Let’s Talk About Injustice

Focus: Bryan Stevenson is a public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. He’s the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative(EJI), an Alabama-based group that has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent prisoners on death row, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

Tonight’s talk focuses on injustice. Watch the video clip by clicking here:We Need to Talk about Injustice

Gathering Prayer: Holy One who is known to us by many names and in many ways, we give thanks for the blessings that we have in our lives. You know the thoughts of our hearts; hear our prayers. Be present now as we enter a time of thought and discussion.

Sentences on the Subject: Both the pandemic of race and virus are unseen to the eye. Both constrict the breath. Both effect one racial group more than the other. Both effect the most vulnerable people in our society. Both are contested by people who want to deny that there is even a problem despite the bodies that continue to pile up. We have cast blame for COVID in different directions. Responsibility for the pandemic of racism, however, belongs entirely to white America.Bill Worley, United Church of Christ Conference MinisterYou can read the whole letter here… Pandemic of Racism

“I will share Jesus with the world, with my words and with my deeds. Like Jesus, I will interrupt injustice, and stand up for the life and dignity of all. I will allow my life to point towards Christ, everywhere I go.” Excerpted from Red Letter Christian Pledge 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Jesus

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him…. Luke

Below is some “food for thought”, a few probes that might kick start a conversation. Read over them and pick one (or more, or none) to discuss. Remember to hold space for others to share and share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Probe 1. Consider a time when you have been treated injustly. What emotions did you experience? What feelings linger? How about a time when you have received mercy?

Probe 2. What the difference between unfairness and injustice? Between grace and mercy?

Probe 3. Stevenson says,” I believe that each person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. That’s my mission: I really want to get in the heads and hearts of kids and persuade them that they can believe things they haven’t seen, they can do things that maybe others haven’t done before them, that they are more than their worst acts.”. What do you think about this? How do we, as a society, as Christians, “establish Justice”?

Probe 4. Anything the Sentences on the Subject or tonight’s conversation strike a chord with you?

Commission: Hold on to what is good. Love deeply. Honor others. Stay excited about life and your faith. Be joyful. Be patient. If you pray, have faith. Share with people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. Be loving to those who hurt you. Be present; be in the moment. Be gentle, even with those with whom you disagree. Be humble. Be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Do the right thing. If possible, live in peace with everyone. And remember, no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey- you are welcome here.

Post Script: EJI recently opened the Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Understanding. It is a great place to enhance our understanding of the connections between the slave trade, racial terrorism, Jim Crow, and Mass Incarceration. To see a short ( 4 minute) introduction by video with Bryan Stevenson: Click for a Tour of “The Lynching Museum”

As part of its effort to educate, the EJI produced a comprehensive report on Lynching in America. This is an easy read (considered it a required read) that connects the dots on a walk through the history of race in America. You can download the PDF here (read the PDF) or on the web here (Web Version)

Hearing the stories of the people whose lives have been taken or destroyed as a result of racism is a critical step in reconciliation. The interactive map (Learn about individuals who were lynched by clicking on the white dots on the map) is one way to hear their stories. Another is to know the story of Zachariah Walker, who was lynched in Coatesville, PA. You can read that story by clicking here: The Lynching of Zachariah Walker. TRIGGER WARNING- Unimaginable violence

In Sojourner’s Magazine, Courtney Ariel proposes some steps for white friends who desire to be allies.