February is Black History Month, a time when we acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices Black Americans have made throughout our nation’s history. Brenau has a number of events coming up this month.
We also celebrated the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during our annual Winter Covocation in January. We were pleased to welcome Bishop Robin Dease of the United Methodist conference for Georgia, as our keynote speaker. Our dance students performed a moving modern dance piece named Joy and, as always, the performance was very inspiring.
In preparation for convocation, I read a great book that I recommend to all our listeners. Recently published, it was written by Kate Hanch, who is a Methodist minister. The book, “Storied witness: the theology of Black Women preachers in 19th-century America,” chronicles the lives of three Black Women who preached in Methodist churches in the 1800s. Zilpha Elaw, Julia Foote, and Sojourner Truth were evangelists who crisscrossed the eastern US and England preaching about justice and equal rights for women and those being held in captivity.
King’s birthday in January is commemorated as both a celebration and a call to action. His work as a champion, crusader, preacher, and prophet still resonates across our local, regional, and national communities, challenging us to pursue the interconnected ideals of equality and justice.
To hear more, you can find my February 2026 podcast on SoundCloud.
