Myth Busting Black History Month
Racial Justice Forum Co-Chairs Revd Daniel Ramble and Elizabeth Rene have been tackling some of the misconceptions about Black History Month, whilst reflecting on their new roles and their aspirations for the diocese.
Meeting at St George’s in Stockport, where Revd Ramble is the incumbent, they were keen to stress that they do not want to impose a rigid structure for others to follow, but instead to build respectful and honest relationships across the Diocese.
Elizabeth Rene, who has been an active member of the forum for the last five years, said: "This is about relationship and how we build those strong relationships with each other and those that we are working with, and with that will come a growing trust of each other.
“I think it is really important for those who are listening, those we are working with, to understand that we are not bringing a rigid structure or set of ideas here. We are flexible, and part of being flexible is a willingness to listen to others. However, it is not just listening, we are called to action too.”
The forum has identified three central racial justice principles for the Diocese: memory, dignity and mission. Remembering truthfully the experiences of others, showing equal dignity to everyone, and helping the Church to flourish by celebrating the gifts, cultures and voices of all people.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Revd Ramble recounted memories of when he first came to the UK from India: “When I came to this country there used to be something called “Cultural Appropriation Training”, and I remember the summary of that session was, ‘You are in Britain, you need to start seeing through the British lens.
And as I’ve been raised as a child with love and care by my wonderful family back in India, I raised my hand and I asked a question:
“What do I do with my Indian eyes?” And I still continue to ask that question, and I hope one day I don’t need to. But till that day, these principles that we have shared is one way of helping us, building us together as the body of Christ.”
Black History Month is a very important time for all of us to learn from historic injustice and discrimination, according to Elizabeth Rene.
She said: “It is not about making people feel guilty, that’s not a very productive way of thinking. It is about making people aware of the choices that can be made through the learning we have, by looking back through history, through listening to the lived experience of people.”
“It is about truthful understanding. It is about shared responsibility, not guilt, and it is about freedom to make choices together. We all have a part to play.”
A Poem for Black History Month - Our Crossing, by the Revd A. Daniel Ramble, Co-Chair of the Diocese of Chester’s Racial Justice Forum.
Our Crossing - by Revd A. Daniel Ramble
We begin not by speaking, but by listening.
To the stories carried across water.
To the welcome that was promised, and the belonging that was sometimes denied.
We listen - until memory becomes more than history, until another’s story troubles our certainty and enlarges our own.
Then we seek - among testimony and silence, archives and wounds, courage and grace - for the truth we have not yet fully seen.
And only then do we find the courage to tell it:
Where welcome fell short of belonging.
Where communion was contradicted by exclusion.
Where the body of Christ forgot that every member belonged.
But truth is not the end.
At the table, none of us is the owner; none of us the tolerated guest.
Jesus is the Host. Jesus is the Bread. We are all guests.
So, the crossing continues:
From listening to seeking,
From truth to repentance,
From memory to communion,
From communion to change.
And perhaps the question we carry home is simply this:
What will be different because we have listened to the story of our crossing?
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22 October 2026