Day 13: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Recently at a Black Lives Matter symposium, I was challenged to voice what I wanted, needed and recommended from white people who aspire to become co-conspirators in the dismantling of white supremacy.
Here is what I want, need, and recommend:
- Don’t ask me to forget what my ancestors went through as slaves in this country or ask me to ignore how that impacts me daily.
- Don’t detach yourself from what your ancestors and/or people that look like you have created, maintained, and have benefited from—and that you continue to benefit from.
Remember that you were born into a system of white supremacy that you did not create, but must actively help to dismantle.- Don’t be afraid to have the ugly conversations with people who look like you, and don’t be afraid to listen to and learn from the people who don’t look like you.
- Accept my truths and experiences of racial injustice as an African American woman as valid.
- Listen to me, advocate for me, sympathize with me, fight with me, and raise your voice to match my outcries.
- Be my racial ally, stand up against racial injustice, celebrate and benefit from racial diversity, take on this fight as your own.
All the things I’m asking for require courage, strength, agape love, and sacrifice—all of which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ demonstrated for us when he died for our sins. As Christians, we are called to bear witness to the suffering of Christ, and as we unite ourselves in the fight for racial justice and equity, let us not forget that we are also called to bear witness to the suffering of our brothers and sisters.
Reflection Questions:
- How are your contributions to the fight against racial injustice a manifestation of Christ’s courage, strength, agape love, and sacrifice?
- What do you need, want, and recommend in the fight for racial justice from fellow advocates who look like you? Those who don’t look like you?
Heather Malveaux is the university minister for social justice and immersion programs at Loyola University New Orleans, where she challenges her students to speak openly and honestly about race, racism, and privilege.
How are your contributions to the fight against racial injustice a manifestation of Christ’s courage, strength, agape love, and sacrifice? – When I read the gospels I hear Christ’s appeal to us to help dismantle the systems that raise up some while stepping on others. Jesus was all about dismantling the system. He overturned the tables in the temple, ate with tax collectors, and embraced prostitutes. For him there is no “other.” For him there is no hierarchy.
What do you need, want, and recommend in the fight for racial justice from fellow advocates who look like you? Those who don’t look like you? – I am a white woman. I ask that others who look like me stop making each other feel better by explaining how we aren’t intentionally contributing to the systemic racism. Our intentions don’t really matter. The effects of our actions, or lack thereof do matter. Oftentimes when I raise my voice against racial bias, other white people try to explain how the perpetrator(s) didn’t “mean it like that,” or “they come from a different era.” Stop trying to explain why you’re not a bad person and take responsibility for the inherited role you play in racial injustices today.
Thank you for your thoughtful reflection and your fight against racial injustice, Emily!
This is a wonderful series of meditations! Thank you for telling the truth.
Thank you, Rheba! I really appreciate you for taking the time to read my thoughts. God Bless.
This is wonderful! Very well stated.
Thank you so much for your comment and taking the time to read, Kayla!
I’m enjoying this blog – is there anyway you could schedule it to launch earlier in the day? I’m out in Central time and pray in the morning – not much brain left at the days end. Thanks and keep up the good work. ~ Kate
Hi Kate — if you subscribe to the daily email, you’ll receive them at 5 am CT each morning.
We’ve been posting them on our website even earlier — a day ahead, at 3 pm CT — which is perhaps why it seems like they’re coming later in the day. But in fact, you’re reading a day ahead. I know it’s a little bit confusing. Just let me know if I can help you get set up with anything!
https://ignatiansolidarity.net/lent-2016/
– Nick