An exciting show with a history of 35 years ended last weekend. Inspired by the iconic 60-panel painting series, Step Afrika!’s “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence” tells the story of one of the largest movements of people in United States history — when millions of African American migrants moved from the rural South to the industrial North in the early 1900s to escape racial oppression.
“The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence” is presented through generous funding from Reg Brown and Tiffeny Sanchez and made possible with additional support from B. Thomas Mansbach. As part of Arena Stage’s new pre-show panel discussion, I was invited to participate in a panel — “From Migration to Movement: The Legacy and Future of the Black Church” — just prior to the 2 p.m. show, along with Dr. Leah Burgess.
The panel, moderated by Arena Stage literary manager Otis C. Ramsey-Zöe as the moderator, aimed to engage the audience with of a dose of reality. As a sharecropper’s daughter, I had personally experienced most of what was reflected in the award-winning play!
Questions brought out my sharecropper background of picking cotton, tobacco and doing anything the family could do together to bring in a few extra dollars. Raised by two Pentecostal preachers, my life has taken many different twists and turns.
Now allow me to share a bit more about my co-panelist Leah Burgess. As a distinguished scholar in divinity and social work, as well as the council executive president of Howard University School of Divinity Student Government Association, Burgess stands on the brink of graduation. Her journey exemplifies the seamless integration of academic rigor with a profound sense of purpose.
Her story begins in Marlton, N.J., where she was born to parents who both worked in social work and are ministers. Reflecting on her upbringing, she acknowledges the influence of her father, who holds a master’s degree in divinity: “In so many ways, I am walking in his footsteps. He heard a call to ministry … and there is something about having a glimpse of what you can be because of what you’ve seen others be.”
For Burgess, 46, her call to ministry unfolds as a series of formative moments, as noted in her bio on the Howard University website. From witnessing the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia, where a house occupied by members of the communal organization was destroyed when police dropped two explosives onto the roof in May 1985, to surviving sexual assault, each experience has propelled her towards advocacy for social justice.
Her commitment to “abolishing shame” was ignited by her own trauma, fueling her passion for advocating for sexual violence survivors and addressing issues such as sexual violence, poverty, mass incarceration, and addiction.
Discovering Howard University’s Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work dual degree program felt serendipitous, aligning perfectly with her dual passions for ministry and social work.
After initially applying to a different divinity program and later learning that the program was not accredited, Burgess found herself being led by God to other options.
One summer, Burgess visited the School of Divinity. Campus was quiet, as most students were on break and faculty members at various conferences. She walked to the fourth floor and met then-Dean Yolanda Pierce’s executive assistant, who offered Burgess the opportunity to speak with the dean, and the rest was history. Burgess describes her journey to this point as a “beautiful struggle or piece of the puzzle.”
At Howard, she found a community dedicated to preparing practitioners who transcend immediate challenges, striving to instill in them a broader vision of social justice and empowerment. This environment empowered Burgess to fully embrace her voice and agency, recognizing that true empowerment comes from within.
As the world of religion and theology evolves, she will be there alongside it. Today, she finds that there has been a shift in how people engage with religious systems and the theory that people must come to a church to experience the church. This understanding inspired her goal of curating “third spaces” for people to gather and connect.
“There are multiple layers to connecting with people around things that people already enjoy, i.e. gathering for a good meal,” Burgess said. “When you open a space for people to come together, eventually they’ll feel a sense of belonging [and] safety, and will want to share their story.”
It was indeed a lively discussion, with stories hidden inside the drama, brought to life with panelists who lived in this Jim Crow era of American history.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.