Philly Educators Teach 30-Hour Black History Marathon

When Dr. Anita Lewis and Gwen Ebron started teaching at 8 a.m. Friday morning, they had no plans to stop until Saturday afternoon.

The two educators launched a marathon 30-hour Black history lesson at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia this Black History Month. Their goal is to break the current Guinness World Record of 26 hours, set in Texas back in 2018.

The ambitious lesson covers 5,000 years of Black history and brilliance. Starting with ancient Africa, they're moving through slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Era, and even exploring the future of artificial intelligence.

Breaking a world record isn't easy, and Guinness has strict rules. Lewis and Ebron can only take one five-minute break each hour, meaning they're teaching almost nonstop for more than a full day.

They're keeping their audience engaged with storytelling, primary source documents, and visual timelines. Some people have stayed for hours, while others drop in and out to catch different parts of the sweeping historical journey.

The event celebrates the 150th anniversary of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Ebron teaches African American History for the church's African Heritage Ministry, which is hosting the record attempt.

Why This Inspires

Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller, the church's pastor, captured why this marathon matters beyond any record book. "We have to make sure that we tell our history, even if others don't tell it," he told reporters.

For the audience members filling the church, it's about more than witnessing history being made. "It is important for us to know our history, it's important for us to learn the lessons that we need to learn, and to never forget," one attendee shared.

The lesson is open to anyone who wants to join, either in person or through a livestream on YouTube. By Saturday afternoon, when Lewis and Ebron finally wrap up, they'll have taught the longest Black history lesson ever recorded.

Whether they break the record or not, they're already making history by ensuring these stories get told.