Spirit of Abundance

Spirit of Abundance, God of Grace, Mother of Hope,
We pause now to remember those stories that are all around us,
But so often passed over,
Those stories that when told are shared because
Of what someone is, not who they are.

This month in our nation's character
Is Black History month.
Help us to realize that Black history is
All our histories.

We remember the hurts of exclusion and prejudice,
but we know that you can raise our vision above all barriers
 and give us wisdom and courage to make this a better world.

May the day come when these stories
Are so wildly taught that no month need
Be separately divided.
We know this day will not come until we as a people
Make different choices.
We pray now for those new choices.

May we come to see a day where the prison system
Becomes redemptive, not punitive.
A day where the legal system learns to focus more squarely on the facts,
And the not colors of our skin.
A day where our schools are as well funded, as the needs demand.
May our role models be allowed to excel when they thrive,
And not be taken down for their rich heritage. May we come to know grace,
So that our hearts will not be hardened to the pain around us.

There are so many beautiful stories needing to be told.
And we need to get the chance to hear them.
Widen our vision so that the history that is shared this month,
And every month,
Come to be known as our history too.
We are most human when we see the humanity in others. (Author Unknown)

Here are three stories needing to be told and shared by Michelle Darrisaw who is the Culture & News Writer for OprahMag.com. Each of these creative souls were gifted in their own unique ways, and each used their creative talents to make the world a better place. 

Minnie Riperton (1947 – 1979)

Mariah Carey is heralded for her whistle register, which is the highest the human voice is capable of reaching.  Riperton perfected the singing technique years before and was best known for her  five octave range. The whistling can be heard on her biggest hit to date, “Lovin' You” The infectious ballad was originally created as an ode to her daughter, Maya Rudolph, of Bridesmaids and Saturday Night Live fame. However, before she could become a household name, she died in 1979 at the age of 31 from breast cancer.

Jane Bolin (1908 – 2007)

A pioneer in law, Jane Bolin was the first Black woman to attend Yale Law School in 1931. In 1939, she became the  first black female judge in the United States, where she served for 10 years. One of her significant contributions throughout her career was working with private employers to hire people based on their skills, as opposed to discriminating against them because of their race. She also served on the boards of the NAACP, Child Welfare League of America, and the Neighborhood Children’s Center.

Gordon Parks (1912-2006)

Parks was the first African American on the staff of  LIFE magazine, and later he would be responsible for some of the most beautiful imagery in the pages of Vogue. He also was the first Black director of a major film, Shaft, helping to shape the blaxploitation era in the '70s. Parks famously told LIFE in 1999: "I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera."

Michelle is the Culture & News Writer for OprahMag.com.

Prayer and Reflection offered by Liz Sorensen Wessel