In honor of Black History Month, we pay tribute to the remarkable accomplishments, discoveries, influences, and courageous acts that black men and women have contributed to shape our nation. Here at Eastown we always want to maintain a posture of listening and learning as we collectively pursue lives of justice and love.

Explore more about Black History Month and deepen your understanding by watching the videos below, reading our recommended books, and checking out this month’s devotional to meditate on.

Devotional

Meditate on the rich legacies of famous and lesser-known African American heroes this Black History Month. These 28 testimonies from Our Daily Bread Ministries remind us of God's faithfulness and the resilience of men and women who changed history forever.

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In Jesus we see a God who experiences anger at the evil in our world, who establishes justice and righteousness, and who works on behalf of the oppressed.

We also see Jesus as One who listens intently, grieves deeply, and weeps. As followers of Jesus, it is our desire to become more like Him and do what He would do in our world around us. 

The unacknowledged and deep wounds of our country are being unveiled and seen in their truest form right now. This is not new pain – it’s existed since the beginning of our country without ever having received proper acknowledgement and healing. We deeply grieve the centuries of oppression, violence, and trauma known by our sisters and brothers of color. White sisters and brothers, we grieve over our complacency and silence that has allowed complicity with systemic and institutionalized racism in America and within the church.

justice in action

At Eastown we are committed to live this out. It will be demonstrated by our willingness to acknowledge and lament where our complacency and silence has contributed to systemic racism in our country and the church. We will discover ways to listen, learn, and give to people of color in our local and greater communities as we go on the journey of racial reconciliation. We will identify and provide tangible ways to advocate for and serve the oppressed in the Bay Area.

RESOURCES FOR THE JOURNEY

Choose from the resources below to learn more about racial reconciliation and healing. There is much we have yet to learn and this is only a start. For those of us in particular who are new to the lifelong journey, we want to collectively slow down, humble ourselves before the Lord, listen, and learn. Learn from these resources as you discover more about the Black and Brown experience in America. Listen to voices of color as they share the ways in which we can all contribute to rebuilding.


BOOKS

How We Love Mattersa by Albert Tate Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

MEDIA

Resources for Children

There are a number of books we recommend to talk to your child about diversity, racism and justice. See our top three selections below and then scroll through the images below to see more.

1. A Kids Book about Racism by Jelani Memory

  • “A Kids Book about Racism” is a great book to read together with your child to start the conversation about racism. It has a clear explanation of what racism is and how to recognize it when you see it. This book makes this conversation approachable for all kids but was written specifically with elementary ages in mind. 

2. Made by God: Celebrating God's Gloriously Diverse World by Tony Evans

  • “Made by God” is a beautiful picture book that teaches children the values of equality, diversity, and unity from a biblical perspective and provides parents with a starting point for meaningful family discussions about important cultural issues. This helpful resource gives parents a tool they can use to engage their children in important conversations on a variety of topics, including race, inequality, reconciliation, God’s plan for humanity, and practical ways they can stand up for what’s right when they see injustices around them. This book is a wonderful resource for both preschool and elementary ages. 

3. ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us by Dorena Williamson

  • “ColorFull” is a book about two friends who are learning to celebrate their different skin colors as they look around and see the amazing creativity of God through His creation in nature and in themselves. This book teaches kids to celebrate each color God gave us and encourages kids to see the beauty of God's creativity in everyone. This book is perfect for both preschool and elementary kids.