On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his powerful speech, ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’—a poignant address reflecting on the signing of the Declaration of Independence and its contradictions in the context of slavery. Douglass challenges his audience, both Black and white, to confront the injustice of slavery. He questions how Americans, especially those who claim to hold Christian values, can reconcile their celebration of freedom with the existence of slavery. He argues that true justice cannot exist as long as slavery is part of the American system. Though the speech is filled with criticism of American society, it also conveys a sense of hope and possibility for change. Douglass calls on Americans to live up to the principles of freedom and equality that their nation was supposedly founded on, and to take action to end slavery. Today: The rhetoric of equality in the United States often clashes with the lived reality of Black and Brown Americans. From police violence to racial profiling and economic disparities, many communities still face systemic racism. The current administration, for example, took steps to roll back protections for Black and Brown people in areas like housing, education, and voting rights. The "Make America Great Again" slogan, for many, harkens back to an era when racial segregation and exclusion were more overt, and the concept of equality was limited. Source: PBS Read more about the speech and Frederick Douglas from the National Museum of African American History and Culture CLICK HERE . Read the speech in its' entirety CLICK HERE . See the speech read by James Earl Jones below.

Today marks 61 years of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of U.S. legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, and is considered one of the most important legislative achievements of the American civil rights movement. Unfortunately, we are in a time “of loss of independence, opportunity and the revival of racism, anti-Semitism and oppressive government” – African Methodist Episcopal Council of Bishops We cannot make changes alone. Pray and then act. The A.M.E. Social Action committee will be working on a strategy that will be shared by the Council of Bishops. Read the full article from the Christian Recorder HERE .

May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month—a time to shine a spotlight on the risks of high blood pressure and how to prevent it. Take this opportunity to check your blood pressure and embrace healthy habits that protect your heart. "It is important to keep track of how much you exercise, your blood pressure, your weight, and your cholesterol numbers as ways to meet your heart health goals." As stated above in the graphic, high blood pressure can cause: Heart disease Stroke Kidney disease Dementia Visit the National Institutes of Health for more information HERE Download the Activity Chart HERE

Senator Alsobrooks has shared resources for Maryland residents. Dear Maryland Residents, I have dedicated my efforts to serving you with compassion, integrity, and a commitment to ensuring that every voice in our community is heard. In response to the challenges many of you have faced due to various executive orders from the current administration, I am releasing this resource catalogue designed specifically for Maryland residents affected by these changes. In these trying times, it is essential that we come together as a community to support one another. We also understand that access to the right information empowers our neighbors, our friends, our families, and ourselves to tread the difficult terrain that we are all traveling together. This document serves as a guide, providing valuable resources and links to assist you in navigating issues related to unemployment, immigration, workforce development, healthcare, relief and assistance for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, and more. I want you to know that you are not alone; I remain committed to advocating for your rights and addressing your concerns. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. Together, we can build a more inclusive and supportive Maryland for all. Thank you for your determination and resilience. Let us continue to stand united as we work through these challenges together. Access the Resource Guide HERE .

The DC Metro HBCU Alliance 5K Registration is open! The Race will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The Race will be held in Washington, DC; the location is to be announced. Virtual and in-person options are available for adults and children. Each registration will benefit our church's final revenue sharing payout at the end of the year, so feel free to invite family members and friends to join us as we run/walk to raise money to support young scholars who choose to attend our beloved HBCUs. The cost is $50 + 3.92 in fees, but the cost goes up to $55 plus fees on April 1. To register, click https://dchbcu.org/, select "Join a Team", select "HEMINGWAY MEMORIAL AME CHURCH" from the drop down box, and proceed with following the prompts to complete your registration! It is important that you select "HEMINGWAY MEMORIAL AME CHURCH" so that our church gets credit for the registration. Thanks in advance!

Hemingway answered Bishop Reginald Jackson's call to converge to Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC for a Press Conference on February 17, 2025. During the gathering, we were reminded of the strength of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and our people in times of hardships and struggle. Dr. Barbara Skinner said, "God still Reigns!". The initial purpose of the press conference was to celebrate the victory of Metropolitan AME Church (under the leadership of Pastor William Lamar), against the Proud Boys who attacked the church's Black Lives Matter sign during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Read More ---> Proud Boys ordered to Pay Black Church Read More ---> Black Church taking over Proud Boys IP Stay tuned for more details on the Target Boycott presented by our Bishop that will start on March 5th, (Ash Wednesday). Speakers: Bishop Reginald Jackson, 2nd Episcopal District Rev. William Lamar, IV, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan AME Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director - Counsel Emeritus Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner, CEO of Skinner Leadership Institute To see the recap of Hemingway attending this event, view the video below. Directly underneath the Hemingway video is the full press conference held at Metropolitan. Meeting starts at minute 17:18

Have you received a text message, email or letter alerting you to send in your personal information fora $1,400 tax rebate? The program is real but scammers are trying to trick you into giving them money. The IRS is automatically sending $1,400 rebate checks to eligible taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. Scammers are targeting taxpayers with fake text messages claiming they must provide personal details to receive their payment. The IRS has confirmed that it does not request sensitive information via text, email, or social media. Visit the IRS website here to read more on how to check to make sure you are not being scammed. CLICK HERE TO GO THE IRS WEBSITE Here’s what to look for: A big payday — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is Threats or urgent requests to pay right now or else, or to pay in a specific way Misspellings and grammatical errors Links, attachments or odd URLs — all trusted IRS links go to irs.gov

The time has come again to celebrate our youth. All Parents/Guardians, please send your 2nd quarter semester grades by Sunday, March 9th. We will hand out awards on Sunday, March 16th during Y.A.Y.A. (Youth and Young Adult Sunday). Please access the form at bit.ly/hemingwayscholars

February is Heart Health Month. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Tips for maintaining a healthy heart: Get your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Checked Choose Heart Healthy foods Aim for a health weight Get Regular Physical Activity Manage Stress Quit Smoking Get Enough Quality Sleep Source: What Is Heart Healthy Living? We invite you to join us at the virtual "Think Health, Think Heart" event on ZOOM. This is hosted by the Millennium Seat Pleasant Club and the Black Physicians & Healthcare Network