Thanks everyone for your great comments on the previous post. As a side note, Ed C. mentioned the troubling case of the six black teens in Jena, Louisiana. I think some of the best coverage of the Jena 6 case is happening over at NPR. In particular, this report from July provides an excellent overview.
The Jena 6
September 15, 2007 by Edward Gilbreath
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wow. thanks for sharing this. I hadn’t heard about until you shared. : ( I just read the article and posted on it. Would love to hear/read your thoughts in response.
Ed, I was hoping the Jena 6 would receive some attention in your blog. A sad reminder of the double standards in our legal system. Ditto Barack Obama’s comments, “I hope that today’s decision will lead the prosecutor to reconsider the excessive charges brought against all the teenagers in this case. And I hope that the judicial process will move deliberately to ensure that all of the defendants will receive a fair trial and equal justice under the law.”
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CNN will chronicle the entire case and all that has transpired in this unfortunate situation tonight at 8 pm. It’s important for the Body of Christ to be informed of crucial issues such as this as we seek to minister to the culture.
Grace & Peace,
Ed C
Interesting statement from Bishop T. D. Jakes today on the Jena case. You can find it here:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/BREAKINGNEWS/70920032
So much for Matthew 6:2
I wonder what anonymous is referring to? “. . . Do not sound an alarm when giving your alms as the hypocrites do sthat they may be honored by men . . .” I wonder what the connection is — I could assume but I don’t want to.
The entire even is, unfortunately, a situation that could happen anywhere. As in many places, there seemed to be a sense covert prejudice in the town. And an ignorance that was characterized by what seems to be a complete lack of understanding for one another, which, to me, fosters the segregation. I am glad to see T.D. Jakes step out and speak up, but what would be most encouraging would be to see a John Piper, Rob Bell, Brian Mclearn, Tim Keller, Rick Warren, or some other prominent white Christian leader publicly stand by these kids side. I believe that not only would that be not only encouraging to the Jena community and these kids, but also to minority, specifically black, Christians around the nation.
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Thanks for linking Ed. I don’t know how to do that. God help us. I recently heard of an organization that ministers to death row inmates. Looking at their names will make one weep with shame.
I agree with J Canada’s statement that it would go a long way toward true reconciliation for a noteworthy white minsitry leader as he suggested were to comment on the case. I have shared this with many of white friends in ministry and only one has shared my outrage or even mentioned it. This is really at the heart of the problem — somehow this doesnt’ really seem to involve them so we read the same scriptures that call us the “Body of Christ” and when one hurts we all hurt. Instead we leave it to the “extermists” and it absolves the church from action.
Grace & Peace,
Ed C
First of all, thanks, J Canada, for chiming in. I hope you’re doing well. I look forward to hearing how your wedding went and what you’re up to these days.
I appreciate your insightful comment and Ed C’s follow-up. Until prominent white evangelical leaders are willing to add their voices of support or outrage to issues like the Jena 6 case, most white Christians are going to look at it as something for blacks to worry about amongst themselves, or as just another example of black extremists playing the race card.
This is why it’s difficult for me to outright dismiss the work of folks like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Though I disagree with many of the things they do, and wish that the media would occasionally seek out other black leaders to quote in their stories, I also know that without agitators like them, many important issues would not get the coverage they deserve.
As Jackson has said, the nation celebrates when Halle Berry becomes the first black actor to win a Best Actress Oscar or Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith become the first black NFL coaches to lead their teams in a Super Bowl. But many of those same people were angry at Jesse and Al and other agitators when those leaders were pressuring Hollywood and the NFL to provide more opportunities for minority performers and coaches. We want to think that the activists like Jackson and Sharpton do more to exacerbate the race problem than solve it, but (sadly) without their agitating, our nation would not have seen some of the advances that we now celebrate.
So, J, I think you’re right: Let’s pray that some white evangelical leaders will recognize the unfairness of the Jena situation and have the courage to speak up as well. The imbalance in justice in the this case reflects a wider problem that needs to be exposed and talked about.
Good points Ed G — I agreee completely. I often feel the same way, as if I have to apologize for or even disown Jackson and Sharpton to earn my evangelical stripes. But then I’m reminded of their roles in the struggle.
