Each year, on Memorial Day in America, we remember the brave and fallen soldiers who have fought for our country. Memorial Day serves as a sobering and celebratory day for all who sacrificed their lives for this country. It is a day to remember and appreciate the many freedoms and luxuries we enjoy today. Memorial Day 2020 in Minneapolis will not be forgotten as it has wrought deeply entrenched pain. This includes worldwide protests, demands for an overhaul of the American justice system, and intense violence.
How could anyone watch the video of former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of George Floyd and not be moved to grief? Floyd, an unarmed black man begged for his life to no avail. Three other officers stood by while he was murdered. This has fed into underlying sentiments that have been brewing. It has caused an explosion of aggression in America for all people. People have many questions. I am responding to some of the questions I’ve received. I’d like to invite you to my table to ask and answer some questions from a Biblical perspective. Writing this has been an emotionally draining experience. I ask that you hear my heart as I try to find words that are adequate to describe what I am experiencing.
Reflections on the Death of George Floyd by a Black Christian Counselor
By Dr. James E. Francis Jr.
June 8, 2020
Who Am I?
I am a Christian black man who grew up in Miami, Florida. Born to first-generation Jamaican immigrants, I have no intention of speaking for all black people. The collective sentiments from my personal experience are faint echoes of many African Americans in this country. I have a unique experience and want to share some of my perspectives.
I grew up in a predominantly Jewish, middle-class neighborhood. My father was a pastor and he continues to pastor his church in Miami Gardens. My mother is now a retired nurse. I never really got into trouble growing up, but I’ll never forget being eight years old and my mother teaching me how to interact with local police. She told me to obey and never question an officer, even if they violate my rights, commit unlawful acts toward me, or harass me. I should always do what they ask to ensure I come home. I understood that law enforcement could kill me if they thought I was dangerous.
Today, I am 35 years old and still have that conversation echoing in my mind. My mother prepared me early, not due to paranoia, but due to present reality. The color of my skin, not my character, is often seen as a weapon. I learned early that it’s better to stay alive and comply to avoid unnecessary moments with police. I have a doctoral degree, no criminal record, a beautiful wife, and an incredible church family. In addition, I have an awesome career,. That doesn’t stop my heart from feeling like it’s beating out of my chest when a cop happens to pull behind me on the road. I try not to speed, Nor, do I not carry a weapon. I keep my paperwork up to date. It’s always handy so that I can avoid even having to open the glove compartment. Even with all these precautionary measures, there is a fear that if I say the wrong thing. Or maybe I’ll look the wrong way or “fit the description. Any of these could cause me to be the next black person questioned, harassed, or sadly killed.
I’ll never forget the time a sanitation worker at the Christian bookstore where I used to work called the police on me. He did this because he never saw me before. He did not speak to me or inquire about my role before calling authorities. Instead, he jumped to conclusions and put my well-being at risk. The temporary absence of my white coworker was enough for him to justify calling six police officers. None of them spoke to me. They needed validation from my coworker to confirm my employment and not take further action. I spoke to my father that evening, who was horrified. He told me to call the boss of the sanitation worker. He later granted an apology and explanation. This is the reality of many African-Americans in this country.
Race, Power, and Systematic Injustice
George Floyd was robbed of the dignity of surrender when his life was taken. Does it take someone putting their knee onto someone’s neck for you to empathize? Does it have to be your son, father, or brother for your soul to lament and mourn? How could anyone hear his pleas and not be moved to tears? That God-given dignity is a human right as children that were made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).
If you do not identify with the black experience, before trying to explain, critique, interpret, or correct, I gently ask you to listen because this issue needs to be encountered at a heart level. Scripture is abundantly clear about the nature of the human heart. Change, growth, and understanding come from the place of a renewed inner man – a change made by God (Psalm 51:10-12). Isaiah 1:16-17 reads, “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Isaiah notes the importance of repentance, then un-learning what is evil and re-learning the Lord’s way to undo what is wrong.
I appreciate the support from many non-black brothers and sisters, but may I encourage you and all believers? Before you are zealous to bring about action and jump in to do something, start at a place of self-evaluation as noted in scripture. Lament. Listen. Repent. Unlearn. Relearn. Pray. Act.
