Oklahoma State Representative George Young Speaks at MACU to Celebrate Black History Month

February 2nd, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY– Mid-America Christian University welcomed Rep. George Young (D-OK) to chapel services Feb. 2 to speak about Black History Month. The service was held at 10 a.m. in MACU’s JASCO Chapel on the college campus in south Oklahoma City.

During his sermon, Young explained the origins of Black History Month. The annual celebration of achievements by African Americans started in the 1920s when historian Carter G. Woodson established the second week of February to serve as “Negro History Week.” In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month and called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans throughout our history.”

After a brief history, Young kept his topic forward-facing. He put a great emphasis on the current and future state of race relations. Young said although racism still has roots in U.S. culture, equality has come a long way.

“We’ve taken it much further than I ever could have imagined,” he said. “We aren’t victims anymore — not because of this month, but because we’ve had some great victories. Where else could it happen, except in a great nation, where ones who were once enslaved could move to great positions of power?”

Young highlighted many great black Americans who have held state and federal offices, including supreme justices, mayors of major cities and President Barack Obama.

“This is a nation that is struggling and that has struggled,” he said. “But stop and look at how far we’ve come. Look at how much we’ve done, and keep looking forward.”

Young is a faithful supporter of MACU and its students. Since 2013, he has taught classes on Theology, Pastoral Care and Non-Profit Organization and Management as an adjunct professor at MACU.

Every year in February, MACU celebrates Black History Month with a commemorative chapel service and other activities. These services are open to the public and are archived online at www.macu.edu/watch.