"The Black Church Reflections: A Virtual Symposium"
"This is Our Song"
PBS and Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr recently produced a new docuseries that explores the four-hundred-year histories of the African American church, entitled "The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song." "The Black Church" explores the roots of the African American worship experience in America since the early 18th century. The documentary features America's most historic African American churches, such as Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga, and New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. The four-hour, two-part docu-series premiered on February 8, 2021, with interviews from Cornell West, Senator Raphael Warnock, Ambassador Andrew Young, Michael Eric Dyson, and more. As part of the docuseries' promotion, Gates and PBS hosted numerous virtual panels and discussions throughout the country featuring members and organizations from the African American church. In Atlanta, Georgia, Gates partnered with the National Historic Park to host "The Black Church Reflections: A Virtual Symposium," a virtual panel on the current state of the Black church. This event took place February 21, 2021, at 2 pm, with panelist Dr. Robert Franklin (President Emeritus of Morehouse College and Emory University Professor), Patrice E. Turner (Choir director at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church), Stacy Holman (film producer), Dr. Eboni Marshall-Turman (Scholastic Theologian), Shayla Harris (Film Producer), Dr. Raymond A. Wise (Professor at Indiana University), and Senator Dr. Raphael Warnock (United States Senator for Georgia and Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church). The panelists selected to participate are accomplished and experts in their fields of ministry, entertainment, academics, and politics.
The National Park Service's participation in the production of the symposium aligns with their mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.[1] The symposium was to educate the audience on the topic of the Black Church and offer enjoyment through their programming. In line with their mission, NPS "The Black Church Reflection" discussed topics related to the worship experiences that guided national movements such as the American Civil Rights Movement. PBS used the symposium to market and promote the release of the documentary to its target audience.
The virtual symposium had an exceptional panel of scholars and Church leaders from the African American community that helped drive an intellectual and honest conversation about the Black churchs' morals, values, and practices. The dialogue between Senator Warnock and Dr. Gates was incredibly scholastic, referencing academic sources throughout their discussions of the current state of the Black church. Franklin, president emeritus of historic Morehouse College, expressed the significant role the Black Church played in the education system for African Americans after the Civil War. Franklin highlighted the founding of two HBCU's, Morehouse and Spelman College, which occurred in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church, a historically Black Church founded in 1787. Franklin's story highlights the foundation of Morehouse and Spelman College and the influences the Black Church has in HBCU culture. Franklin argues that "with the foundations of the Black Church, Morehouse and Spelman College remains today as two of the most influential Historically Black Colleges in American society."
The Black Church Reflections was a fantastic event that perfectly marketed the new documentary "The Black Church." The panelists created an open and honest dialogue about the beliefs and attitudes and the church. The African America Church has a tradition of patriarchy and misogyny, but the panelist approached the reality of its presence in the Black Church with transparency. The symposium articulated the influences of the Black Church in American society and pop culture and added an argument to the significance of the docuseries.
The program was exciting and educational, but there were some shortcomings. The panel had some interesting topics, but at times the responses and conversations would not align with the initial question. This shortcoming caused an issue for audience members interested in the question and caused an extension of time in the program. Even with its shortcomings, it proved to be an informative event that garnered attention for the documentary.
"The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song" docuseries contributes to the field of history for telling the stories of traditionally marginalized groups in America. African American history has not been displayed as broadly as Eurocentric history in American society, but Gates' docuseries helps to fill the gap in the academy. "The Black Church Reflections: A Virtual Symposium" perfectly complemented the docuseries and help garner excitement for the premiere. The program was a one-time event but has the potential to be an annual program hosted by the National Park Service. The program was inciteful and educational to the audience and gave many uncommonly told histories of the Black Church. The program offered the audience the opportunity to get the personal attitudes of the Black Church from scholars and professionals connected to the Black Church. PBS, Henry Louis Gates Jr, and the National Park Service accomplished their goal of promoting their docuseries "The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song."
