George Floyd

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

                                                                                                     -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

White community, American church are are we listening now?

Christians, do you hear our brothers and sisters saying "Do you hear me now?"

As a whole WE have not been listening. Otherwise, many of the names on the list above may not be there.

We all know Colin Kaepernick began a protest in 2016 that drew attention and criticism like any true civil rights activist. He did so peacefully. To the chagrin of many who continued to refuse to educate themselves on the issues he was peacefully protesting. 

There are two realities that exist in America. A white reality and a black reality. Unfortunately, the two continue on mostly geographically segregated and woefully economically disjointed. 

Our American system in all its patriotic glory indisputably benefits, protects and promotes whites over blacks. Being white gives one many subtle and sometimes overt privileges. 

Recently I have seen white friends and family confused about why riots are happening in their communities when "police brutality isn't happening here". First, I would challenge you to make sure that is what your local black community is saying. Trust their voice, they know how their children and loved ones are being treated.

As a white person you may experience defensiveness and angst reading this. You feel a need to defend because you have believed America is fair in a way she really never has been. I can tell you that for me the white fragility lessened with education.

The Netflix documentary The 13th is a great place to start if you are trying to listen, understand and be part of change. Knowledge is power. 

The sheer numbers hitting American streets right now testify to the injustice in our nation. 

MLK who is so often quoted and so highly revered in white communities today was arrested, hated and eventually killed in his time. He said this about riots:

“Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention”- Dr. Martin Luther King

Something else I want to speak to is "reverse racism". If a black person has been mean to you or in some way stereotyped you because you are white, color me not surprised. We all have racial bias. However, individual racial bias is something quite different than systemic racism. Our American system in all its patriotic glory indisputably benefits, protects and promotes whites over blacks. That is an inescapable American truth.

This last week has been incredibly difficult as we have watched things go from bad to worse in our nation. We are divided and lacking cohesive leadership, the instability is becoming palpable and I along with so many am beginning to wonder what's next.

As I have wrestled with the developing situation and the inequity ingrained in the system, I have cried out in prayer, as have so many with me. I am overwhelmed and frustrated. I am angry that politics and hatred are spilling over where righteous anger is warranted.

I am pleading with all who give my voice any merit or consideration, to press in with love. Listen, embrace change, educate yourself on the issues, have the hard conversations and grow in unity with your neighbors of color.

We must love our neighbor as ourselves. I will close with this.

"One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus replied, "what does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

The man answered, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

"Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Now I am asking you. Who is your neighbor? How do you love them?