Sankofa Project Archives

The UU Sankofa Archive Project is the first comprehensive accounting of the history of people of color in the Unitarian Universalist faith. Named for a West African word that means "Looking towards the past to move forward into the future," the UU Sankofa Archive project is headed up by Rev. Dr. Michelle Bentley of the UUA and is housed at Meadville Lombard Theological School.

See the Sankofa Project Archive description for some general information on the project. The project proposal holds information on how the Archive began.

I am no priest of crooks nor creeds,
For human wants and human needs
Are more to me than prophets' deeds;
And human tears and human cares
Affect me more than human prayers.

Go, cease your wail, lugubrious saint!
You fret high Heaven with your plaint.
Is this the "Christian's joy" you paint?
Is this the Christian's boasted bliss?
Avails your faith no more than this?

Take up you arms, come out with me,
Let Heav'n alone; humanity
Needs more and Heaven less from thee.
With pity for mankind look 'round;
Help them to rise -- and Heaven is found.

Paul Lawrence Dunbar