I tell you, when I was watching the coverage of the March with my white co-workers, I actually felt uncomfortable when Sharpton or Jackson came on the screen because I knew that that devalued the experience for them! Yet, what you say about how they fought Hollywood and the NFL for rights and now we applaud Black achievements like Halle Berry and Tony Dungy is real! If not for them being the gadflies that they were would we see even those meager accomplishments?
Can someone answer for me why only David Bowie, a white rocker not even born here, has stood up? Where are the folks that J Canada mentioned? Where is Rick Warren and John Piper? I love and respect these guys! Don’t they care about what affects people that look like me? Or do they see it as too political and not a spiritual issue? Or do they see a danger of being associated with the far left when it comes to justice issues?
J Canada, Ed C, and Ed G.,
I could not agree with you more. I think the word “agitators” rightly describes folks like Jackson and Sharpton, and for all the liabilities, they always spark conversation (and here I’m thinking of Ed G’s chapter).
Ed C, as a white male (and not a prominent evangelical!), the only answer I can offer to you is that many prominent white evangelical pastors and leaders (and many white eveangelicals in general) don’t wish to muster the moral fortitude to address something like Jena from the pulpit (and very often in print). Of course it will cost something, being prophetic always has and always will.
Ironically, Piper’s book _Brothers, We Are Not Professionals_ contains a chapter titled “Brothers, Sever the Root of Racism” in which he beautifully summarizes MLK’s letter from Birmingham Jail. Piper encourages fellow clerics to tackle racism from the pulpit head on. Piper seems to get it so clearly in print, but, as Ed C asks, where is he (and so many others) on Jena?
I often hear evangelicals issue calls for reformation and revival; perhaps one prayer is for white evangelicals to realize they/we are white, what that means in terms of this nation’s history and its contemporary life, and stop to listen what it means to speak and pray prophetically regarding the issues of race. Only when white folks adopt a posture of listening will they/we ultimately be equipped to speak.
In following the media coverage of this situation, I have asked myself: where are all of the white protesters? Not just the prominant leaders, but ordinary folks who are outraged by this injustice? (Maybe they’re there, but not in my newspaper?)
It seems this has become a “black” issue, and most of the white people I know don’t want to touch it with a ten foot pole. It brings up an ugly and uncomfortable truth that many of us don’t want to admit: racism is alive and well in America.
And can I be brutally honest? Last week, reading the Tribune, I saw the picture of the protesters, all African American, and I thought, “where are all of the white people? The asian people? Why are we not all there supporting our brothers in Jena and sharing their outrage?” And then I considered hopping on a plane and joining them, just for a minute. Of course, the logistics of “hopping on a plane” and doing anything is complicatd with three young children and a traveling husband, but beyond that, as soon as I entertained the thought of going and getting in the thick of this, I became afraid.
How would all of those angry black folks react to a middle-aged white lady who is angry for them, which is different than being angry for yourself? And maybe this really isn’t any of my business? And so I said a prayer, closed the paper, and did nothing.
I’m not sure what this means, but I’m guessing that I’m not alone in my fear. While many may be “outraged,” it’s a different thing entirely to actually get involved.
Llama Momma,
Thanks for your comments. What you describe is a feeling that I’m certain is not exclusive to white folks. Many concerned black folks don’t know what to do with this issue either. Do we have an obligation to go down there and march or to show some gesture of support from right where we are?
I must admit, there’s also a grayness to the issue that a lot of folks, especially white leaders, are probably struggling with: Sure, the six black students had been provoked over a period of time, but does that justify their act of violence against that white student? Of course not; yet it has been shown that the black students’ punishment is out of line for what would probably be meted out to a white teenager in a similar situation. Nevertheless, the black teenagers must face the consequences for their actions.
So, what are we to do with all this grayness? I say we must engage the complexity of it all, and try to find true justice amid the messiness, no matter how difficult. Isn’t that a better course to take than, in effect, destroying the futures of these six young men?
Still, for many white Christian leaders to speak out on behalf of the Jena 6 could be professional or ministry suicide. After all, they beat up a white person.
I’ve done another post on this topic Ed.
http://christineascheller.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/the-jena-6-documents/
From http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/homicidereport/
Of all Americans, black men have the most to fear from violent crime. Even Latino men, who suffer high homicide rates, are much less likely than black men to be murdered. According to the just-released national FBI crime report for 2006, 42% of homicide victims last year were male blacks.
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