What does race have to do with this?
To understand race, we must define it. Race is a social construct used to describe and define people groups. For this article, racism is defined as the thoughts, beliefs, or actions directed at someone of a different race that is believed to determine that one’s race is inherently superior (Dictionary.com; Merriam Webster). This includes biases that assign identical behaviors or intelligence that is determined by members of a particular race to be inferior to one’s race. The emphasis must be placed on it being social, which then points to the importance of context.
Within the context of America, skin color has been used to separate and identify people groups. As Christians, this is often used in dialogue to avoid and ignore race and therefore discount and discredit racism in America. I often hear from well-meaning believers that race is a human construct and therefore I do not ascribe to it. While there is partial truth in that sentiment, we cannot be ignorant of this country’s history. Historically, this country has identified African-Americans and other people groups by our skin color and has marked black people as the inferior aspect of the “human race” to then justify treatment. While the concept of different races is not biblically supported, it is a socially accepted ideology in our context as Americans.
Ethnicity is God-given. It points to a national and cultural tradition as an identifier. Ethnicity is something celebrated throughout the Word of God. The Lord loves diversity and in Revelation 7:9-12, He says that He will gather ALL people, nations, tribes, and languages together to worship. Our uniqueness matters to God and should matter to us.
Race and ethnicity are essential to who I am. Being black is not something that I can ever not be. I can never not be Jamaican. People frequently say, “I do not see color.” I interpret that to mean that you will not treat me differently because of the color of my skin. While I appreciate that, it is impossible not to see color. We see color vividly when we observe nature, shop for clothing, and determine whether to hit the gas or brake on our vehicles. Don’t minimize the intentional beauty the Lord has blessed us with as we marvel at all the different ethnic groups.
For the Christian, there is another force at play through a term coined in 1903 by W. E. B. Dubois’s The Souls of Black Folk called intersectionality. I am both a black man and a Christian. The two are inseparable. I cannot answer a question about Christianity that neglects my culture, nor can I violate the tenants of Scripture for the sake of my race. Since there are vast differences in black and brown people, to adequately answer questions on race, you have to develop relationships with individuals in that race and do the research. Developing quality relationships with black people allows for the emotional capital to ask questions and seek understanding of one’s experience.
Many people rely on stereotypes and generalities to address people of color. In the context of healthy relationships, you would be able to ask questions you might think are silly but they can be answered without condemnation. Just be aware that the answer you get will not be an absolute representation. To lump people together solely by race (skin color) is a disservice. While Kenyans, indigenous Native Americans, Jamaicans, South Americans, Iranians, East Indians, or Ethiopians all have darker skin, they are all referred to as black. Yet, there are vast differences based on their culture, geography, language, and socioeconomic status.
The Scripture in Galatians 3:28 is often referenced during times of racial unrest because in Christ we are all one, united, and heirs of God. True. However, that is in the Kingdom of God. Paul is not asserting that ethnic distinctions need to disappear, but he is stating that those statuses do not determine one’s standing in the Kingdom of God. Our ethnic distinctions are not distractions or divisions, but affirmations of God’s glorious saving power to unite people who look like you and people who are distinct from you. Our discussion about race and justice is under the jurisdiction of the system of the world which is wrought with sin and is anti-Christ. We look toward a united future, but we cannot fail to address the pain of the present world or minimize the suffering experienced by millions of people daily who are affected by the rulers of this present world.
Why do people continue to bring up slavery?
Understanding how we got here requires a brief understanding of how blacks have been treated in America. If we don’t know about the past we are doomed to repeat it. Ignoring slavery’s devastating impact on black culture for a Christian is like picking up the Bible for the first time and starting in Jonah. There is an entire context that you have missed out on when you don’t know about everything that came before such as the Exodus. If you only read the New Testament, you cannot understand what or who Christ came to redeem.
