We have forgotten

Remember the story of Joseph in Egypt? He was sold into slavery by his big brothers, the very people of his household that were supposed to be looking out for him. And while he was there, working as a slave and doing well, he's accused of forcing himself on a woman, when it was really the other way around. So now he's a criminal, forgotten, hidden away. Those who saw his plight promised to help, to speak up, but they forgot, or were too afraid to jeopardize their position.

This is what we've been doing to our black brothers for the last four hundred years.

We know how the rest of Joseph's story goes. Again and again God intervenes. Eventually Joseph is brought out of prison and given a position of power. He prospers, leads, and saves entire nations. But you have to remember that for BIPOC, we haven't gotten to this part of the story yet. Not. Even. Close.

There are moments when we think we're getting there. We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we elect a black president, and we pat ourselves on the back that we've righted a wrong. We've forgotten that MLK was criminalized during his life, too. Imprisoned, oppressed, and eventually assassinated. We are blind to the roadblocks between those in the minority and advantages of any kind. We close our eyes to the hatred and disdain shown to a black president of dignity, intelligence, and integrity... and the acclaim rallied around our current president who rejoices in putting other people down, and who attacks, demeans, and mocks those in the minority, and anyone who disagrees with him.

Have we ever acknowledged the disgrace it is on our country: the hundreds of years before the abolition of slavery? The next hundred years of segregation and criminalization? And worse yet, the systemic narrative that follows people of color to this day: 'rebellious', 'dangerous', 'criminals'. Engraining fear, imbedding lies into the fabric of our culture. Changing words like 'different' and 'not like us' to mean fear and danger.

Remember what happens at the end of the Joseph story? The most Jesus-like moment. When Joseph forgives those who enslaved, oppressed, and tried to kill him. Remember it, and
Listen.
To.
Me.
Every time you see Black Americans living side-by-side with you: when you see them not burning down buildings and fighting and pouring out their bitterness... that is them forgiving their oppressors. Us.

Day after day, they live in forgiveness with the white majority that has held them down for centuries.

Can we still not get off their neck?

"Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Thanks be to the God of mercy that there is forgiveness to be had, that there are actions we can take. That I can start in my own heart, and on my own knees. In order to be anti-racist, we have to fight the racism in our own heart every day. In the choices we make all the time, in the actions we've been taking all our life. We have to speak up among our friends and our family. We have to reach out to the hurting. We have to listen. Really listen. And look beyond the shiny white history we remember.

We will have to be broken by this, before we can make a difference.

"Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I Am'."