April 23, 2024

Damaged Heritage by J. Chester Johnson: Anti-Racism Text at St. Luke in the Fields

In April of this year, the St. Luke in the Fields anti-racism group began to read and discuss Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation by J. Chester Johnson (Pegasus/Simon & Schuster). It is expected that the author will join the St. Luke’s group in June for an in-depth examination of various parts of the book that have proven especially relevant and important to the Church’s anti-racism group. An Amazon best-seller, Damaged Heritage was also included in a Goodreads’ international, multi-year list of Best Nonfiction Books.

Located in the historic West Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, St. Luke in the Fields, an Episcopal church, was founded in 1820 and constructed soon thereafter. Known for its exquisite gardens and music among other programs, St. Luke in the Fields has been an iconic institution in the West Village for many generations. It has also been acknowledged as an activist parish for various causes, being, for example, deeply involved over several decades with the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, the Church’s anti-racism group has been engaged in numerous anti-racism efforts, including participation at the diocesan level.