In the institution of slavery in America, blacks were raped, beaten, separated from families, worked without pay, dehumanized, treated as property, mutilated, and killed with no consequences for those who stole their life and freedom. Some say that was a long time ago, so why do we have to keep talking about it? Yet, why are we told never forget 9-11, the Alamo, or Pearl Harbor? Those historical events are important to allow us to lament, remember, and press forward onto a better future. Even if we consider when sin entered the world, which was over 2000 years ago, we still acknowledge its effects today. We are reminded of it daily within our Christian confessions. How much more can we see the sin stain of American slavery and not seek to understand how that history informs us today?
The spirit of the law in America was built on the supremacy of the European white race. The English, Irish, Africans, Slavic’s and many other ethnic groups came to this country as indentured servants. One argument that often comes up is that black people were not the only people who were slaves, so why make such a big deal about what is taking place? You don’t hear other people groups protesting, complaining, and blaming other people for their problems. There is a unique difference amongst the experiences that I trust you will continue to research and understand.
In 1619, most of the European laborers were servants by choice or by debt, serving as a practical way for a fresh start in the New World. When Africans arrived, they were seen as the most profitable people group for slavery. Large efforts were made to separate African slaves from those of European descendants. You would later have the Curse of Ham exploited by those who weaponized scripture. Pseudoscience within evolution and racial biology were used as the basis to justify a belief that blacks could endure more pain and worked harder than other races. They were thought to be intrinsically more like animals. The Three-Fifths Compromise in the 1783 Articles of Confederation counted three out of five slaves as people for representation (for the slave masters) in Congress and measures of wealth in the south. When a slave attempted to be free, law enforcement suppressed any effort, hunted down the slave, had the option to kill the slave if he chose, and maintained the climate of black inferiority and white supremacy. At the end of this article, you will find resources to study this dreadful part of American history.
As a counselor, much of the work we do is repair the wounds of the past. Frequently the unresolved pain of the past manifests itself in the future. The trauma of sexual and mental abuse has long-lasting consequences. Yet, when slavery, Jim Crow, The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, Black Codes, Redlining, Segregation, banning of interracial marriage, the War on Poverty/Drugs and the continued longstanding inhumane treatment of blacks in America is mentioned, it is treated as something that carries no weight. Imagine if you sustained a hip injury as a child that never healed. You would likely develop a limp and not be able to sit or walk without discomfort. If you later desired to become an Olympic caliber athlete, you would have to face overwhelming odds, outwork everyone, and have the unrelenting discipline to overcome the natural disadvantage that keeps you from reaching your full potential. When a counselor understands this framework regarding racial trauma, they are more relatable and can reach others who do not look like them.
When observing the advancement of African-American influence and affluence, black people were met with heavy opposition that has been poorly acknowledged and minimally repaired. Look up Black Wall Street, Redlining, The War on Drugs, Bill Clinton’s Crime Bill, The Tulsa Race Riots, The Cincinnati Riots of 1829, Anti-Abolition Riots in New York of 1834, New York City Draft Riots of 1863, The Memphis Massacre of 1866, The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, The New Orleans Massacre of 1866, The Riots in East St. Louis of 1917, and the Elaine Massacre. These are just a fraction of violent, systemic opportunities seen within black communities incited by whites opposing our freedoms. You cannot just talk about one incident and isolate events. These events are birthed from a horrendous, anti-biblical worldview that justifies the treatment and hatred of a fellow man or woman based on skin color.
Racial reconciliation, as innocent and hopeful as it sounds is a misnomer. Black people have not been viewed as equal in America. There is immense gratitude for the social, political, and economic progress, but you cannot reconcile that which was never conciliated in the first place. I am always hopeful because the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides unifying power, but I am realistic that by worldly and carnal means, reconciliation lacks the depth to bring about the radical change our world needs to move forward against the dehumanizing work of racism. This is why the American Evangelical Church is vital.
America and the Church need a re-education. No one knows what to do at this moment. When integration was made into law, America was told to integrate, but we were not shown how. It was fought from that moment and we still see fragments of the old system. When the civil rights movement was organized, black and white brothers and sisters worked together to plan how to work through possible scenarios. This ranged from leadership councils, prophetic black church involvement, Freedom Riders, Montgomery Bus Boycotts, Sit-Ins, and countless other organized and strategic efforts. Black and white Americans had goal-oriented discussions, learned to be united for a cause, generated healthy responses, and were willing to be arrested and even to die for what they believed in.
