March 16

Today in 1995, one-hundred thirty years after the Civil War, Mississippi became the last state to formally ratify the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery. 

This is the birthday, in 1846, of Rebecca Cole, the second African-American woman doctor in the United States. Dr. Cole stood up to W.E.B. Dubois regarding the poor life expectancy of her Black patients, arguing that it was due not to ignorance and poor hygiene, but the neglect of white doctors to adequately pay attention to her patients’ medical history that cause poor health outcomes. She was one of the first people to raise awareness of medical racism. 

Today is also the birthday of William Henry Monk, in 1823, a church musician and composer who wrote the music for “Abide with Me” and “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” 

Reflection: 

The lyrics to Abide with Me were written by Henry Francis Lyte. 

Prayer: Holy Comforter, abide with us in this time of political evil, environmental collapse, white supremacy, and social peril. Heal our society so we may heal more bodies and beings. Amen.