Black History Month
“In black history, we find a narrative richly woven with the themes of the gospel. It is a history that helps us to better understand God, to comprehend His plan for humanity and to see tangible evidence of His deliverance, love, and blessings.”
Around the country, February is a month to take intentional time to commemorate and celebrate Black History. Black History Month is an invitation to engage in the vital work of learning and reflecting on the importance of Black history and what it means for our lives as Jesus followers. Join us on Fridays this month for virtual viewings, Black History and Us, a documentary viewing with a live chat, facilitated by Journey staff and lay leaders.
A Film Series
Articles + Stories + Writings
Black History Month: 20 Stories Christians Should Know
Christianity Today
"Meet the leaders, activists, ministers, and artists who changed the church and the world..."
- 5 Reasons You Should Celebrate Black History Month, The Witness
- Bryan Stevenson on What Well-Meaning White People Need to Know About Race
- Letter from a Birmingham Jail
- Tuskegee Airmen, History Channel (video and article)
- Integrating Justice into our Spiritual Disciplines, The Witness
- 9 Ways to Move Away from Privilege, The Witness
BookS
Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson
Heal Us, Emmanuel, Doug Serven *St. Louis specific
- The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson
- Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson
- Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African American Pastors, Thabiti M. Anyabwile
- May We Meet in the Heavenly World: The Piety of Lemuel Haynes (Profiles in Reformed Spirituality), Thabiti M. Anyabwile
- Profiles of African-American Missionaries, Robert J. Stevens
DocumentarieS
The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song
Premiering February 16, 2021 on PBS
"[This documentary] traces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and grace, organizing and resilience, thriving and testifying, autonomy and freedom, solidarity and speaking truth to power...."
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth, Vimeo * STL specific
Thirteenth, Netflix (school to prison pipeline, mass incarceration)
4 Little Girls, Amazon Prime, HBO
- Race, the Power of an Illusion, Series on Vimeo
- Spanish Lake Documentary, Amazon Prime *STL specific
- White Savior: Racism in the American Church, Amazon Prime
- Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play
- Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis, Amazon Prime, YouTube
- John Lewis: Good Trouble, HBO Max, Vudu, Amazon Prime
- Amen! Music of the Black Church, PBS
- Teach Us All
- Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up, PBS
- American Promise, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Pluto Tv
- I Am Not Your Negro, Netflix
Historical Drama/Movies
When They See Us, Netflix
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime
42, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime
- Harriet, on Amazon Prime
- Just Mercy, see it in theaters
- Selma, on Amazon Prime
- Glory, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime
- Sounder, Hulu, Amazon Prime
- Alex Haley’s Queen, Amazon Prime, YouTube
- Roots: The Complete Miniseries, Amazon Prime, Vudu
- Amazing Grace, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu
- Marshall, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu
BOOKS FOR KIDS
Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History, Vashti Harrison
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, Vashti Harrison
God’s Very Good Idea, Trilia Newbell
Historical Figures
- Heroes in Black History, David and Neta Jackson
- Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids, Kimberly Brown Pellum
- Serena: The Littlest Sister, Karlin Gray
Representation/Identity
- When God Made You, Matthew Paul Turner
- Ada Twist, Scientist, Andrea Beaty
- All the Colors We Are, Katie Kissinger
- Last Stop on Market Street, Matt de la Peña
- Hair Love, Matthew A. Cherry
- Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Derrick Barnes
- Skin Like Mine, Latashia Perry
BOOKS FOR TEENS
The Hate U Give, Angie Smith
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults), Bryan Stevenson
FAMILY MOVIES
*Please note, any views or opinions represented in the resources listed below belong solely to the author of each article, video, or podcast and do not represent the wholistic theology or views of The Journey. Resources are offered here as a means of exploration to the reader. Our hope is that you would prayerfully wrestle with the content you encounter, discuss with others who represent the diversity of God's kingdom, and walk away from these resources with additional lenses with which you can understand and pursue biblical justice and mercy.