Is Black History Month Important for Non-Blacks?
Is Black History Month Important for Non-Blacks?
Every February, Black History Month serves as a time to reflect on the achievements, struggles, and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. But, in case you didn’t realize this, I am not Black. Is this month for me? While it is often seen as a month dedicated primarily to Black communities, the question arises: Should non-Black Christians care about Black History Month? The biblical answer is a resounding yes.
A Call to Love and Unity in Christ
If you are a person who treasures and desires to mold your life around the Bible, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the unity of believers in Christ. Galatians 3:28 (ESV) states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Jesus explicitly prayed for our unity in John 17:20-23 (ESV): "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." All throughout the Bible we see direct commands for Believers to actively pursue unity. While cultural and historical differences exist, Christians are called to love one another deeply and share in each other’s burdens and joys (Romans 12:15).
When one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. When one part rejoices, we all rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26). Black History Month is not just about remembering history—it’s about recognizing the pain, perseverance, and triumphs of fellow image-bearers of God. If we claim to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, then their history, struggles, and victories should matter to us.
Honoring the Past and Learning from It
The Bible frequently calls God’s people to remember history. Deuteronomy 32:7 says, "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations." The lessons of the past help us walk in wisdom and righteousness today. Black history is rich with examples of faithfulness in the face of persecution, resilience under oppression, and contributions to society that have glorified God.
Ignoring or dismissing this history can contribute to a form of indifference that is contrary to the heart of Christ. We honor God when we acknowledge the full breadth of history and appreciate how He has worked through different people groups. This understanding is crucial for a biblical worldview and strengthens our discipleship journey, as we learn to see history through the lens of God’s sovereign work among all people.
Addressing the Debate: Should Black History Month Exist?
Some public Black figures, such as Morgan Freeman, have voiced opinions against Black History Month, arguing that Black history should be recognized as an integral part of American history rather than relegated to a single month. While this perspective is understandable, Christians should not waste energy fighting that cultural battle. That’s the wrong fight. I believe, instead, we should seize this opportunity to actively honor one another in love (Romans 12:10).
Rather than focusing on whether Black History Month should exist, believers should focus on what they can do to use it as a time of intentional discipleship, learning, and honoring the people of God and the work God has done through Black individuals in history. Choosing to engage with Black History Month, not from a virtue-signaling, social justice perspective, but through a biblical worldview allows Christians to uphold the values of love, justice, and unity that God calls us to embody.
How Can Non-Blacks Honor Black History Month Without Pandering?
While Black History Month is important for all Christians, it’s also essential that non-Black believers engage with it in a way that is respectful, meaningful, and free from performative gestures. Here are a few practical ways to honor the month with sincerity:
Educate Yourself – Read about Black Christian leaders, theologians, and historical figures who have shaped the faith. Figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Lemuel Haynes have impacted Christianity profoundly.
Engage with Black Voices – Listen to sermons, podcasts, and teachings from Black pastors and theologians. Their perspectives, which often times varies greatly from our different cultures and backgrounds, can enrich your understanding of Scripture and discipleship.
Support Black Christian Ministries – Consider partnering with Black-led Christian organizations that work for justice, community development, and discipleship.
Have Meaningful Conversations – Take time to ask your Black brothers and sisters in Christ about their experiences and perspectives. Approach these conversations with humility and a willingness to learn.
Celebrate Contributions – Share and highlight the achievements of Black Christians in your church and community, not as an obligation but as an act of genuine appreciation.
Pray for Racial Reconciliation – Seek God’s heart for unity in the Church and ask for wisdom on how to be an agent of reconciliation in a divided world.
Integrate Black History Into a Biblical Worldview – Rather than seeing Black history as separate from general Christian history, recognize it as an essential part of understanding how God has worked throughout time. Black history is Christian history, and embracing this perspective can deepen one’s discipleship journey.
Black History Month is not just a celebration for Black people—it is an opportunity for the entire body of Christ to honor, learn, and grow together. Just as the Old Testament is not just an opportunity to learn the history of Jewish people, but a chance to see the redemptive work of God through a nation, studying, honoring, and celebrating different cultures allows us to see God’s work throughout all people, across all nations, across all time. The love of Christ compels us to value one another’s history, to bear one another’s burdens, and to celebrate each other’s victories. As we recognize and uplift the contributions of Black brothers and sisters in Christ, we embody the biblical principle of unity and love.
In doing so, we are not engaging in virtue-signaling or empty gestures but living out the gospel mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Let us, as Christians, embrace Black History Month as a time to reflect, learn, and celebrate together, for in Christ, we are one. Through this, we strengthen our biblical worldview and grow in discipleship, reflecting the unity that Christ desires for His Church.
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