By Dr. Tiffany Byers, director of multicultural education
This year marks 100 years of nationally recognizing and celebrating Black history. What began in 1926 as “Negro History Week,” founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, was an intentional effort to ensure that the contributions and experiences of Black Americans would not be forgotten. In 1976, during our nation’s bicentennial, that week expanded into Black History Month — a national acknowledgment of a history that has always been woven into the fabric of our country.
Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the power of remembrance. In Deuteronomy 32:7, we are told, “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.” Throughout the Old Testament, God calls his people to remember — not simply to look back, but to learn, grow and remain faithful. Remembering anchors identity and shapes the future.
Black History Month is more than celebrating inventions like the elevator, the traffic light or air conditioning. It is about honoring generations who persevered through injustice with courage and unshakable faith. It is about men and women who, in the face of oppression, held firmly to the truth of Micah 6:8, “to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”
At Harding, we believe that faith and learning work together to transform lives. When we engage Black history with humility and honesty, we allow truth to refine us. We grow in understanding. We become better equipped to love one another as Christ commands in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
If we neglect the past, we risk repeating the divisions that once wounded communities. But when we remember faithfully, we reflect the unity described in Galatians 3:28 — that in Christ we are one. We acknowledge that every person is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and worthy of dignity and honor.
From 1926 to today, this observance has grown, and so must we. As a Christ-centered community committed to truth and service, may we continue to learn with open hearts, serve with compassion and pursue the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. And may our remembrance not end with reflection, but move us toward action — building a future shaped by faith, justice, humility and love.
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