have been challenged by Reverend