Vermont's BHM Series #14
https://mailchi.mp/vermont/bhm-series-2023-day-14?e=a7bb0cc475
"Today is commonly referred to as Valentines Day, the day on which St. Valentine is honored around the world. This observance is commonly associated with romantic love and the ritualistic purchase of greeting cards, roses, chocolates, and commercial goods that are pink and red colored. Aside from this conspicuous consumption, the underlying story of the patron saint is less commonly known: Valentine was canonized as a saint after being martyred for disobeying a decree that forbade conducting marriages. Valentine continued to perform marriages and also ministering to persecuted Christians. As a result, he is now associated with the concept of love.
Saint Valentine was martyred because he defied the orders of the emperor and dared to be a clergyman for all. Today, we acknowledge what it means to rebel in the name of love by sharing the inspiring words of two remarkable Black scholars: bell hooks and Dr. Mae Jemison."