The Church Awakens: African Americans and the Search for Justice

As part of a larger review of Christian educational materials, ESCRU took issue with the illustrations in these publications, which they perceived to be racist stereotypes, as well as with the content of the curricula, which they argued were simplistic and paternalistic. In order to bring their concerns to a larger audience, several chapters of ESCRU, including those in Chicago, Trenton, and New York, sponsored an Ash Wednesday book burning. On February 19, 1969, clergy publicly burned the curriculum materials and imposed ashes on the heads of the penitents.