Black History Month is a time to intentionally reflect on the diversity of lived Black experiences, past and present. Blackness cannot be understood in the telling of one story, and in her TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie cautions us to remember that, “If you show a people as one thing, over and over again, that is what they become.”
Identity is rooted in lived experience – our lives and cultures are composed of many overlapping or sometimes contradictory stories. Hearing narratives about the diverse ways people navigate their lives, allows us to broaden our perspectives and worlds. Chimamanda reminds us that, “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories can be used to break the dignity of a people, but stories can also be used to repair that broken dignity.”
This month, we encourage you to watch, listen, and read about the complexities and beautiful intersections of Black identity that may not always make their way through our screens, podcasts, or books. What does it feel like to be Black and religious, spiritual or faithful in America today?
LISTEN
- CEO Rev. Mark Fowler featured on Yass, Jesus! Podcast CEO Rev. Mark Fowler discusses Tanenbaum’s work in helping institutions and individuals explore our differences with respect and civility.
- Black Muslim Life in America: A Multi-Generational Conversation with Okolo Rashid and Aseelah Rashid A conversation exploring the history and contributions of Black Muslims in American history, and the changing landscape of Black Muslim American life.
WATCH
- Black & Buddhist Summit: A free online event discussing what Buddhism can teach us about race, resilience, transformation, and spiritual freedom with over 20 leading African-descended Buddhist teachers.
- Viceland – Oyotunju African Village: A Conversation examining the history and present-day experiences of antisemitism through religious and ideological world views from Tanenbaum’s founder, Dr. Georgette Bennett, expert in Catholic-Jewish relations, Judith Banki, author of “Behind Islamophobia is a Global Movement of Antisemites,” Dr. Nafeez Ahmed, and former white supremacist leader turned human-rights activist, TM Garret.
READ
- African American Baha’is During Abdu’l– Baha’s Lifetime A publication discussing famous African American Baha’is.
- Op-Ed: How I Learned to Embrace my Black and Jewish Heritage A reflection on growing up Black and Jewish and learning to embrace both identities along the way.
ACT
- CBH Talk | Partners in the Struggle: Brooklyn NAACP and the Black Church A two-part series about the role of Brooklyn’s Black churches in the fight for social justice, presented in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Brooklyn Chapter of the NAACP.
- The Body, (Dis)Ability, and Wellness in Africana Religions A conference centering the body and examining how African and Diasporic religions conceive of the body-spirit connection.
If you engage with any of the above resources and would like to share your thoughts, we are listening. Contribute to Tanenbaum’s 3,000 Conversations for Building Respect Series to share your reflections.