Churches from Across the Diocese of North Carolina Share Events to Mark and Celebrate Black History Month

Churches from across the Diocese of North Carolina are sharing opportunities to mark and celebrate Black History Month. These events are happening in the churches and surrounding local communities. If you have events to add, please send them to [email protected].

ONLINE

Ongoing throughout February: The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History has announced its annual Black History Month theme of “African Americans and the Arts.” Events will be broadcast on ASALH’s You Tube Channel. (Thanks to St. Titus', Durham, for sharing.)

Feb. 6 - Diocesan-wide book study, "Wilmington's Lie." The eight-week study begins February 6 and meets Tuesdays from 12-1:15 p.m. via Zoom. Register.

Feb. 6 - The Wake County Public Library is hosting a talk with "Wilmington's Lie" author David Zucchino February 6 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more and register.

CHARLOTTE

Feb. 17 - The Palmetto Voices Spiritual Ensemble, 7 p.m., Holy Comforter, Charlotte. Based in South Carolina, this ensemble is directed by Sonja Sepulveda and is comprised of auditioned singers from a six-state region who have sung together at Carnegie Hall and in Italy, Austria, Greece, and England. This promises to be an inspiring musical event to celebrate Black History Month. For more information, contact Patrick Pope in the church office. (Thanks to Holy Comforter, Charlotte, for sharing.)

DURHAM

Sundays at the 10:30 a.m. service, St. Titus', Durham

• Feb. 4: Dedication of a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a gift from Marjorie Freeman in celebration of the life and legacy of her husband, the Rev. Monroe Freeman, Jr. Our guest speaker is Dr. Anthony Smith, a psychologist at the Alase Center for Enrichment in Durham, specializing in spirituality and the value of uniqueness.
• Feb. 11: Our guest speaker will be Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, former teacher, school administrator, small business owner, Durham City Council member, and NCCU graduate (B.A. and M.A.).
• Feb. 18: Our guest speaker will be the Honorable Judge Shamieka Rhinehart, Superior Court Judge in the 14^th Judicial District. She served in Durham as an Assistant District Attorney and District Court Judge before her appointment to the NC Superior Court, where she currently presides over felony and civil cases across the state.
• Feb. 25: Our guest speaker will be Ian Brown, Vice-President and Chief Diversity and Belonging Officer at Duke University. He leads the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy. He has an undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College, and holds two master’s degrees.

Feb. 1 - Screening of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s new PBS series, Gospel, 7 p.m., Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., Durham. The screening will be followed by a musical performance and a panel discussion. This is a free event, but registration is required. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Please see the recent St. Titus’ eNews for the registration link, or email [email protected]. (Thanks to St. Titus', Durham, for sharing.)

Feb. 3 - 21^st Annual NC MLK Black History Month Parade, 12 p.m. The parade will start at 12 p.m. at W.G. Pearson Elementary School, 3501 Fayetteville St., and ends at NCCU. (Thanks to St. Titus', Durham, for sharing.)

Feb. 11 - Family Day: Black History Month, 1-3 p.m., Nasher Museum of History at Duke University. Admission is free. (Thanks to St. Titus', Durham, for sharing.)

Feb. 16 - Events with Cole Arthur Riley, "Dignity, Justice and Joy: Holding on to Our Humanity in Challenging Times": The Racial Justice and Reconcilation Committee (RJRC) of the Diocese of North Carolina is co-sponsoring two upcoming events with Cole Arthur Riley, creator and writer of Black Liturgies, a project that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature and the Black body. She is also the author of This Here Flesh and the newly published book Black Liturgies. Both events will be held on Friday, Feb. 16th and are open to the public at no cost. The first takes place at 2 p.m. at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The evening event is at 7 p.m. at Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church.

Feb. 17 - Celebrate Black History Month with the NC Jazz Ensemble featuring vocalist Denise Barnes, 7-9 p.m., Cary Arts Center. Featuring vocalist Denise Barnes. Purchase tickets. (Thanks to St. Titus', Durham, for sharing.)

RALEIGH

Sundays following 10:15 a.m. service, St. Ambrose, Raleigh

• Feb. 4 - St. Ambrose Black History Makers, "Who Am I?"
• Feb. 11 - Honoring Our Ancestors: Plant Grief/Memorial Pot (sign-up required)
• Feb. 18 - HBCU/Divine 9 Sunday (Wear your paraphenalia; there will be a guest speaker and display)
• Feb. 25 - Unity Feast/Cultural Dress (contact the church to sign up for refreshment contribution)

Feb. 10 - Annual Celebration of Blessed Absalom Jones, 10 a.m., Saint Augustine's University. Join this annual diocesan event; worship begins at 10 a.m., and the preacher this year will be the Rev. Ronald Byrd, missioner for African descent ministries for The Episcopal Church. At the luncheon that follows, we will unveil the completed "Telling Our Stories" video. Register.

Feb. 24-25 - Historic Raleigh Trolley tour, 1 and 2:30 p.m., Mordecai Historic Park. Join the Historic Raleigh Trolley for this special edition of our popular Black history tour highlighting Oberlin Village. Tours will begin at Mordecai Historic Park and travel to Oberlin, where passengers will disembark for a tour of the Historic Turner House and Oberlin Cemetery and learn about the neighborhood’s history of community and freedom. Registration is $12 and can be purchased online using RecLink. (Thanks to St. Ambrose, Raleigh, for sharing.)

SALISBURY

Feb. 6 - "Where Are We Now?", 6:30-8 p.m., Aymer Center at Hood Seminary (1810 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144). An evening of conversation and contemplation of next steps with presenter Dee Dee Wright. Presented by Racial Equity Rowan; free and open to the public. (Thanks to St. Luke's, Salisbury, for sharing.)

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO MARK AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Take a moment to learn about historical moments and figures: Each day, the diocese will share on social media historical moments, churches and figures on our social media channels. You can follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Explore the resources available on the new diocesan reparations and restitutions ministry webpage.

Learn about systemic racism through Racial Equity Institute (REI)'s foundational workshop. Subsidies are available throught the diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee; upcoming dates:

Current two-day workshop opportunities include (9am-5pm each day):

• Feb. 1-2, 2024 (Thurs/Fri) - In person in Durham (Seats still available)
• Mar. 14-15, 2024 (Thurs/Fri) - In person in Durham
• Apr. 8-9, 2024 (Mon/Tues) - Virtual via Zoom
• May 6-7, 2024 (Mon/Tues) - In person in Durham

To request funding, please contact Cathy Rimer-Surles and Lew Myers, RJRC co-chairs at: [email protected].