The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States established November as Black
Catholic History Month in 1990. This month is a time to celebrate and remember the lives,
contributions, and history of Black Catholics. Here are some resources to help you learn more
about the history of Black Catholics:
Books to Read
- Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle by Shannen Dee Williams.
- The History of Black Catholics in the United States by Fr. Cyprian Davis, OSB
Black Catholic Media
Stay up-to-date on news and perspective from the Black Catholic community by reading the Black Catholic Messenger.
Video
Watch Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, addressing the US Catholic Bishops on the question, What does it mean to be Black in the Church and in society?
- Learn about Black Spiritual History in this video conversation with Dr. C. Vanessa White.
Share What You Learn with Others
- Take the “Fr. Cyprian Davis Pledge.” This is a pledge I developed in the summer of 2020, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and other manifestations of racism in the United States. What I call the “Fr. Cyprian Davis Pledge is a commitment to be intentional about listening for Black voices and perspectives, to study causes and effects of racism, and to seek concrete ways to share what is learned with others.
