Panel Discussion: God of the Whirlwind
Programs
April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Explore the power of community stories in shaping Texas history and justice.
Event Details
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion featuring voices from the Black Waco community as they explore the transformative power of Central Texas storytelling traditions. In a region deeply marked by racial injustice, one powerful story stands out: that of a destructive tornado seen as an act of divine justice. The "God of the Whirlwind" narrative has served as a symbol of hope and a belief in the possibility of justice, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
God of the Whirlwind: Horror, Memory, and Story in Black Waco is a recently-published collection of powerful oral histories from Black Waco. This event will help attendees to deeply engage in community stories as they are shared across generations. The panel for this event includes book contributors Rev. Michael D. Babers, Bettie V. Beard, Linda Jann Lewis, Stevie Walker-Webb, and editor Tyler B. Davis.
Panelists will be available to sign copies of the book, which can be purchased on-site, following the program.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, reflect on, and be inspired by the transformative power of storytelling.
This program is FREE to the public.
Banner photo credit Mark Menjivar
Rev. Michael D. Babers: Psalm 118:17 "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord" is the verse that has framed Mike's life as he has survived the past 30 years of cancer with the Lord's help. This retired classroom teacher's gift of song has opened doors for him to sing everywhere from church, to recording studios, to a gubernatorial inauguration. As an ordained minister, he now serves as assistant pastor of the St. Luke AME Church in Waco.
Bettie V. Beard of Waco is a freelance writer with degrees and a background in social work and gerontology. She has a variety of interests including politics, education, family, aging, and social issues.
Tyler B. Davis is a scholar based at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He is the editor of God of the Whirlwind: Horror, Memory, and Story in Black Waco.
Linda Jann Lewis is a fifth generation Stroud Plantation descendant, first child of World War II vet and first grandchild of a World War I veteran. Her parents and grandparents moved from rural Robertson county to Waco the year before she was born in 1945. She grew up aware of the power and impact that government decisions have on her life and destiny.
Stevie Walker-Webb is the artistic director at Baltimore Center Stage and the founder of Hundreds of Thousands, an advocacy organization that uses the arts to raise awareness about the treatment of mentally ill incarcerated people and solitary confinement. He is the founding artistic director of the Jubilee Theatre in Waco, Texas, where his brother was incarcerated and subjected to more than 100 days in solitary confinement, inspiring Walker-Webb’s arts activism. Walker-Webb has been nominated for a Tony Award and is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Dramatists Guild’s Lily Award, an Obie Award, and a 2050 fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop.
Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, live performances, and experiential activities visitors are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum Members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.
