In February, the community of Seminary of the Southwest engaged in its annual season of celebration, engagement, and remembrance with the observance of Black History Month. Multiple events throughout February sought to connect the Southwest community with the legacy, history, and culture of the communities of color both on campus and beyond. What emerged during the month was a theme of vibrant community partnership, as Black History Month at Southwest found itself sharing spaces with several institutions and significant Black voices among its partners and friends.
Led by Dr. Marlon Johnson, Dean of Community Life, and the Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson, the John E. Hines Assistant Professor of Preaching, the complexity, intentionality, and thoughtful vision surrounding the events of the month brought a notable level of maturation of the tradition at Southwest.
“Our Black History Month celebrations this year, led by Dean Marlon Johnson and Dr. Dominique Robinson, provided rich opportunities for our community both to come together in celebration and to reflect on race and racism in our current social and political landscape,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president.
Dean Johnson and Dr. Robinson worked with the planning committee of faculty, staff, and students to develop a meaningful set of events that were in concert with the national theme being celebrated throughout the country, “Reflections on African Americans and Labor.”
“It was a joy to collaborate with our students, faculty, and staff to make history come alive in our context and community here at Seminary of the Southwest and within the greater Austin Community,” said Dean Johnson. “With the national theme in mind, our team discerned that our context was to both honor the works of great leaders who have contributed to labor movements and the depths of our fields of study.”
A tradition begun during last year’s Black History Month returned; each week of the month event attendees were invited to wear a specific Pan-African color: red in during the first week, green in the second, yellow in the third, and Black in the final week. Those of African ancestry were invited to wear heritage attire at any event.
On February 7th, the month began with its customary Opening Jubilee Celebration and Dinner. The community of Southwest gathered for a worship experience highlighting and honoring Black culture. In front of a congregation of red and African heritage dress, the Rev. Dr. Robinson gave a stirring sermon, and after the service, attendees enjoyed a community meal with music, games, and cultural expression.
Watch Dr. Robinson’s sermon here
Two important Feast days were celebrated during the month in Christ Chapel. The Feast of Absalom Jones was celebrated on February 13th. Jones was America’s first Black priest, and an African-American abolitionist who founded the Free African Society. On February 28, the Feast of Anna Julia Cooper was observed. Cooper was one of the most prominent African-American scholars in U.S. history and is often referred to as the “Mother of Black Feminism.”
Watch MDiv Senior Scott Madison’s Feast of Absolom Jones sermon here
While not officially part of Southwest’s Black History Month, on February 11th, a large contingent of the Southwest community traveled to the campus of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary to hear Dr. Robinson preach at their MLK commemoration service. The rousing service was followed by a joint luncheon shared by members of both seminary communities.
“We wanted to achieve our contextual goals while focusing on the call to rest both our bodies and our souls, a call interwoven throughout our sacred texts and our counseling scholarship,” said Dean Johnson. “Our Opening Jubilee celebration did just that, blending the powerful preaching voice of Dr. Dominique Robinson with prayers of restoration and resilience from African and African American ancestors, and a lot of dancing and games for the community. We partnered with alums to get our campus into the community and learn Black Austin History with the annual Celebrate Black Austin walk and vendor fair.”
In what has become a traditional partnership for Black History Month at Southwest, on March 1st (delayed by weather from February 22nd), Third Spaces invited the seminary community to participate in its annual Celebrate Black Austin East Austin Walking Tour. Led by MHC alumna Jane Obi, the event honors the history, achievements, and labor of Austin’s Black community with a vibrant block party, including a higher education and career fair, food trucks, a vendor market, and historical walking tours of East Austin.
Southwest’s Black History Month Keynote Address culminated the month with a stirring lecture from Cole Arthur Riley, the bestselling author of This Here Flesh and Black Liturgies. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. Riley is also the creator of Black Liturgies, a space that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body, and a project of The Center for Dignity and Contemplation where she serves as Curator.
“What is the spiritual cost of separating the mind from the Body?” was a question posed by Riley during her address. “What is at stake in a disembodied life? What is at stake? No less than our complete and collective liberation”
To accommodate the high demand, the keynote address was held at the Historical King-Seabrook Chapel on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University. Celebrating their 150th year, Huston Tillotson is Austin’s only HBCU and among the most prominent in the region. The institutional partnership between Southwest and HT was meaningful for reasons well beyond the hosting capacity for the popular speaker.
“The lecture by Cole Arthur Riley was a highlight of the month—both because of her thoughtful exploration of race and embodiment and because we shared the event with our neighbors at Huston-Tillotson University,” said Dean Bader-Saye. “I am so grateful for their willingness to offer space when our RSVPs for the lecture exceeded the seating in our auditorium. What a great problem to have! I hope this begins a tradition of further partnering with Huston-Tillotson.”
A Closing Eucharist in Christ Chapel on February 27th, provided more opportunities for community partnership, with Dean Johnson preaching and the Rev. Addison McMillain presiding at the service. The Rev. McMillan is a Curate at nearby St. James Episcopal Church – a parish that has traditionally served diverse communities in Austin – and his recent ordination was the first of an African American in St. James’ 83 years.
Watch Dean Johnson’s sermon here
“Collaborating with our neighbors was truly the highlight of this season,” reflected Dean Johnson. “We hosted the Rev. McMillian to serve at our closing Eucharist, we joined Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., and we were able to rejoice with Huston-Tillotson University during their historic sesquicentennial celebration to host our Black History Month Keynote featuring Cole Arthur Riley. Cole’s voice about the embodiment of the soul and our focus towards sacred rest and resistance will resonate with me and many on our campus as we look to continue our work of Becoming Beloved Community in this month and the days, months, and years to come.”
