I've been a Deval Patrick fan since his days at the DOJ when as Clinton's point person on civil rights he was kind enough to consider my concerns about the voting rights of people who are homeless. So this act, reported by United Church News editor J. Bennett Guess, doesn't surprise me:
When Massachusetts Governor-elect Deval Patrick takes the oath of office on Jan. 4, he will place his hand on a Bible given to John Quincy Adams by Africans held captive aboard the Amistad trade ship, according to Associated Press.
Patrick's inaugural committee reportedly borrowed the Bible from the Adams National Historic Park in Quincy. Patrick is African American.
The Amistad story is significant history within the United Church of Christ, since many black and white Congregationalists in New England formed the Amistad Support Committee that aided the illegally captured and traded Africans.
Adams, a Congregationalist and former U.S. President, argued on behalf of the Africans in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and secured their freedom in 1841. The Amistad Support Committee went on to continue its anti-racism work as the UCC-related American Missionary Association. That organization became part of the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries in 2000.
In a related story, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, will take his oath of office this week using a Quran.
He decision has drawn fire from one crazed congressman who says that in America only the Bible should be used for government swearing-in ceremonies.
Congressman-elect Ellison, who has been gracious about the flair-up, announced today that he would use a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. You can't get more patriotic than that.
