LSTC Celebrates Black History Month with the theme, “Reparations: Educate, Liberate and Celebrate!”

 

LSTC Celebrates Black History Month with the theme, “Reparations: Educate, Liberate and Celebrate!” 

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago’s (LSTC) announces the theme for its Black History Month 2023; Reparations: Educate, Liberate and Celebrate! It is no secret that Black communities continue to suffer under oppressive regimes, both in the US and globally. This year’s theme was adopted to address the question, “How can the breach caused by decades of harm and oppression be repaired?” Hence, the goal is that through education, and liberation Reparations can be achieved for the millions of African American and BIPOC people who continue to bear the weight of white privilege and supremacy. 

The celebration began on Wednesday, Feb. 1, with a reception to kick off the month. This event featured an exhibition of Black art, a gathering of the Lutheran Black and African Descent community including students, staff, alumni and members of the African Descent Lutheran Association to engage in a lively conversation on “Black Lutheranism and Reparations.” The discussion will be led by LSTC Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard J. Perry, Jr., Professor Emeriti of Church and Society. 

February 8th will herald the Opening of LSTC’s Black History celebration with a Worship Service. The guest preacher is the noted preacher Rev. Dr. Alise Barrymore of the Emmaus Community Church. Worship services will be held each week during the month of February, featuring Black liturgical traditions. 

A panel discussion will be held on Feb. 9th, at 5:30 pm, on the topic “Reparations: What’s It All About?” This panel will discuss the history of Reparations, and its significance to the Black Community. LSTC’s Dr. Linda Thomas will moderate the discussion, with keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers, General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference and Executive Director of the Center for Reparatory Justice, Transformation and Remediation at McCormick Theological Seminary. The second panelist is Dr. Marvin E. Wickware, Jr., Assistant Professor of Church and Society and Ethics at LSTC. 

On February 14th at 4:30pm, a panel discussion will be held on the topic “Seeking Justice and Reparations for the Land.” This panel will explore the justice of reparations for those harmed. This is an important conversation since the announcement of the recent sale of the Lutheran School of Theology to the University of Chicago. The current location of LSTC has a vile history of displacement of those indigenous to the land. Panelists include Dr. Paula Owens Parker, author and program associate for the Katie Canon Center of Womanist Leadership at Union Presbyterian Seminary and Christian Harris, Chairperson of the Oak Park Reparations Task Force and Executive Director of the Oak Park based non-profit Walk-the-Walk, focused on land reparations. 

A day of Rest and Restoration, for those fatigued by the stress of justice work, will be hosted on Friday, Feb. 17th. Beginning at 10:00 am and running throughout the day. Hour long sessions will be facilitated encouraging rest and restoration, including Yoga, a Spiritual Soaker, and Zumba. All these events will be held in-person on the LSTC campus. 

The Black History celebration includes a Book signing for black authors on Feb. 15th highlighting the work of Ken Wheeler, US Resurgence of American Terrorism and LSTC’s Sharei Green God’s Holy Darkness. DaBook Joint bookstore will host a book fair, and a reception sponsored by the African Descent Lutheran Association will follow the book signing. Juneteenth will also be honored on Feb 23rd as Dr. Jajuan Johnson, Professor and Research Associate of the Lemon Project at Mary and William College will discuss the history and “The Significance of Juneteenth to African Americans.” The Juneteenth Day events will include a Taste of Blackness lunch, followed by a discussion led by DABook Joint on black books discussing Juneteenth. 

There will also be two Friday Night Movies on Friday evenings at 5:00pm. The first movie, Friday Feb. 3rd will be “The Woman King” with Viola Davis. The second movie, Feb. 24th will be “Black Panther” with Chadwick Boseman. Free popcorn will be available. Wrapping up the month-long celebration, ELCA Bishop of the Metro Chicago Synod, Bishop Yehiel Curry, an LSTC alum, will lead the Wednesday Worship on Feb. 22nd at 11:15am. 

The 2023 Black History Month celebration at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is the result of planning and commitment by a committee of Black students, staff, and faculty to highlight the history and accomplishments of Black Americans. This program is sponsored by The LSTC Albert “Pete” and Cheryl Stewart Pero Center for Intersectionality Studies and made possible through support from the LSTC Office of Student Services, the Chicago Chapter of the African Descent Lutheran Association, and other private donors. 

Admission is free for all events, and all are welcome! All events will be hybrid, both in-person and streamed live on LSTC’s Facebook page, unless otherwise specified. 

For a complete schedule of events, including speakers, dates, times, and COVID protocols, please visit www.lstc.edu/news-events/bhm23/

  

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.