Judson to host series on race relations for Black History Month

Judson University's Chapel Ministry will feature a series of talks next week called "Beyond Colorblind" to highlight the importance of diversity and Black History Month within its community.

The series will engage the Judson community on current issues of race relations in light of the gospel, reflecting the Christian liberal arts university's commitment to diversity and social engagement, officials said.

Programs will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. Featured speakers are: Christian spoken word poet and hip-hop artist Propaganda; Ray Chang, ministry associate for Discipleship at Wheaton College; and the Rev. Charlie Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago.

Propaganda's work highlights the challenges of racial violence from his upbringing in Los Angeles. He has released seven albums, most recently "Crooked" in 2017. He will speak during Monday's chapel service where Judson will host many visiting families for Preview Day.

Chang, a native Chicagoan, will speak Wednesday about race relations in America. He has served across the world in various positions during his time with the Peace Corps in Panama, and he has traveled extensively in Asia, Europe and Central America.

Dates, who earned a doctorate in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, will close the series Friday by sharing his original research on the health of proclamation in 20th century black churches in Chicago. In January, Dates' church hosted the Faith & Politics Forum, seeking to bring a biblical view to the political and social issues facing the city of Chicago.

The events are free and open to the public. For more information about the chapel series, visit judsonu.edu/chapel/.