Lent as a white Christian during Black History Month

Lent is early this year, so it coincides with Black History Month for a full 18 days. 

This overlap of sacred and secular calendars proves doubly sacred for Christians in the U.S. The sacred journey of Lent leads us to the cross—at the end of Jesus’ life of healing ministry and preaching good news to the poor. The sacred journey of Black History Month leads us to the lynching tree—as well as to African American innovators such as the man who developed modern blood storage and transfusion.

Filmmaker Christine Herbes-Sommers notes that people resist conversations about race because “white people don’t want to feel more guilty and black people don’t want to feel more angry.” For white Christians on the Lenten journey, however, Black History Month might nudge us to reflect on these feelings of guilt and to see where they lead.