Where in our present time is there an effective and accessible forum to be educated on race? It seems like the church should have led this, but sadly that has not been the case. In many ways, some churches are still fighting integration. For several majority-white churches, the response has been to ignore the issues and exclude individuals who do not think like them. Historically, the majority-white churches made their decisions on a moral issue, and we’re still reaping the fruit of that immoral, Godless choice. This is why the Church must care because we have the solution and we have the power to right this wrong. Racism is rooted in hatred and it is a sin problem, that makes skin color a problem (1 John 2:9-11; 3:15). You end hatred by repenting and believing in the Gospel (1 John 4:9-11). Forgive us, Lord. Teach us how to work together and learn from each other.
What about violence in the black community?
That is a great question. There is violence in many black communities. We need to repent and do better. There is a silence that happens when people are murdered. This does need to be dealt with and honestly conversed about. There is also a systemic issue at work here because, most often, killing a black person results in less (if any) jail time in comparison to killing a person of white descent. People point to Chicago and other major cities but do not address the roots of segregation and white flight.
How did once-thriving communities deteriorate? When non-whites began to enter housing communities in the 60s, white families began to move away in droves causing a housing crisis and devaluation of housing properties. These actions led to reduced funding for the community, decaying of schools, departure of services, lack of jobs and opportunity, the legal practice of denying loans to black businesses, and the disappearance of grocery stores that created food deserts. Your generation might not have been a part of this movement, but if earlier generations did, they had a hand in the deterioration of the community. Confess and repent of those sins.
Lastly, in many of these communities (that people deflect from the current conversation), police are often less than helpful in some instances where victims are treated like criminals. Thus, some people feel like they are not or will not be protected by the police or their community when they report a crime. We must not buy the lie that black people are intrinsically more evil, succumb more easily to violence, are more irresponsible, and therefore aren’t worthy of my empathy. Statistics must always be met with context and analysis and there is nuance to these issues that we must be willing to address.
Power
You might not have had to think about these things or they might not affect you directly. Many white individuals can go weeks without having to interact with a non-white person. Black and brown people have to work with and for whites, which means that there is a power differential. Minorities do not have the power to change the justice system alone. We need the support of those in the majority to join us which is why silence is not an option. There is a sentiment that many non-black and brown people are finally waking up.
The success experienced by the Civil Rights movement needed white and black hands to accomplish its goals. You or your family might not have owned slaves, yet you most certainly benefited from the uncompensated labor that built the infrastructure of this country. You might have never experienced any of the things that were described. However, you can use your voice to help others become aware that we are not beyond racism in this country and we still have a long way to go. I feel the people who need to read this article the most will not, but you who have the heart of God should educate those who will never listen to me. If we were in the church of the first century, would they be silent or would they give all they have so that we can have all things in common?
Do black people think all cops are bad, racist, or want to kill them?
All police officers are not bad. Most do the job they swore to do honorably. Many of them have a passion to bring communities together and put in uncompensated time because they believe in making the world better. There are officers of all colors, religions, and creeds seeking the good and betterment of the cities they serve. Thank you to all the officers who are doing the job you enlisted to do. It must be exceedingly difficult to make the kind of split-second decisions that can save or end a life.
Fear is the most volatile ingredient that can cause a situation to become deadly. I am about 6’3” and 215 lbs. Most of the people who know me love me and would say that I’m a very caring person. But when an officer doesn’t know me and has been used to seeing the worst in humanity day in and day out, emotions sometimes thwart logic and people act outside their character. I empathize with good cops who are not always paid the best wages and live with the reality that every time they put on the uniform they know they might not come home to their family.
Consider our education system. It took a minimum of six years of school before I was declared competent to be a counselor. There seems to be a disconnect with those who legislate and uphold the law (lawyers, DA’s, judges, etc.) who require a minimum of at least seven years to complete schooling.