[1] NPS. “Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park.”2021.
PBS and Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr recently produced a new docuseries that explores the four-hundred-year histories of the African American church, entitled "The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song." "The Black Church" explores the roots of the African American worship experience in America since the early 18th century. The documentary features America's most historic African American churches, such as Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga, and New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. The four-hour, two-part docu-series premiered on February 8, 2021, with interviews from Cornell West, Senator Raphael Warnock, Ambassador Andrew Young, Michael Eric Dyson, and more. As part of the docuseries' promotion, Gates and PBS hosted numerous virtual panels and discussions throughout the country featuring members and organizations from the African American church. In Atlanta, Georgia, Gates partnered with the National Historic Park to host "The Black Church Reflections: A Virtual Symposium," a virtual panel on the current state of the Black church. This event took place February 21, 2021, at 2 pm, with panelist Dr. Robert Franklin (President Emeritus of Morehouse College and Emory University Professor), Patrice E. Turner (Choir director at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church), Stacy Holman (film producer), Dr. Eboni Marshall-Turman (Scholastic Theologian), Shayla Harris (Film Producer), Dr. Raymond A. Wise (Professor at Indiana University), and Senator Dr. Raphael Warnock (United States Senator for Georgia and Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church). The panelists selected to participate are accomplished and experts in their fields of ministry, entertainment, academics, and politics.
The National Park Service's participation in the production of the symposium aligns with their mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.[1] The symposium was to educate the audience on the topic of the Black Church and offer enjoyment through their programming. In line with their mission, NPS "The Black Church Reflection" discussed topics related to the worship experiences that guided national movements such as the American Civil Rights Movement. PBS used the symposium to market and promote the release of the documentary to its target audience.
The virtual symposium had an exceptional panel of scholars and Church leaders from the African American community that helped drive an intellectual and honest conversation about the Black churchs' morals, values, and practices. The dialogue between Senator Warnock and Dr. Gates was incredibly scholastic, referencing academic sources throughout their discussions of the current state of the Black church. Franklin, president emeritus of historic Morehouse College, expressed the significant role the Black Church played in the education system for African Americans after the Civil War. Franklin highlighted the founding of two HBCU's, Morehouse and Spelman College, which occurred in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church, a historically Black Church founded in 1787. Franklin's story highlights the foundation of Morehouse and Spelman College and the influences the Black Church has in HBCU culture. Franklin argues that "with the foundations of the Black Church, Morehouse and Spelman College remains today as two of the most influential Historically Black Colleges in American society."
The Black Church Reflections was a fantastic event that perfectly marketed the new documentary "The Black Church." The panelists created an open and honest dialogue about the beliefs and attitudes and the church. The African America Church has a tradition of patriarchy and misogyny, but the panelist approached the reality of its presence in the Black Church with transparency. The symposium articulated the influences of the Black Church in American society and pop culture and added an argument to the significance of the docuseries.
The program was exciting and educational, but there were some shortcomings. The panel had some interesting topics, but at times the responses and conversations would not align with the initial question. This shortcoming caused an issue for audience members interested in the question and caused an extension of time in the program. Even with its shortcomings, it proved to be an informative event that garnered attention for the documentary.
"The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song" docuseries contributes to the field of history for telling the stories of traditionally marginalized groups in America. African American history has not been displayed as broadly as Eurocentric history in American society, but Gates' docuseries helps to fill the gap in the academy. "The Black Church Reflections: A Virtual Symposium" perfectly complemented the docuseries and help garner excitement for the premiere. The program was a one-time event but has the potential to be an annual program hosted by the National Park Service. The program was inciteful and educational to the audience and gave many uncommonly told histories of the Black Church. The program offered the audience the opportunity to get the personal attitudes of the Black Church from scholars and professionals connected to the Black Church. PBS, Henry Louis Gates Jr, and the National Park Service accomplished their goal of promoting their docuseries "The Black Church: This is our Story This Is Our Song."
[1] NPS. “Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park.”2021.