President’s Day is Monday, February 16. Fat Tuesday is Tuesday, February 17. Both days may not mean much to many; however, Wednesday, February 18, marks the beginning of a 40-day season on the Christian calendar that leads to Easter As a Black Baptist growing up in the South, I did not observe Lent as did many of my Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist friends and colleagues. However, for centuries, the Church has set aside these weeks for prayer, fasting, reflection,...

Dr. Sherri at King Monument, Washington D.C., July 21, 2017 "A time comes when silence is betrayal.” Martin Luther King Jr, Beyond Vietnam, Riverside Church, New York, NY These words spoken almost 60 years ago loudly sound the alarm to many who allow silence to hide behind politeness or fear. King did not speak those words casually or aimlessly. He spoke these words in a moment when telling the truth carried political, professional, and personal risks. He called silence a breach of...

From Sunday School to Baptist Training Union to Vacation Bible School, I heard about Esther saving her people. My teachers taught Esther was a good queen, while Vashti was a bad queen. However, lately, I keep coming back to Esther’s story because it resonates with my 60-year-old mind and heart in a profound way that makes me pause. Based upon my lived experiences and those of countless Black women of faith, I now know that Esther did not wake up one day feeling bold. She didn’t start out...