We have all seen the news about the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial in which police office Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three accounts. I liked what the prosecuting attorney Keith Ellison had to say about it afterwards. “This is not justice but accountability.” I take that to mean justice has more to do with systemic changes while accountability is more about individual actions.
I believe a primary way we make systemic change is through our individual actions. If I want to be part of systemic change, I first must recognize how my individual actions impact the world around us and contribute to our situation. I can’t expect laws to be passed to combat racism if I am not willing to do the work to learn about racism.
This may apply to any social issue. If I want the environment to support life on earth for generations to come, I need to understand my role in it. If I want people of all genders and sexualities to be treated equally, I need to understand my role in it. This isn’t about one person “changing the world” but it is about all of us, acting together, doing our part to change the world.
I don’t have any new or wise words concerning the outcome of the George Floyd trial except only to encourage us all to keep learning. Learning about why these situations keep happening.
Vicky and I just finished watching Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ last night for a second time. There is a scene in which the main character, Ted, is playing darts and explaining his world view to one of the protagonists. He gives a quote from Walt Whitman, “Be curious. Not judgmental.” He speaks about the people who are judgmental are the ones who think they know everything about everyone, so instead of asking questions they simply judge the person.
I think root of racism, and any other -ism for that matter, is due because people are judgmental and not curious. We unjustly criticize and condemn other people when we believe we know better than them and why they should have made a different decision or what we believe would have been the “correct” decision.
Let’s be honest, it is easier to judge. We all want to be right. If we are curious and ask questions and are truly open to hearing and receiving new information, we might have to change our way thinking. We might have to say we were wrong. We might have to admit an error in our ways. That is never fun. But, let’s be honest, our faith should actually encourage and empower us to not be afraid of learning and growing and changing our thoughts and opinions. Our faith should open us up to learning about another person’s or people’s situation and how we may have contributed, consciously or unconsciously, to it negatively. (Yes, we may also have had a positive impact but our faith should inspire a sense of humility within us so we don’t need our “good deeds” recognized or advertised.) Our faith, should compel us to be honest and then seek to make amends or make things right, not just for one individual, but for all of society. I think this is the pursuit of justice.
By learning about race and racism in America, and in your own life, you will not end racism, but you will make it a little less prevalent in your life and in the life of the people around you. I think that is a good place to begin.
There is a great opportunity to learn about race and racism happening next week that is being sponsored by the National Council of Churches and an organization called “Grace Matters.” It is titled, “White Privilege: Moving Beyond the Basics –Toward the Beloved Community.” It is April 28, from 7-8:30pm EST and is free. Use this link to register.
Also, if you are interested in watching the scene from Ted Lasso described above, you can watch it here. (Warning: it does contain two swear words.) If you haven’t watched the series, the ending of the scene provides a little spoiler for that episode, but it doesn’t not spoil the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8k-bSEhEDo
Lastly, I shared this video last year around this time and it is worth watching again to learn a brief history of racism and racist policies in America and helps provide a better sense of why the world is the way it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUwcs9qJXY
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tim