Black History Month is a celebration of the contributions and achievements of African Americans and a recognition of their central role in U.S. history. Every U.S. president since 1976 has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
From Songs of Our Hearts, Meditations of Our Souls--Prayers for Black Catholics: “We come from a long history of praying and praising people. As Catholic Christians, we have a rich prayer tradition. As people of African descent, it was the experience of our God as expressed in our prayer that allowed us to make a way out of no way. It was our belief that God truly hears our prayer that gave us hope in times of hopelessness, that guided us in times of darkness and that strengthened us in times of weakness. We believe that Jesus hears our prayers, and we believe that Mary and all the saints intercede on our behalf. We believe that prayer is the rising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. – C. Vanessa White, D.Min.” (CTU)