Shoge Urges Dialogue, Commitment in Black History Speech
Published in Kent County News | Peter Heck | February 17, 2016
“Just say ‘Hi.’”
Those simple words can be the key to breaking down barriers, Chestertown Councilman Sam Shoge said at the annual Janes Church Black History program Saturday, Feb. 13.
Shoge’s warm, wide-ranging speech was the center of “Many Rivers to Cross,” a program of music, prayer and celebration in the parish hall of Christ United Methodist Church. A graduate of Kent County High School who now works as an assistant director of admissions at Washington College, Shoge has been active in creating a marketing committee for the Town of Chestertown. He is also one of the founders of the new Young Professionals of Kent County group.
Nivek Johnson of Janes Church, introducing Shoge, characterized him as full of energy and passion, and one who embodies a positive image for young black men.
Shoge began by asking how Black History Month became controversial. He noted important inventions by black people, including carbon filaments for light bulbs, blood banks, gas masks and stop lights. The nation’s economy was built on the backs of slaves, he said.
“Black History Month is about awareness of where we come from and where we’d like to see ourselves in the future,” Shoge said. He mentioned current news stories that show the barriers black people still face in American society: reaction to Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance, widespread disrespect of President Barack Obama, the appearance of Confederate flags in response to protests of police brutality. “How did we become so divided?” he said.
Shoge then looked back at his own youth as a student in H.H. Garnett Elementary School. “Elementary school kids are good at ignoring stereotypes,” he said. He said he found a photo of his first grade class, and remembered all the fun he had with each of the other students. “Things slowly changed,” he said, remembering how in the upper grades students would increasingly gravitate to different tables and take part in different activities with members of their own race. That continued after graduation, he said, when all the blacks had many white friends and all the whites had one black friend. “How can we understand others when we have no friends of other races?” Shoge asked.
He said his experiences, including school activities where he was often the only black person in a room and interactions with college friends, helped him learn to break down barriers and build bridges. During the Baltimore protests after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, he said some of his white friends reached out to him to help them understand the events. “Friends are able to learn from each other and grow together,” he said.
He said his career in town government began when, at age 23, he walked up to Town Manager Bill Ingersoll, introduced himself and asked about the town planning commission. Within a week, he was offered an appointment to the commission, he said. In the same way, he became a member of the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department – introducing himself and expressing an interest in joining.
Volunteers keep Kent County running, Shoge said. But it’s as if there were two counties, one white and one black. “We have to commit to doing things together,” he said. Getting youth involved is the key, he said. Schools could be “the glue that holds them together” instead of tacitly allowing self-segregation of the races. He asked audience members to lead by example, for instance by inviting friends of other races to events like the luncheon to get a dialogue going.
“It’s the only way to move the community forward – we have to do it ourselves,” Shoge said. Friendship, fellowship and faith are the ultimate keys to progress, he said..
In addition to Shoge’s talk, the luncheon featured music by the Souls of Faith from Emmanuel United Methodist Church and by the Men of Janes, each of which performed two selections.
The Children of Sisters with a Goal gave a presentation highlighted by a reading of Martin Luther King Jr’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech by 9-year-old Malachi Dunn of Worton. A video of King’s life ran while lunch was served.
Judith Kennard of Arron Chapel United Methodist Church, Rock Hall, gave a spirited reading of RuNett Nia Ebo’s poem, “Lord, Why Did You Make Me Black?”
Dorothy Sisco of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Centreville gave a capsule history of Janes Church, which segued into an often biting commentary on how community attitudes toward church have changed. “We’ve come a long way – but have we?” she asked, and the audience responded with approval of her viewpoint.
The Rev. Candy Miles of Janes Church concluded the ceremonies by thanking all who contributed – including Janet Wilkerson for decorations, the culinary arts team of Christ Church, and members of Alpha Phi Omega from Wesley College, who helped serve lunch.
