If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you know that I have continued to stay active in various protests happening in and around Oakland. I spoke briefly of this as well in last week’s Contact. Many of you have expressed different degrees of support or reservation about this. There is a lot to say, of course. The “Black Lives Matter” movement is still forming and flexible, diverse and varied enough that people looking at it from different directions will see different pictures. I believe this diversity gives strength to the movement, and I love that it has sprung up many groups of people leading from the margins rather than one major leader directing from above. Still, others have refused to associate themselves with it because it is not coherent enough. One might rightly be upset by some of the groups who have affiliated themselves with the movement – those who include violence in their tactics, those who scream obscenities at the police or make extreme demands. I do not condone violence and hope you do not condone it either. But if we all stand back and wait until the movement has settled into a more perfect, pure, and peaceful form, we may ultimately find Christ asking us whether we would pass by a wounded person on the side of the road, or whether, like the Good Samaritan, we would take a risk in order to stand with “the least of these” in need.
I am making mistakes and learning as I seek to be a better non-Black ally in the quest for a society free of racism. Knowing that our church is overwhelmingly white despite our best intentions for inclusion, I offer these points to you in turn, which have been most helpful to me:
1. We need to keep the race conversation going. If we don’t demand it stays at the forefront of the media, race issues will quickly be replaced by holiday shopping stories. Our “national conversation about race” will only happen if it is fueled by eager participants. It is helpful for us to read or listen to commentary about racism and privilege, especially sources from People of Color (POC), and analyze, share, and reflect on how it informs our lives. Speakers need audiences, and tuning in or showing up to listen shows our commitment to keep the conversation from dying down.
2. We white people need to stay off the megaphone, letting POC lead while we follow, and amplifying the voices of those who are not being heard. If things aren’t going your way, just close your mouth or back away quietly rather than shouting the leaders down. If the media wants your opinion, redirect them to POC rather than enjoying the spotlight yourself.
3. We can all find ways to support from the sidelines. If marching at a protest is within your comfort zone, that’s great; if not, there are quiet actions such as silent vigils and speak-outs. If you are standing at the edge of your comfort zone, it can be helpful to bring a friend. People are working behind the scenes with legal defense, speaking at city council meetings, and in a myriad of other helpful ways. At a recent march there was a person who came up to our group and handed out water bottles, truly earning Jesus’ blessing: “whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of the least of these in the name of a disciple… none of these shall lose their reward” (Mt 10:42). In the early days of LGBTQ movements this was of the first ways churches began to be involved, handing out cups of water as Gay Pride marches passed their doorsteps.
I’m not sure who to quote as I end this piece: Jesus as read by Mark 9:40, “whoever is not against us is for us,” or Jesus as read by Matthew 10:30, “whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” The first begs us to see solidarity in all people of good will, while the second calls for commitment and action. Probably both are true. Whether you choose bold action or a quiet solidarity with those in need, I ask you to do it with all your heart.
Blessings,
Talitha