Historic Inaugural Shared Legacies Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta

March opened on a powerful note as Spill the Honey was honored to join the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and The Temple to co-host the inaugural Shared Legacies Service.

It was a day rooted in a shared commitment to justice and unity as portraits of Jewish civil rights leaders were unveiled and inducted into the Hall of Honor of Global Leaders in the International and National Civil Rights Movement at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Honorees included John Eaves, Sherry Frank, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Clarence Benjamin Jones, Joseph L. Roberts Jr., Jacob Rothschild, Joel Elias Spingarn, Alvin M. Sugarman, and Linda Zatlin.

Our founder, Shari Rogers, introduced a moving excerpt from the documentary Shared Legacies: The African American–Jewish Civil Rights Alliance, reminding the audience of the “moral arc” shaped by this historic partnership.

The service featured powerful reflections from civil rights icon and Spill the Honey Board Chair Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., Reverend John H. Vaughn, Dr. Lawrence Carter, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, and former U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence, our Executive Director Emerita.

“We’re on the clock—it’s our time,” Congresswoman Lawrence reminded the audience.

We are deeply grateful to Reverend Raphael Warnock and the Ebenezer family for their leadership and for hosting this monumental gathering in the Horizon Sanctuary.

Rabbi Berg reflected on the meaning of the portraits, saying, “May the portraits remind us that courage is contagious.”

Rev. Chavis delivered a powerful call to action:

“Let me say to my beloved Black community: we cannot stay silent in the face of antisemitism. Let me say to the Jewish community: you cannot stay silent in the face of racism against Black people. Antisemitism and racism are twin evils. We must speak out and raise up a new generation that fights for freedom, justice, and equality.

What are we going to do when we leave here? We’re going to fight. We’re going to march. We’re going to pray. But I also want you to show this film in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and community forums. If young people don’t see it, they can hardly believe it existed. We live not just in an oral tradition, but in a visual, social-media ‘show me’ tradition. As content producers, we distribute the content that can awaken a movement of people.”

This inspiring gathering was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: the Exodus Leadership Forum, founded by Van Jones, and the American Jewish Committee Southeast Region.

As we look toward the future, Spill the Honey remains committed to honoring these shared legacies and building a world rooted in nonviolence, partnership, and mutual respect.