Get Involved: Study, Discuss, Take Action
The Social Justice Ministry has been busy studying, meeting on Zoom, and planning for parish activities and engagement. We remain committed to our primary focus on racism in America: as America’s “original sin,” racism calls out most urgently to be confronted. As SJM grows at St. Andrew’s, we hope to be able to expand to other areas of injustice and oppression which we know also need attention, but for now we discern that addressing racism is our calling.
SJM's Little Known Black History Month
February 5, 2023
On this day (February 5) in 1990, Barack Obama was elected the first Black President of the Harvard Law Review. The Harvard Law Review is one of the oldest law journals in the United States.
The first electric roller coaster was invented by Granville T. Woods. Woods was born on April 23, 1856. He was the first African American mechanical and electrical engineer after the civil war. He also invented the egg incubator and a telegraph system that allowed train stations to communicate with moving trains to avoid accidents. Thomas Edison sued Woods to get the patents for the telegraph system, but Woods prevailed and kept his patents. At the time of his death on January 30, 1910, Granville T. Woods held over 60 patents. - Carol Bennett
SJM Resource List
SJM has created a resource list of books, articles, movies, and other media on a variety of Social Justice topics.
View the SJM Resource List
Resource Suggestions Needed!
Did you just read an interesting social justice related book? Is there an episode of a podcast that you just can't stop thinking about? Want to tell everyone about the compelling movie you just watched? SJM would love to hear your suggestions for their SJM Resource List!
Please use our SJM Resource List Submission Form to let the committee know of any books, articles, movies, or other media you think should be added to the list. Please give the author's full name and the full title of the work; include a URL if a website is involved. SJM will review all suggestions before adding them to the SJM Resource List.
Resources for Direct Action
Want to take action other than study and discussion?
Consider supporting Black-owned businesses by shopping, opening a bank account, or investing. SJM has put together a list of local and web-based businesses to give you ideas. The list will be revised and added to as we learn more.
Black Owned Businesses in Ann Arbor
Know a Black-owned business that should be on the list?
Let us know: email Donna
Wessel Walker (dlww@umich.edu) with the details.
About SJM
The Social Justice Ministry at St. Andrew's was established in 2018. Thus far, our mission has been to foster a greater understanding of the roots and complexities of black and white relations in Ann Arbor and to inspire action in the Ann Arbor community that would result in addressing racism in Ann Arbor.
SJM sponsors a variety of events throughout the year. Recent events have included the 2018-2019 discussion series 'Black and White in Ann Arbor,' a 2019 walking tour of the underground railroad in Ann Arbor, co-sponsoring a Washtenaw Reads 2020 book discussion on "Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen" by Jose Antonio Vargas, Election Prayer Vigils and Discussion Spaces, and book discussions on Robin DiAngelo’s "White Fragility" and "STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You," by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. In 2022, SJM sponsored two Lenten Series events: "Bearing Witness: the making of a Black Forensic Psychologist" with parishioner Dr. George Watson, Jr. and "A Liturgy of Remembrance and Reconciliation" service to remember those Black Lives lost to police violence.
Prayer for Social Justice
Grant O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
