Sr. Mary Roger Thibodeaux, noted 'Black power' nun, dead at 86

https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/news/sister-mary-roger-thibodeaux-noted-black-power-nun-dead-86-0?fbclid=IwAR2rWXWiRya_8lZdmALw5dQtG39274wQPZ1x8QBOfzKxyZJulVRdHNaaqp0

In 1968, Sr Mary Roger became a founding member of the National Black Sisters’ Conference, one of the core organizations of the Black Catholic Movement. Like the others, the NBSC was borne of the Black Power fervor then quickly gaining strength among African-American Catholics.

Thibodeaux would make a lasting mark on the movement with her 1972 book "A Black nun looks at Black power," containing her poetic reflections on the struggle for Black freedom in America, viewed from a Catholic lens. The work would go on to be cited by various historians in their explication of the Black Power Movement’s wide-ranging impact.

Thibodeaux’s writing therein has since been immortalized in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, where a large monument contains a quote from the book:

"Black Power is not foreign to Yahweh and Yahweh is not foreign to Black Power… The cause of Justice is and always will be in strict accordance with the Will of God."