Disciples Historical Society

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News

by Joel Brown

The Historical Society affirms the importance of studying Black history. In normal times, we would not feel the need to make this statement publicly, because it is so obvious and agreed upon that it hardly needs to be articulated. These are not normal times, however. 

In addition to its attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the realms of higher education and corporate America, the current administration has also targeted scholars, programs, museums, and monuments that study and celebrate African American history. And while other historically underrepresented groups have also experienced attempted erasure from the administration, the attack on Black history has been particularly forceful and orchestrated. The seeds for this assault on Black history were sown during the first Trump administration, as I’ve written about elsewhere, but what was previously done subtly is now being undertaken out in the open and with brazen forcefulness.

This attempted erasure of Black history is not only historical malpractice, it is also sinister in its intentions. It is one thing for historians to feel the need to correct historiographical oversights shaped by the biases and implicit racism of historians past and present, but what we are encountering in the current moment is something altogether different. The deliberate and calculated removal of Black history from classrooms, college curricula, and public spaces not only threatens our historical and cultural understanding, it has real and serious implications for the lived experiences of Black Americans. It lays the groundwork for the dehumanization and undermining of African American people, and it reinforces and energizes what religion scholar Willis Jenkins refers to as the “quotidian monster of white supremacy.” 

I do not mean to be partisan in calling attention to the Trump administration’s actions to erase Black history, but I do believe we have a moral obligation as Christians to name this administration’s assault on Black history for what it is–evil and a sin.

The Historical Society affirms the importance of Black history and is committed to and encourages the study and sharing of Black Disciples history. We confess that our collection and the historiography to which we’ve contributed have been shaped in part by whiteness, overlooking and sometimes willfully ignoring the voices and stories of historically underrepresented communities, including Black Disciples. We are therefore committed to prioritizing materials from historically underrepresented communities–especially congregations and leaders–in our collecting and digitization practices, and we encourage scholarship that lifts up and illuminates these histories. 

We have compiled some of the resources available through the Historical Society’s digital offerings and our online catalog below, along with some other helpful resources. This is not a comprehensive list of Black Disciples materials in our collection, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to conduct other research on Black Disciples history.

Books & Pamphlets on African American Disciples History in Our Digital Commons

Documents & Artifacts from African American Disciples History

Manuscript Collections in the Online Catalog

Disciples Wikis

Video Presentations from the 2022 Kirkpatrick Conference, “Visions of Wholeness: Systemic Racism, Antiracism, and ‘Reconciliation’ In Our Shared History and Tradition”

Select Scholarly Works on Black Stone-Campbell History