African American nun hailed as a queen of justice
By Shawn Guy-Pitts
For the St. Louis American
Sister Antona Ebo has devoted her entire life’s work to the fulfillment of the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jews United for Justice (JUJ) recently honored her service to the struggle for civil rights during its annual MLK program at the Missouri Historical Society, which commemorates the alliance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Sister Ebo and Rabbi Bernard Lipnick, who first met at the historic Selma march in March 1965, received honors for their efforts to seek justice during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.
Sister Ebo relied on her faith that year when she and five white nuns traveled to Selma, Alabama to fight for civil and voting rights. The plan was to attempt to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge two days after three civil rights workers, one black and the other two Jews, were killed.
“Us sisters stole the show from the brothers,” Sister Ebo said.
“When we walked across the stage of the United States of America, we realized, ‘Yes, we can make a difference.’”
After making history in Selma in 1965, two years later she became the first African-American woman religious professional to head a hospital and was named administrator of St. Clare Hospital and Health Services in Baraboo, Wisconsin. From this appointment, she has continued to fight for diversity in the workplace and rights for health care workers and plays an integral role in SSM Healthcare System’s initiatives.
“When I think of Sister Ebo, ‘small but mighty’ comes to mind,” Rabbi Andrea Goldstein of Shaare Emeth said.
“There is a defining moment in the Bible for Jews, which is the exodus out of slavery by God. The Bible verse where God tells the Israelites to not mistreat foreigners because we were once captives in a foreign land allows Jews to understand the oppression of all people. That is why it is so great to see Sister Ebo and Rabbi Lipnick being honored today.”
The poet Eugene B. Redmond recited poetry at the event and said he has known Sister Ebo for many years.
“Sister Ebo is a courageous, fastidious woman who has been everywhere and done everything all over the globe in important campaigns and struggles,” Redmond said, “and through it all she has continued to keep her spirit and keep her vigor.”
Jacqueline Motzel is president of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, where Sister Ebo resides. “Sister Ebo is a valiant woman with uncommon strength,” Motzel said. “She proclaims the word of God with conviction in her heart.”
Currently, Sister Ebo works with JUJ, an organization that stands behind its creed to be a progressive presence in the Jewish community and a Jewish presence in the progressive community.
JUJ is fighting against Medicaid cuts that affect the elderly, disabled and poor as well as for minority employment on construction projects. The organization also works with African-American leaders to close the achievement gap between black and white students and to improve the lives of health care workers.
“I started out Baptist, then moved to Roman Catholic, and now I’m with Jews for Unity,” said Sister Ebo. “I feel like I have completed a cycle.”
Sister Ebo also devotes her time to the African American Jewish Dialogue Initiative (AAJDI), alongside Jesse Swanigan, co-chair of AAJDI and of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
“Sister Ebo is truly an inspiration,” Swanigan said. “How she relates to incidents and ties-in stories with biblical vernacular and down-to-earth language is amazing.”
As Sister Ebo accepted her award, one could only imagine her commanding presence at Selma in 1965. At 81 years of age, she still was able to captivate the audience.
“All these congratulations don’t mean anything if it doesn’t challenge the world,” she said.
“We cannot live with one another until we know one another. We must dialogue with one another and find out what we are not uniting about. Where are the rest of our dreams? Who is passing on a dream that is relevant today?”