In contrast, in some law enforcement training programs, an officer is ready to hit the street in as little as 11 weeks. He begins to patrol the streets! This short duration of time might not adequately train a person to exercise the greatest judgment. The past affects the future. Suppose all all the interactions a citizen had with cops were negative or the interactions that cops have had with a particular type of person were difficult, those past interactions might shape the outcome of future scenarios. When I analyze the incidents where lives have been lost, it seems that when a black man is involved, there is a heightened fear. This fear can sometimes escalate in the situation for those coming on the scene late. This increases the chance of a dangerous outcome.
In 2019, white men killed by cops were 55% while black men killed by cops were 24%. Don’t let the lower number fool you because black people only make up 13% of the US population.
Statistics show that blacks are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by cops than whites according to statista.com. In 99% of cases in which a black person is killed, the officers are not charged. A national poll in June 2020 from PBS and CNN found that 70% of white people trust the police to treat them equally while a mere 36% of African-Americans do. There is an unhealed wound that continues to be bruised every time lives are lost, when there is no hate crime legislation, and when officers of the law are not held accountable for ending the lives of unarmed citizens.
Are liberty and justice supposed to be for all or some? Have you wrestled with that reality? Can you see why some hold to the sentiment that law enforcement was designed to protect a certain population, yet police another segment?
There has to be better training that prepares officers to effectively deescalate situations before using deadly force. I can tell hundreds of lesser-known stories of black men killed by police such as Jamarion Robinson, a college athlete who was shot at 90 times and hit with 76 bullets in Atlanta in 2016. Could you imagine the indescribable pain of his family?
Many of us watched in horror in New York when a 75-year-old white man was shoved by police officers, stumbled back, hit his head on the ground, started bleeding and was unaided as officers of the law continued walking by. The initial police report stated that he tripped and fell. That is simply not true. Thank God for cameras that allow the public to see the reality and form their own opinion. We need everyone to film incidents with officers for the evidence of wrongdoing. Additionally, when two officers were suspended, 57 officers resigned their post in solidarity with them. The former officer that killed George Floyd had multiple complaints launched against him, yet he not only retained his badge but was placed in a supervisory role.
The system is broken. In systems theory, a group of parts interacts to form a coherent whole. If you change one part of the system, it has an effect on other parts and the entire system. However, the justice system is broken beyond repair and it needs to be completely overhauled. Police have to understand the community they are policing. If they did not grow up there, they might have different ideas of what is good and valuable, and that which might even be considered normative behavior. There is an opportunity for the officers to come into the community to learn.
Take these killings seriously. Hold elected officials accountable to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and convict those who abuse power and disenfranchise others. When you serve on a jury for an officer-involved shooting, don’t assume that they were doing the job they swore to do. Examine the evidence. The legal team will use the tactic of justification, known as the victim scale, to find dirt on the slain individual to cast a dark light on their character. What was done in the past has absolutely nothing to do with why this person was killed. They have to be held accountable.
Black people do not desire to be superior to white people. African Americans aren’t asking for a revolution to make us superior and seek revenge. Black people desire to be equal and have equal protection under the law. We are done asking. Having complied with the biased laws of the land, we are demanding that our rights be heard and acknowledged. We want the same effort that is put to protesting animal murders and the unborn.
How can you help? Stand alongside us and demand fair and ethical treatment. We want to be able to have the same economic opportunities. It is important for us to know that if we are killed unjustly, our murderers will face prison time. That’s how to show that our lives matter. If you see the police participating in something that does not look right to you, call the police on the police. Describe what you are witnessing and film it. Submit the badge numbers of the officers, the number of their squad cars, and any other details that you can give.
Is the media telling the full story? To whom do I listen?
The media is telling a story. What is at work here is a complex mixture of race relations, sin, and personal responsibility. There are multiple news stations because we all see with a slant. We have to advocate for truth while honoring the lived experiences of our brothers and sisters.
There is so much noise and everyone is posting online. You want what you hear to echo the heart of God and motivate you to promote the good of all people. You might have to watch, read, or listen to multiple outlets to find the truth. Remember that we are wrestling not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers (Eph 6:10-18). Sin has manifested itself to divide us through race and abuse of authority. Social media is not the best platform to address these issues.
