Rare Films to Celebrate the Vision of 60s Civil Rights Leader
Summary
### Houston, TX, June 07, 2007 --( PR.com )-- The Pan African Orthodox Christian Church will present “A Timeless Visionary: Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman (Rev.They offer a unique opportunity to witness one of America’s most compelling political and religious figures in his own words and at the height of power and influence.VisionaryThe Shrine of the Black Madonna was founded in 1953 as St. Mark’s Community Church and changed its name to Central Congregational Church in 1954 and Central United Church of Christ in 1965.It entered into its present incarnation when the then-Reverend Cleage unveiled a striking 18-foot chancel mural of a Black Madonna and child and proclaimed the creed of Black Christian Nationalism (BCN) on Easter Sunday, 1967.The mural, which is in the process of being restored, quickly became world-famous and BCN became the major force in restoring the African roots of Christianity and resuscitating the historical role of the black church as a leader of change in all spheres of life.By 1962, Reverend Cleage and his church were at the center of the burgeoning civil-rights and Black-Power movements, locally, nationally and internationally.He marched with and spoke on the same program as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Detroit’s historic “Walk To Freedom” in June 1963, addressed two meetings with Malcolm X in 1963 and 1964 (and was quoted by Malcolm X on both occasions), and hosted Rosa Parks, the “mother” of the modern civil-rights movement, in 1966.The church was rechristened the Shrine of the Black Madonna in 1970 and the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church was founded in 1978 as a new black denomination, of which the Shrine is a part.Reverend Cleage became known as Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman in 1972.Community RevitalizedAs recounted in “Church Steps in to Revive Neighborhood” by Norma Martin in the Houston Chronicle, Sunday, October 24, 1993, the PAOCC expanded to Houston and purchased a church and adjacent building at 5317 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.Among the Shrine’s Houston assets are The Shrine Bookstore and Cultural Center which was purchased in 1973 and remains the largest black-owned bookstore chain in the United States, 3 houses and 1 three story mansion close by on Martin Luther King Blvd.Cardinal Aswad Walker, Pastor of the Shrine of the Black Madonna’s Southwest Region, will host the program.No audio, photographic or video recording devices will be allowed.### Contact Information Shrine of the Black Madonna Ewunike Nhau (713) 645-1071 www.blessingsoffaith.org Click here to view the list of recent Press Releases from Shrine of the Black Madonna Promote Your Business Press Release Pricing Email this page to a friend