On this (snowy) first day of February, we celebrate the beginning of Black History Month 2021—and the listing of the AME Zion Church of Kingston and Mt. Zion Cemetery by the New York State Office of Historic Preservation. The congregation was formed in 1848 and the church has been at its current site since 1863 (rebuilt three times); the cemetery is the final resting place for over 30 veterans—from the Civil War (including the USCT 20th Regiment) and three Buffalo Soldiers. We are grateful to Gov. Cuomo, Commissioner Dan and our wonderful Congressman, Rep. Antonio Delgado for supporting the listing and nomination to the National Register! Their commitment to celebrating and protecting our collective heritage and military history is exceptional.
For many of us, the struggle for racial and socioeconomic equity is daily: surviving a pandemic that has exposed the (growing) gap between those with much and those going without. Yet, even in these difficult times, we are reminded that we’ve survived through (seemingly) insurmountable odds: Since 1848, our congregation has seen war(s), the Great Depression, and weathered 43 election cycles. We have also seen peace, prosperity, and reaffirmation of our commitment to this grand experiment.
Today we celebrate our Church—its leadership, Rt. Reverend Dennis Proctor and First Lady D. Dianne Proctor; Presiding Elder, Rev. Isidoa Branch, and First Lady Susan Branch; and Rev. Mary Shelley-Bruce.
We celebrate the Mothers of our church—Harriet Tubman, Isabella Baumfree (Sojourner Truth), and Sarah-Ann Hasbrouck. We celebrate the Fathers of our church—Rev. James Varick, Frederick Douglass, Rev. Ben Judd, Bro. Everette Hodge and Bro. Leonard Van Dyke, Sr. . We celebrate little known war heroes, like Rev. J.R. Smith, who preached the word, wrote for the Democrat & Chronicle, spoke to Fred Douglass and John Brown—fought for the Union (and the promise of this country to ALL of its people). We celebrate the many congregations which grew and cultivate such people—our family—who are going through these difficult (and beautiful) times together. We celebrate everything we have gone through, will go through and will survive through.
We celebrate BLACK history because it is US history—the history of US.
A.M.E. Zion Church of Kingston
NYS SHPO Dec. 3rd, 2020 https://parks.ny.gov/newsroom/press-releases/release.aspx?r=1616
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