Ancestors: The Names That Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us

Summary

The hand of ancestors in our affairs is undeniable. They exist all around us. And yet, the United States does not often use the word ancestor. But ancestors are as active here as they are in cultures that center ancestral presence. By failing to name the ancestors who bless us—as well as the ones that dehumanize us—we harm ourselves, our communities, our country.

As the pastor of one of the oldest Black churches in Washington, DC, William H. Lamar IV has a deep connection to his own ancestors and the ancestral legacy of his church. He offers a perspective on the role that our ancestors play in shaping our lives and communities, for without acknowledging their importance, we cannot move forward morally, ethically, spiritually, or politically.

Lamar examines ancestors, political leaders, and voices of Scripture, and draws from African and African American ancestors to show how they shape our identities and moral compasses.

Challenging the dominant, white-led theology that cloaks its own ancestor veneration, while seeking to keep others from the liberation that could come from their own, Lamar deconstructs the religious myths that restrict wise voices of life-giving influence.