black Archives

Understanding Black protest

Posted May 6th, 2022

A new book chronicles how Black resistance and protest in the U.S. has led to growing awareness that human rights are due to all people.

Race, faith and climate change

Posted August 25th, 2021

The first time I became aware of a connection between race, faith and climate change was in the late 1980s when I was a sociology student in Venezuela. I lived in Caracas with my family. In this cosmopolitan city, there was lots of nonregulated air pollution that caused me to have a sore throat and irritated eyes daily.

If the land could speak, what stories would it tell?

Posted August 24th, 2021

After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of planned projects and in-person worship, Coastland Commons, a 1001 New Worshiping Community in Seattle Presbytery, moved to Zoom discussions about their city’s history of land use by Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. After about six months of Zoom gatherings, they figured out a safe way to see Seattle anew through socially distanced community walks. They reached out to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), which organizes redlining tours in Seattle’s Capitol Hill and Central District neighborhoods.

If the land could speak, what stories would it tell?

Posted March 19th, 2021

After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of planned projects and in-person worship, Coastland Commons, a 1001 New Worshiping Community in Seattle Presbytery, moved to Zoom discussions about their city’s history of land use by Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. After about six months of Zoom gatherings, they figured out a safe way to see Seattle anew through socially distanced community walks. They reached out to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), which organizes redlining tours in Seattle’s Capitol Hill and Central District neighborhoods.

The before that makes beginnings possible

Posted March 9th, 2018

The Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon was ordained April 24, 1974, in Shelby, North Carolina by the Catawba Presbytery, in the Synod of Catawba. According to the Presbyterian Office of Information, the United Presbyterian Church listed 154 white women as ordained clergy at that time.

West Louisville Presbyterian church hosts theater camp

Posted October 10th, 2016

In West Louisville, Westwood Presbyterian Church came up with a creative way to address what generations of African Americans have come to believe—“that life is cheap, and the cheapest of all are black lives.” By hosting a drama camp for African American kids earlier this year, Westwood took them back to a time when African American culture was thriving.

Eugene ‘Freedom’ Blackwell remembered as community builder and activist

Posted September 13th, 2016

Family and friends of the Rev. Eugene “Freedom” Blackwell took to the streets of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood for a freedom procession from the local high school to the House of Manna worshiping community where funeral services were held for Blackwell.