Black History Month – February 2025

In 2024, Forest Hill Church lost five of its Black members: Robyn Hales, Barbara Cloud, Edward Dickson, Beverly Thomas, and Patricia Bowman Jenkins. Collectively, these members lived experiences represent almost 40 decades of Black History.

At a time when political forces are working their hardest to erase Black History, the Black History Education Committee hopes to preserve it. That’s why this year we have chosen the theme Black OURstory: A Celebration of Black Experience at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church.

During the month of February we will begin an oral history project, with the hopes of interviewing all of Forest Hill’s Black members during 2025. To successfully launch this project, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr. Regennia Williams, Distinguished Scholar of African American History and Culture at the Western Reserve Historical Society. Dr. Williams is also the director of The Center for the Study of Religion and Spirituality in the History of Africa and the Diaspora (RASHAD), an organization that supports and promotes Oral History Education, along with the performing arts and other educational publications.

During the month, we are asking the congregation to participate in RAN’s (Race Action Network) new Exploring Origins Challenge, an exciting opportunity for intergenerational conversations about Born on the Water, a children’s book written by 1619 project author Nikole Hannah-Jones and award-winning young adult novelist Renée Watson.

We’ll end the month with a celebration of Black culture. Our annual Soul Food Potluck will be followed by our 12th annual Celebration of Black Music, featuring our very own living legend, Caleb Alexander Wright.

The Black History Education Committee is actively seeking new members and volunteers for any of our four events in the month of February. If you are a Black member of FHC or the greater FHC community and you want to be included in the project, please reach out to Ajah Hales.

Below is a detailed list of all February events.

Sunday, February 2, 12:30-1:45pm
Linger a while with us in Fellowship Hall, as we dive into the Race Action Network (RAN) Exploring Origins challenge. We welcome families with young children at this event! Pizza and snacks will be provided.

Sunday, February 9, 12:30-1:45pm
Linger again as we share our reflections on Born on the Water and discuss our own origin stories. We welcome families with young children at this event! Pizza and snacks will be provided.

Sunday, February 16, 12:30-1:45pm
Join us in Fellowship Hall as distinguished scholar Dr. Regennia Williams speaks on why we should and how we can best preserve oral history. Lunch will be provided. To allow parents to be fully present, we intend to provide child care and snacks for little ones next door in South Hall.

Sunday, February 23, 4:00-6:15pm
Join us in Fellowship Hall for our annual Soul Food Potluck! As usual, the Black History Education Committee will provide the meats and we ask congregation members to bring their favorite sweets and/or sides to share.

Click here to sign up for the Soul Food Potluck

Sunday, February 23, 6:30pm
Join us in the sanctuary as Forest Hill hosts our 12th annual celebration of Black Music. Under the direction of vocalist and songwriter Caleb Alexander Wright, this year’s concert will offer many special guests and a chronological exploration of the music of the Black diaspora.

The potluck and concert will be the culmination of our month-long celebration of black history and culture. Based on previous concerts, we expect up to 200 guests. Many of the people who come to share in the end of the month celebration are visitors we only see during Black History Month.

The Black History Education Committee wants everyone to feel welcome, whether they are a member, a regular visitor, or a new face. We can’t do that without your help! The committee invites Forest Hill to get into the spirit of celebration and encourages session, choir and congregation members to come out in full force. Let’s make 2025 our best Black History Month ever!

All of this year’s programming is FREE and open to the public.