A Brief Message from CJ
I had something else planned for this week but sometimes plans have to change. This will be brief.
Many people have reached out to me and asked how I am. In truth, I am not well.
I am tired. My soul is tired.
Ahmaud Arbery, Doug Lewis, Sean Reed, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. That is just this year. That is just who made national news.
I’m tired of it. Read books from the Civil Rights Era and you will see that we are still having the same conversations, still fighting the same problems, still being portrayed in the same way.
Like the Psalmist, I am simply asking, How long O Lord? How long?
If you really want to be a help, here’s a list of organizations and places you can donate to:
What does help look like?
If you really want to help, here is a list of resources I compiled that run down the history of how we got to where we are today. If you think we are making this stuff up or you just want to know more. Here you go.
Racial Justice/Reconciliation Resources
Lastly but most importantly. Pray. But remember, as James said: faith without works is dead. We need to be people who hold both orthodoxy and orthopraxy together.
If you are black, our goal is and has always been to be free. Let's work towards that freedom.
Ownership
Education
Economic freedom
Building our own tables and spaces where we can be free.
If you are white. Think about what you can do that is truly helpful and useful. Don't protest in our neighborhoods, protest in yours. Don't leave the place of power, speak truth right there. The protests will end in a few weeks, what can you do when this is over?
Speak up against Injustice in your everyday life. Where you live, work, and play.
Check your family and friends when you hear them saying/doing racist things.
Educate yourself. Never stop educating yourself. You are not going to be able to speak well about things you don't know about.
Do not center yourself. This isn't about your feelings and guilt, so don't make them the center of the conversation.
If I am truly honest. I am not optimistic about things changing. We've been going through this for far too long, however, I sincerely pray that I am more wrong than I've ever been.