Metropolitan AME pastor pens book exploring ancestors' role in civic engagement

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

William Lamar IV, pastor of the historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., has written a new book exploring how honoring one's ancestors can inform civic engagement and political activism. Lamar, who has pastored congregations across the South, argues that the veneration of ancestors is deeply rooted in American culture, even among white evangelical Christians who have often downplayed the practice. In his book, Lamar shares how studying the lives and writings of figures like Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Prathia Hall has provided him moral and spiritual guidance, especially in responding to the rise of authoritarianism and anti-democratic sentiment.

Why it matters

Lamar's book comes at a time when the role of ancestors and historical narratives has become increasingly politicized, with both the political left and right invoking the legacies of their forebears to justify their visions for America. By examining how ancestral veneration has shaped his own civic engagement, Lamar hopes to offer a framework for how all Americans can draw inspiration from their ancestors to navigate the current political landscape.

The details

In his book, Lamar recounts how as a child, he was initially "frightened" by a portrait of his great-aunt hung prominently in his grandmother's home, until his grandmother explained the significance of honoring one's ancestors. Lamar argues that this practice of ancestral veneration, often associated with Black diasporas and Indigenous cultures, is in fact deeply rooted in the American tradition, as evidenced by the way white evangelical Christians have invoked national myths and historical figures. Lamar himself was raised to look up to the example of Black historical figures like Ida B. Wells and Fannie Lou Hamer, whose writings and activism provided him moral and spiritual guidance. The pastor contends that this tradition of learning from one's ancestors is at the core of the Christian faith, pointing to examples like Jesus' dialogue with Moses and Elijah.

• Lamar's book, "Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us", was released on March 3, 2026.
• In December 2020, Proud Boys members burned down a Black Lives Matter sign on the lawn of Metropolitan AME Church, which Lamar pastors.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Metropolitan AME Church plans to continue selling t-shirts with slogans like "Stay Proud, Stay Black" and "Stay Proud, Black Lives Matter", with proceeds going towards the church's Community Justice Fund.