Black History Month Celebrates 100 Years

The bust of George Washington Carver stands majestically on the land where he lived and farmed in Southwest Missouri.  

What I remember from my faith tradition growing up was that historically, Baptists emphasized the first amendment freedom of religious liberty and underscored its corollary, separation of church and state. The historic Baptist Joint Commission, founded in 1934,  advocates for religious freedom,  and “is the only national faith-based group solely focused on protecting religious freedom for all, filing briefs in pivotal Supreme Court cases, advocating for and against legislation, testifying in Congress, and uniting with others across faiths to ensure that every American has, and always will have, the right to follow spiritual beliefs.”  See, https://@bjconline.com 

On July 14, 1943 FDR signed into federal law the establishment of the George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Missouri, the first national monument dedicated to a Black American.  

While as a child and teen I understood this separation as having to do more with the state not wielding too strong an influence on the church. What I later came to grasp was the equally if not greater concern of the church having too much influence on the state. Keeping the proper tension between the two is ever important and, perhaps now more than ever, necessary to keep the experiment of Democracy alive.  

I suppose it was this divide between the church and government that is so deeply embedded within me that caused my surprise when I first learned about the importance of teaching Black history in the Black church, not only during February, the designated Black History Month, but all the other months as well.   

While working with the interfaith clergy group in our Tallahassee community and through my sacred work in hospice with Black patients and families, I soon learned the significance of Black History Month to those whose history had been either neglected or told in ways that did not reflect the truth.

Grasping that our faith involves not only the spiritual, but also the deeply human aspects of who we are, wise Black ministers have made it a point for decades to educate their members to appreciate who they are, the remarkable resilience and grace they have shown, the impact they have had upon the building and beauty of our nation, and their importance to the future of our nation.  

This teaching of true Black history by the Black church is important not only because it has been denied in the public school system, but also because it is so deeply spiritual to us all to understand ourselves, where we have come from, and what we are called to do as a citizen in this world.  

Parker Palmer's 2011 book encourages us to not abdicate our role in revitalizing our politics in ways that achieve the good of all people.

I recall Quaker Parker Palmer’s exceptional book, “Healing the Heart of Democracy,” written in 2011 about finding the courage to create a politics worthy of the human spirit. Palmer challenges the concept of separation of church and state as being misunderstood to mean not involving ourselves in politics. He encourages that Jesus himself was political without being partisan, and we cannot abdicate our role in shaping our political structure without causing harm. The important immersion of ourselves as citizens of every color to learn about Black history and the contributions of Blacks to the wellbeing of our nation despite the enormous difficulties they have had and continue to face, is both critical and inspirational.  

February is Black History Month and, as the shortest month of the year, it is important not to neglect its emphasis for a single day.

This year the celebration is a century old, honoring 400 years of Black (African American) culture, highlighting how much of the nation’s growth and the advancement of human civilization stemmed from the contributions of Black men and women.

Founded by Harvard graduate, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History, Black History Month is an opportunity for all of us to be intentional about learning the truth and scope of the history of our nation. As the son of a slave, Woodson understood that denying people  their history denies them  their humanity. In addition to preserving Black history, Woodson wanted to transform how Black folks viewed themselves and how the world viewed them. 

During these extremely cold days before us, perhaps you will have surplus time to stay indoors and read or research about Black history, which is our nation’s history, and to recognize the generations who fought for inclusion in the historical record, even when the nation resisted acknowledging their humanity.

• Parents and/or grandparents might encourage Florida students in grades K-3 to participate in an art contest, and those in grades 4-12 an essay contest, to celebrate the contributions of Blacks to Florida’s rich history and culture. https://www.floridablackhistory.com/ has details of the contest, including the due date of February 9, 2026 by 5:00 PM.   

• Other important interactive online opportunities or events can be found on the Association for the Study of American Life and History website, https://asalh.org/black-history-month/about/  including recommendations to read Black authors and poets, to support Black-owned businesses, to watch films and documentaries by Black filmmakers, and to study a Black leader of interest to you. The website mentions significant events like the United States Postal Service honoring Phillis Wheatley, the first published Black American poet, with its 49th Black Heritage stamp, introduced on January 29, 2026. The Association also has information on a number of live digital events, including an opening ceremony for Black History Month at 6:00 PM (EST) on February 1.   

• Locally, The Grove Museum, 902 N. Monroe Street, is offering a free, open to the public, Black History Month Tour on February 20, first at 10:30 am and again at 2:30 pm. Executive Director and historian, John Grandage, will offer the guided tour focusing on the contributions of Black Americans in Tallahassee, Florida, and United States history, through the lens of The Grove Museum, which is oriented around civil rights. This particular perspective is made possible by the work of Black Tallahassee institutions like John G. Riley House Museum, created by Althemese Barnes; and the Southeastern Regional Black Archives, built from FAMU Professor James Eaton’s collection. Guests should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand or walk, indoors and outdoors, for the majority of each 90-minute program. See https://thegrovemuseum.com/ for more information and to register.  

Tanya Mosely

The Black leader I hope to learn more about during Black History month is Tanya Mosley. I have been so impressed by her sensitivity in interviewing guests on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” and moved by her hope to tell the authentic stories of people, Black or otherwise. I share her sense that if we could only listen and get to know one another better, we would be able to love one another more. 

As we enter Black History Month 2026, where we hope to learn more about the stories of our neighbors in religious settings and elsewhere, loving one another more is my prayer for us all.  

Rev. Candace McKibben 

January 29, 2026