Mount Zion Apostolic Church Bishop Ricketts
Family Day – 2021
Today is proclaimed Family Day. This is a time for families to take a moment to reflect on what it means to be truly a family. How appropriately this day is declared during Black History Month.
The Black Family historically has been closely united and stayed close to one another for protection from their enemies, especially those motivated by racial bigotry. For centuries, fear and distrust of oppressors and laws supporting segregation, made it difficult for Blacks to move about freely, thereby limiting and restricting opportunities for growth and development. The church became a focal place where Blacks met not only for worship but also for recreation, education, and many other social and community services. In Toronto for instance, we had Black churches like the First Baptist Church, the British Methodist Episcopal (BME), the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), and Mount Zion Apostolic churches. As a young person, these churches were the venues for most of our activities. Because the community was relatively small it was easier to be recognized as a young person. We were identified, for example, as the Jones boy or girl, the Browns boy or girl or the Ricketts boy or girl. It was not hard for any adult in this community to recognize you if you were doing something wrong, illegal or even just improper. It was also expected for that adult to intercede, reprimand and report to your parent. The community assumed much responsibility for nurturing and facilitating the development of our young people.
Life also seemed to be easier and simpler for families to bond and unite. As I recall, the early 50’s was a time that was good for the bonding of adults and children. As kids, we would play in the school yard until dark or play in the gym until it was time for the care taker to clean it. In those days, no permit was required to use these facilities. Then we would rush home to listen to the adventures of Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger on the radio and for drama or intrigue we would listen to Fibber McKee and Molly, the Great Gildersleeve. There was no television and we tended to listen to the radio together as a family. As well as I can remember, my uncle was one of the first to have a television and the benefit of his own home for the antennae signal. There, at my uncle’s home, we would all gather, the immediate and extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins), to watch TV. Programs on the TV, tended to be family oriented and suitable for the entire family. There was no need for parental guidance, classification of programs, or viewer discretion. With the increase in the population, urban sprawl of the community to different parts of an expanding city, parents becoming younger and younger, and the increase of virtual communication technology (computers, cell phones, social media etc.), the sense of togetherness has been on the decline. It is rumored that the number of cell phones is greater than even the populations of many small communities.
As a teenager and I know still today many young people who are on track for a promising future, deliver newspapers, baby sit, shovel snow, and just get outside to earn money to assist with the family budget or for their own upbringing. Some of our young people and often due to restricted opportunities, as well as the battles of systemic racism, have regrettably and unfortunately gone astray.
Our future should be invested in our youth. We cannot afford the early loss of any of them. Let’s embrace the youth among us that are at risk, fortify them, and encourage them to resist temptations to go off track.
A ‘Buffalo Soldier’ carving was created by one of my patients and a hobby carver, Rupert Dash, who enlightened me on the distinguished history of these African – American cavalry of soldiers as they have come to be known as ‘Buffalo Soldiers’. As I searched for more information, I learned that from 1866-67, the United States Congress organized a Cavalry and Infantry Regiment of Black soldiers, segregated from white soldiers during the wars with the Indian Nation. The Native Americans had such great respect for the abilities of these Black soldiers that they called them ‘Buffalo Soldiers’. These soldiers demonstrated strength and courage during battles. They were stationed at military posts and help build the Western United States. Some sources state that the Native Americans called these black soldiers ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ because of their dark curly hair which resembled the Buffalo. The term ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ became a generic term for all African American soldiers. The Buffalo Soldier regiment served in many wars, including the Spanish American, the Philippine American Wars and both World Wars I and II.
Today is Family Day, a day in the month of black history celebration, when we recognize and pay homage to many of the heroes who have forged and paved the path for many of us here today and those to come. My hope is for our Black community maintain a sense of family unity and to strive to become ‘Buffalo Soldiers’.
Should you need some assistance in remembering the ‘Buffalo Soldier’ here’s Bob Marley to lend you a hand. Then of course, there is Sly and the Family Stone’s “We are Family” to lend us a hand for today’s holiday.
This message was revised from a family Day presentation for Mount Zion Apostolic Church on February 18, 2013 given by Dr. Maurice Bygrave. (Revised by Denise Williams, February 2021)