This February, all Americans have an opportunity to reflect on the rich history and enduring achievements of Black Americans during Black History Month. At American Bible Society, we thank God for the opportunity to consider how our own history has been shaped and strengthened by Black Americans who loved God’s Word. We also acknowledge the sins of racism and inequality in our nation’s history and the ongoing need for reconciliation today. Above all, we thank God for the gift of his Word, which guides us in seeking to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our heavenly Father (Micah 6:8).

There’s an African proverb that says, “The stranger sees only what he knows.”

Isn’t this the challenge facing every human being? Usually, we can only see and understand what is familiar to us. But, when we open our eyes and seek to understand what we do not already know, we open our lives to experience more than we could ever have imagined alone.

Black History Month, like other heritage month celebrations, gives us all an opportunity to see what we do not know. In doing so, we grow in our ability to see, love, and serve our neighbors, living out the bold vision of unity in Psalm 133:1 (GNT):

How wonderful it is, how pleasant,
for God’s people to live together in harmony!

Here are four ways you can explore the connection between the Bible and Black history this month.

Explore how the Bible’s message influenced Black history.

The Bible is essential for truly understanding Black American history and culture. Christianity was prevalent in Africa long before slavery. And, although the Bible had a complicated role in the history of slavery in America, it was also the anchor for hope and freedom for enslaved Africans who clung to faith in God to survive.

Even though the Bible was misused and even edited to support sins like slavery and segregation, the complete Word of God leaves no room for doubt on these issues. In Scripture, we learn how God created all people in his image (Genesis 1:27). We learn about our own sin, which separates us from God and causes painful divisions between ourselves and our neighbors (Romans 3:23). We see how much God hates sins like racism, pride, and violence, which directly contradict his holy law (Matthew 22:36-40). And we learn about how, through Jesus Christ, we can all be restored to God and to each other in perfect love (Galatians 3:28).

For countless Black Americans, it was the Bible that guided their fight for justice and equality in America. Scripture fueled the work of Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was built into the foundation of abolitionism and the civil rights movement. And today, we can find God’s Word woven throughout the lives and legacies we celebrate during Black History Month.

READ: You can learn more about the connection between the Bible and Black history with this 10-day Black History Month Bible reading plan.

Discover the Bible’s impact on Black changemakers.

Black History Month gives us an opportunity to learn more about the personal experiences of Black changemakers. By delving deeper into their stories, you can grow in your understanding of the challenges they overcame to make a difference in our nation. You can also see how many of these changemakers found comfort, hope, and inspiration in God’s Word amid difficult circumstances.

This month, consider learning more about one or two Black Americans you don’t already know. Read their autobiography or watch a film about their life. Visit a museum or historical site that helps you learn about the times in which they lived. You can even research the history of your own hometown and learn about the Black Americans who helped shape your local community. As you learn, look for how God’s Word may have inspired these changemakers to confront the injustices they experienced and work toward an America that reflected the Bible’s vision. It’s likely that their lives will inspire you to become a changemaker as well.

LEARN: You can read about the lives of Bishop Richard Allen, Sojourner Truth, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center website. Come and visit if you are in Philadelphia! You can also discover the lives and work of dozens of Black Americans in the Faith and Liberty Bible.

Learn how the Bible can heal the wounds of racial trauma.

From slavery to segregation to social movements for justice in America today, every generation of Americans has grappled with the reality of racism and inequality. This is especially true for Black families who have suffered from the trauma of oppression, but also for all families who have suffered from the challenges of a racialized society. The heavy burden of racial trauma can be passed from parent to child, creating a long chain of silent suffering and pain.

The Bible tells us that God does not ignore our suffering. Instead, he is a gracious healer of the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3). This means that, while the Bible guides us in striving for justice, it also offers healing from our experiences of injustice and other forms of suffering. As the church seeks to be a bridge for racial reconciliation in America, resources like Bible-based trauma healing can help all families begin to heal by processing their own generational trauma at the feet of Jesus, the Wounded Healer.

WATCH: You can hear the stories of Americans who experienced healing from racial trauma in Unchained, a documentary on Bible-based trauma healing.

Let the Bible guide your prayer during Black History Month.

We invite you to join us in praying throughout Black History Month. Praise God as the Creator of all people and ask him to help you live out his law by loving your neighbors as more than strangers. Thank God for the example of Black changemakers who advocated for the Bible throughout our nation’s history. Pray for families today who may be carrying the burdens of trauma and ask God to help all of us find true healing in his Word. Thank God that the Bible continues to be a source of strength and hope for Black Americans. And pray for the church to be the leading voice in our culture as we point our friends, families, and neighbors to God’s Word as the roadmap for true reconciliation with God and others through Jesus Christ.

PRAY: You can use this prayer guide to guide your prayers for healing and unity in our nation.