In November, we celebrate Black Catholic History Month, established in 1990 by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States. November is the appropriate month for this celebration because it marks special days for two prominent Catholics of color: St. Martin de Porres, whose feast day is November 3, and St. Augustine of Hippo, whose birthday is on November 13.
This year, especially—one in which we witness not only racial injustice and race-based violence in the United States, but also a global pandemic that has disproportionately affected people of color—we raise up our Black brothers and sisters as we continue to pray for and advocate fair and just treatment of all people.
Our weekly blog series this year features a reflection on what it means to be Black and Catholic in this current cultural climate. We look at the Garifuna Lives Matter movement that promotes respect for a minority African group in Honduras. Also, we celebrate the appointment of the first African-American cardinal from the U.S.
Watch a short video featuring Sister Cora Marie Billings discussing Black Catholic History Month, anti-racism and the six African Americans currently in the canonization process: