CalChurches 
Black people should celebrate life for every truth that could not be hidden, for every accomplishment that could not be erased, for every achievement that had to be fought for that we ourselves don’t even share, for every small victory, for every scrimmage, for every battle, for every war, for our lives making phenomenal contributions.
Black people should celebrate life for knowing that we built this country and recognizing that we should own it,
Black people should celebrate life.
There isn’t one day in the year that somebody hasn’t lied about our contribution and we’re still here, black people should celebrate life.
Every day we should look at one another and celebrate the opportunity to love. Every day we have an opportunity to change the course of any dark, negative, disparaging, depreciating lie into a more significant, real, true, reality of our value. Black people should celebrate life.
If it is going to require that our contribution to the celebration of Independence Day ignores our involvement in the fight than those of you who don’t appreciate the lit sky on July 4th make sure the sky is colorful on June 19th. Black people should celebrate life.
Under the last six years of the First African-American president who focused on solving problems and met with great disdain and reluctance, and who, despite the challenges of the day and the concerns for a greater tomorrow, forged an agenda that allows for us to see a greater day directly because of our contribution. Not 60 years ago, not even 10 years ago, was this current state of affairs was even thought of as being possible. The only thing that’s left for us to do in all of our efforts to correct the narrative regarding our impact and value on this nation and others is to update all current written misconceptions and misrepresentations with the true values and contributions of our people. In other words, we need to correct the history books so that everyone will get the story right. It is only after that is done that I truly believe that we as black people will finally realize that every day that we survive is worth celebrating. Black people should celebrate life. IJS.
Black people should celebrate life for knowing that we built this country and recognizing that we should own it,
Black people should celebrate life.
There isn’t one day in the year that somebody hasn’t lied about our contribution and we’re still here, black people should celebrate life.
Every day we should look at one another and celebrate the opportunity to love. Every day we have an opportunity to change the course of any dark, negative, disparaging, depreciating lie into a more significant, real, true, reality of our value. Black people should celebrate life.
If it is going to require that our contribution to the celebration of Independence Day ignores our involvement in the fight than those of you who don’t appreciate the lit sky on July 4th make sure the sky is colorful on June 19th. Black people should celebrate life.
Under the last six years of the First African-American president who focused on solving problems and met with great disdain and reluctance, and who, despite the challenges of the day and the concerns for a greater tomorrow, forged an agenda that allows for us to see a greater day directly because of our contribution. Not 60 years ago, not even 10 years ago, was this current state of affairs was even thought of as being possible. The only thing that’s left for us to do in all of our efforts to correct the narrative regarding our impact and value on this nation and others is to update all current written misconceptions and misrepresentations with the true values and contributions of our people. In other words, we need to correct the history books so that everyone will get the story right. It is only after that is done that I truly believe that we as black people will finally realize that every day that we survive is worth celebrating. Black people should celebrate life. IJS.
The Rev. Kenneth Baker is pastor of Bethel AME Church in Perris CA and a member of the California Council of Churches Board of Directors.