“In the South, no people have suffered such great oppression as the colored people…for no people has so little been done to uplift…” (Ellen G. White, 1899).
My church, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, has historically fused faith with justice, building a legacy of racial equity, community empowerment, and cultural resilience that continues to shape Black communities today, even as they face new threats like gentrification. From challenging segregation and advocating for education to building institutions and nurturing leaders, the church has consistently pushed the culture forward.
This commitment to justice was rooted in the vision of Ellen G. White, a cofounder of the SDA church, who boldly declared in her 1891 address “Our Duty to the Colored People,” that “The color line was not created by God but by man, and it is man’s duty to erase it.” At a time when many churches upheld segregation or remained silent, White’s words called Adventists to confront racial injustice head-on. She urged the church to establish schools and hospitals that would serve formerly enslaved people, writing, “Let us do something for the colored people in the South. Let us not neglect them.” Her message was clear: spiritual conviction must lead to tangible action. Declarations like these laid the foundation for a church deeply engaged in social reform.
Grounded in abolitionist beliefs and White’s call to uplift African Americans through education and service, the SDA Church built a framework that would guide its active role in the Civil Rights Movement. This vision led to the founding of Oakwood Industrial School in 1896—now Oakwood University—a historically Black Adventist institution that became a hub for developing leaders who advanced churches, communities, and civil rights.
Among Oakwood’s most influential alumni was Elder E.E. Cleveland, a key figure in Adventist evangelism and the Civil Rights Movement. He organized Oakwood’s first chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the nation’s oldest and most influential civil rights organization, dedicated to fighting racial discrimination and advancing justice for African Americans. His activism extended beyond the church: he joined the March on Washington with Dr. King, supported the Poor People’s Campaign, and launched “Feed the Hungry” programs in over 20 cities. His legacy reflects how the Adventist faith translated into tangible service for vulnerable communities.
Today, that legacy faces a new challenge: gentrification. Rising costs and urban development displace longtime residents and threaten the cultural heritage of historically Black neighborhoods. For Black Seventh-day Adventist churches, which serve as spiritual, cultural, and social anchors, this challenge affects their ability to provide education, health services, and community support. Yet many churches respond with resilience and purpose. Ephesus SDA Church in Harlem, NY exemplifies this approach, expanding food pantries, health screenings, and youth mentorship programs to serve both longtime members and new residents. By balancing heritage with innovation, SDA churches like Ephesus preserve community and embody compassion, justice, and service. Witnessing programs through organizations like Maranatha Volunteers International and ADRA, I saw firsthand how faith-driven action transforms lives. Their example inspired me to contribute meaningfully, even as a student.
Guided by a conviction I believe God placed on our family’s heart, my brother and I started Skyward Hope, a student club focused on service through fundraising and volunteering. At first, I doubted we could make a real impact, but seeing families at a health clinic in India showed us that even with limited resources, we could make a difference. Since then, our team has hosted medical camps for about 600 people, tutored over 300 students, and organized donation drives for those often overlooked. We now hope to expand into Coatesville and Kensington in Philadelphia, providing aid and creating internships to give students a head start. Our goal is lasting empowerment, carried out not by our strength but by God’s guidance, continuing the Adventist legacy of justice and care.
One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had was serving at an AMEN (Adventist Medical Evangelism Network) clinic in Baltimore. The city was chosen because of the stark healthcare disparities affecting many of its residents, especially in neighborhoods where poverty and systemic neglect have long denied people consistent care. For two days, a convention center became a place of healing, offering free medical, dental, vision, mental health, physical therapy, and even barber services to hundreds who had gone years without treatment. What moved me most was the way every patient was treated with dignity. Adventist doctors, nurses, and students, many sacrificing time and resources, worked side by side to meet urgent needs in a community too often overlooked. Witnessing this deep commitment to Baltimore’s Black community didn’t just inspire me; it confirmed my conviction that faith finds its truest expression when it fuels service to those most in need.
This mission echoes a long tradition. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has played a vital role in uplifting African American communities, from Ellen G. White’s prophetic calls for justice to the fearless leadership of figures like E.E. Cleveland. As gentrification threatens the stability of historic Black neighborhoods and churches, the SDA Church faces renewed challenges to its commitment to equity and community. Yet its legacy offers both foundation and mandate: to advocate for justice, preserve cultural and spiritual heritage, and remain relevant in today’s struggles and tomorrow’s hopes.
And that mandate now belongs to us. We are the inheritors of a movement that refused to separate faith from action, that built schools when others built walls, and that preached hope in places others abandoned. In this moment, when displacement and inequality loom large, we must rise with the same conviction. Whether through youth-led service, community outreach, or spiritual resilience, we carry forward a legacy that insists justice is sacred, and service is worship. The work is not finished. But with faith as our foundation and compassion as our compass, we press on, uplifting, empowering, and transforming the communities we are called to serve.
***
Bibliography:
Baldwin, Lewis V., editor. The Enduring Legacy of Ellen G. White and Social Justice. Pacific Press, 2017.
Branson, Roy. Ellen G. White: Racist or Champion of Equality? Spectrum Magazine.
Sahlin, Monte. “Ellen G. White and the Politics of Racial Justice (Part III).” Spectrum Magazine, www.spectrummagazine.org/article/ellen-g-white-politics-racial-justice-part-iii.
London, Samuel. “Seventh-day Adventists and the Civil Rights Movement.” Andrews University Seminary Studies, www.andrews.edu/library.
“Oakwood College Students’ Quest for Social Justice Before and During the Civil Rights Era.” The Journal of African American History, vol. 88, no. 2, 2003, pp. 110–125.
“The Road to Racial Progress in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” Andrews University Research Commons, digitalcommons.andrews.edu.
Kinny, Charles Marshall. “Foundations of the Black Work.” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, encyclopedia.adventist.org.
Oakwood University Libraries. “Resources in History and Political Science: Home.” libguides.oakwood.edu/historypoliticalscience.
White, Ellen G. “Our Duty to the Colored People.” 1891.
“Ellen G. White’s Use of the Term ‘Race War,’ and Related Insights.” Compiled statements, www.egwwritings.org.
“Ellen G. White: A Subject for Adventist Scholarship.” Spectrum Magazine, www.spectrummagazine.org.
“More about the Legacy of Race in Seventh-day Adventist Culture.” Adventist Today, www.atoday.org.
“1919 and the Rise of Black Adventism.” Spectrum Magazine, www.spectrummagazine.org.