Black History Bootcamp. S6. Day 6
Day 6
The Address: 312 Azusa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011
The Story: Have you ever heard someone speak in tongues? If you don’t know exactly what I mean, tune in today.
If you know…you know.
Goosebumps.
This emoji 👀.
The organists and choir stop.
Vrrooop.
God takes center stage.
Skeptics look away.
Believers take note.
During a revival on Azusa Street, it happened in a public venue on American soil, and journalists came.
“Weird Babel of Tongues”
…was the headline.
On April 18, 1906, The Los Angeles Times printed:
“Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could understand, the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles. Meetings are held in a tumbledown shack on Azusa Street near San Pedro Street, and the devotees of the weird doctrine practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories and work themselves into a state of mad excitement in their peculiar zeal. Colored people and a sprinkling of whites compose the congregation, and night is made hideous in the neighborhood by the howling of the worshipers swaying back and forth in an attitude of prayer and supplication.”
This was The Azusa Street Revival.
It lasted three years.
How could those journalists, with their poorly veiled racism, possibly understand?
It was a spiritual breakthrough.
A rallying call for the newly freed.
The reclaiming of African know-how
…on American soil.
312 Azusa Street, Los Angelos, California was the official birthplace of the Black Pentecostal Movement, the fastest-growing religious movement in American history.
For every Black girl who played the tambourine and knows the response to the lyrics “This joy that I have…”
…this is your history.
Our history.
Black history.
And if you KNOW God has brought us through!!!
You better shout!
Somebody ought to dance.
On the podcast today, we will open the line for testimony service and prayer requests so think about what you have to be thankful for or what you really want God to do in your life, and raise your virtual hand by dialing #9.
Wherever you are, let’s roll …
Meet us in the Streets: Grab your earbuds, put on your sneakers, and join co-founders Morgan and Vanessa for Black History Bootcamp, a walking podcast powered by GirlTrek. We can’t wait to talk…
Catch up on Spotify podcasts.
Episodes are available after 48 hours.
The Neighborhood Call to Action
Listen: The Azusa Street Revival: A Neighborhood Playlist
Support Black Neighborhoods:
Tithe: We’ve talked a lot about collective economics like SouSou. If you are blessed to find a church that is doing good work in your community, another way to support sustainable liberation and historic Black institutions is to tithe.
Walk: Start a walking crew at your church. We can help. Email Cynthia at churches@girltrek.org with the subject: New Crew and a message that says “I’m ready Cynthia!”
Watch: The Black Church, a triumphant documentary series by Henry Louis Gates on PBS. You can stream it for free here: https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/ (Consider donating to PBS. They’ve always done right by us.)
If you want to join the 21-Day Bootcamp and continue to receive these emails, click here. If it is giving you life, forward this and invite a friend.