History matters.

This year we celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) and the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment (1920).  Before you rush to google to remember what those are, they’re both about voting.  The former gave the vote to black men, and the latter to all women.  That’s a reminder that for generations, Americans’ right to a voice on matters that affected them was restricted, stolen.  Then, too, we’re reminded that some Americans–particularly people of color, but also poor people, ex-felons, and others–still struggle to make their voices heard.

Much of the civil rights struggle of the 1950’s and 60’s was about voting, too.  Because even though African Americans technically had the right to vote, many laws and practices prevented them from doing it.  And today, we’re seeing a rise in discriminatory practices that once again threaten the right to vote for African Americans.  Perhaps that’s why the Association for the Study of African American Life and History decreed that this year’s theme for Black History Month (this month!) to be African Americans and the Vote. (https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/)

It was during a campaign for the vote, the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, that UU minister James Reeb was beaten to death in 1965.  If you’re not familiar with this bit of our history, you might want to check out the NPR podcast “White Lies” (https://apps.npr.org/white-lies/), where reporters investigate why no one was ever convicted for his death.

Unitarian Universalists showed up at that time to support civil rights.  However, a few short years later we were embroiled in what came to called the Empowerment Controversy, where we faltered and did not represent our highest values.  If you want to learn more about that, come to an Adult RE group addressing the topic on February 16 [see page 5 of the February newsletter]–an apt topic for Black History Month.

That UU controversy laid the groundwork for other changes and shaped how we are moving today, as we strive to live our values and struggle with our own history.  Our involvement in securing voting rights may be why today our association has launched a new effort at mobilizing voters–#UU the vote (https://www.uua.org/justice/vote2020).

Our fifth principle [https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles] reminds us of the right of conscience and the use of democratic process.  One might ask how this is relevant to a religious community.  Actually, it reflects our deepest faith and trust. We believe that people–all people–have the ability to and the need to make their own choices.  They have, then, the right to influence their larger culture and society, and the best way to do that is through citizenship, one part of that being voting.  Our right to vote is precious, and we need commit to protect it for ourselves, and for everyone.

Maybe that’s a good way to celebrate Black History Month this year.

Jonalu