It is MLK Day. I will see enough softball quotes of Dr. King today to last me awhile.
This is my annual invitation for you to read “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Go look it up. I’m not even going to allow the convenience of a link here to help you. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re still not going to click a link and read it. So, go look it up yourself. Do some work at least!
Some words from Catherine Meeks in her book The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning:
Racism has enjoyed a favored place in too many of our communities, and especially in our faith communities. It has been embraced as if it brought options with it. But it does not have any viable options to offer. Racism is one of the most immobilizing negative energy systems in our country, and in a way it is a thread that runs through many of the other ills we must engage.
Quoting Dr. King won’t make it go away. It won’t even make it look like we actually care about the issue.
Some thoughts about the courage to go forward:
- While it’s a good idea any time to read about Dr. King and read his work, it’s a better idea to get connected with the Black community. Go make several friends.
- Quit quoting. Listen.
- Check back in on February 16, and March 16, and July 16… Have you even thought of Dr. King’s ideas in that time period? Have you made several Black friends yet?
I love Dr. King. I love his work. I hate what we’ve done with it all in the last few years as white people.
We need the courage to move forward. As I survey it right now, we lack that courage. All we have are quotes. And that’s not enough.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 