Third Street Bethel AME Church Celebrates HBCU Day

Third Street Bethel AME Church Celebrates HBCU Day

By Julie Warlick 

The social activism of the Black Church has been the transformative voice to speak God’s truth to injustice. Our ancestors had a yearning for knowledge and the establishment of the HBCU welcomed them when no one else would.  

Social Action Commission Members Donna Dawson and Dr. Michael Dawson, both HBCU alumni, suggested that Third Street Bethel AME Church in Richmond, Virginia, pay homage to the legacy of the HBCU. Third Street Bethel has the distinct honor of having at least 85 HBCU graduates in our congregation. Thus, the Commission, under the leadership of the Rev. Ruben J. Boyd, Jr., the senior pastor, kicked off the first HBCU Celebration Day on February 9, 2020.  

The first part of the celebration was led by our youth leadership during the morning services. Youth Social Action Member Zachary Harris delivered an exceptional reading of an original litany for the HBCU Celebration that was written by Social Action Chair Rita H. Wills.

The speaker was Dr. Samuel T. Rhodes, the president and CEO of the HBCU Forever Foundation, Inc. He stated that HBCUs will be challenged with more scrutiny to receive government funding. He emphasized the importance of voting and being counted in the 2020 Census, as power and resources will shift from the white majority by 2043.

The second part of the celebration culminated with a luncheon and panel discussion themed, “Celebrating and Preserving the HBCU Legacy.” It was moderated by Remy Thompson, Ph.D., and HBCU alum. The panelists included alumni from Norfolk State College, North Carolina Central State, Howard University, Morehouse College, South Carolina State, North Carolina Central University, and Virginia State College. The conversation between the moderator, panel, and audience developed organically and shared great insights and good personal experiences. Among them were that HBCUs demanded high academic rigor which produced quality graduates, the suggestion that parents and high school counselors promoted HBCUs, and that HBCUs ensure graduates have the foundation and confidence to compete. 

There were representatives from multiple HBCUs present with table displays containing information for the youth. Our director of Christian Education, Denise Bennet, recognized the value of educational exposure to our Youth Ministry, as they “hold the future” of our church and society.

HBCUs are in jeopardy of extinction unless we become better stewards and invest time and monetary support to the legacy. Our pastor, the Rev. Rueben J.  Boyd, Jr., called for action saying, “Yesterday was a great day… I came away with a desire to be supportive of the HBCU I attended and am looking for ways to encourage our young people to consider enrolling in one.”

Julie Warlick is the writer for the Social Action Commission at Third Street Bethel AME Church, where the Rev Rueben J. Boyd, Jr. is the pastor and Sonja Boyd is the first lady.