Shortly before his death in July of 2020, civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis wrote a final letter to the American people.
A particular passage from that powerful message resonated strongly with Dr. Yohuru Williams, the Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, as well as the author of a number of books, including “Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson,” “Black Freedom Fighter” and “More Than A Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom.”
“Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble,” Lewis wrote. “Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.
“You must also study and learn the lessons of history because humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time.”
“Everybody quotes the good trouble, necessary trouble portion, but they sometimes miss the next part where he says we have to study the past,” Williams said. “Because that’s how we develop extraordinary vision and we can never lose sight of our shared humanity. There’s a kind of timeless value to that.”
Drawing on those lessons from the past is what led historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 to designate the second week of February as a time to remember important people and events in the Black community through the establishment of the precursor to what is today known as Black History Month.
Continuing to explore that history as an integral part of the overall American historical experience will be a key theme of the Black History Month Keynote Address – “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution: Black History Month – Past, Present and Future” – Williams is scheduled to deliver beginning at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 10) in Gorecki 204 on the College of Saint Benedict campus.
“That Carter Woodson’s plea,” Williams said. “He felt there were some things people could learn from the Black experience that would be vital to the preservation of American democracy and democratic practice. It was never about famous firsts. It was about this kind of broader reminder of the ways in which African Americans, Black people contributed to the economic, social and political grown of the nation.
“But then also how they can be a bit of the canary in the coal mine in that when things break down, they break down because we’re not paying attention to this group which historically has been marginalized and has had to fight for liberty and equality – all the things that we assume are kind of baked into the American enterprise.”
Williams’ address will be preceded by a social hour with community members at 5 p.m. Following his remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session led by CSB and SJU history department faculty members at 7:15 p.m.
“It’s fantastic to be able to bring someone doing great work right here in Minnesota to campus,” said Malik Stewart, the assistant dean of Multicultural Services at CSB and SJU. “We have so much Black history in this state, and right here in Stearns County. It’s great to get the chance to hear from local scholars.
“Black history is essential when it comes to understanding the current context of things going on in the U.S.,” Stewart continued. “Many of the things we’re talking about now connect directly back to issues related to Black history.”