If you are frustrated, enraged, or confused, you need to position yourself to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. We have to balance restraint while we take action. Even if you think that the media is blowing everything out of proportion, be a good neighbor, and seek unity. We are a body. If the left hand is hurting, we don’t scold it, we nurture the wound.
Anger, the Protest, and Practical Steps
Is it Ok to feel angry?
Yes. Anger is neither good or bad, it is an emotion that indicates there is something that we value that requires protection. Many onlookers see the anger but they don’t see or feel the pain. Anger might motivate you to speak out, gather peacefully, contact local lawmakers, and share your concerns.
Why are so many angry?
The reason why so many are angry is that this script of dead black men and women keeps repeatedly happening. Let me share the normal course of events:
A black man is killed. The officer or citizen who killed them is not charged for days or weeks, if at all. Victim scaling and depersonalization are used to justify the killing. If or when there is a trial, the defendant is usually acquitted. That leads to anger. However, our anger should constructively motivate us. Consider protesting even if you do not identify with the black experience so that you can see faces and hear voices that articulate the problem. See for yourself. Always remember to pray. Never let anyone mock you or the power of prayer.
Why are there protests and why do people think that violence is the answer?
America was built on the spirit of protest. The Boston Tea party is not looked at by Americans as an act of tyranny. Peaceful demonstrations are some of the few ways that progress toward equality was made during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Keep in mind the long seeded and unhealed sentiments of dehumanization that strike at the very core of the God-given dignity of black people.
Now there is a feeling of utter exhaustion in the black community that nothing will be done because our lives do not matter. The overall sentiment is that the justice system is weighed against people of color and needs to be reformed, but more importantly, it needs to be redeemed. James 2:15-17 declares that if a sister or brother is in need and we fail to help them, then our faith is inauthentic and worthless. Jesus came to redeem all things, would he be pleased with our justice system and the indifference it shows to the blacks that were slain in this country?
Violence is not the answer. But neither is silence. Those who break the law need to be arrested, condemned, and/or pay restitution. It only takes a few acts to turn a protest from a peaceful gathering to a riot. Looting and vandalism undermine the causes in which people in this instance gathered together. It does not honor the memory of George Floyd or others that have lost their lives. The problem with large gatherings of people is that you don’t know who is present or why they are present. Most of the protests have been peaceful. However, there are known agitators, insurgent groups, anarchists, and knuckleheaded people who are gathered with the protestors like the wheat and the tares to spread discord and attempt to deter the quest for justice. Where two or three or three knuckleheads are gathered there will be chaos.
The AND Campaign, beautifully summarizes the events, “The riots are a product of a riotous & unjust system. The disorder began when a man’s rights were violated & life was taken on the asphalt. American racism was rioting against the people long before they took to the streets. Condemn the cause & then address the broken reaction. The problem isn’t that the protestors disrupted the peace, the “peace” was fraudulent and never really existed.”
What Are the Protesters Asking for?
I have heard the following demands from news reports and during protests:
- The arrests and criminal charges for all officers who were responsible for the murder of George Floyd (that has been accomplished).
- Holding officers in other cases accountable for the deaths of other individuals such as Breyona Taylor.
- Fair treatment for all people in the justice system, an end to discriminatory practices in the enforcement of the law, and decimation of mass incarceration. This includes an overhaul of previous racially influenced laws that favor or give harsher sentences to minorities.
- A complete revision of police training that specifies de-escalation techniques that mimic real-life scenarios. Bills discussed include the Walter Scott Act, ending qualified immunity, ending mandatory minimums, ending no-knock warrants, and ending civil asset forfeiture.
- A national hate crime law that will hold police officers and civil servants such as District Attorneys and Police Chiefs that falsify information. They need to be held accountable by firing and possibly charging them with misconduct.
- Transparency within financial institutions and an end of unethical denials and discriminatory practices in banks.
- Eliminate the unfair housing policies that restrict blacks from obtaining business loans or denying them the use of rental properties.
- Demands that businesses that:
- are heavily supported by black people to publicly denounce racism.
- support white supremacy groups be removed from college campuses.
- receive state or city money need to use some of that money to mentor youth and give them job opportunities.
Practical Steps
- Educate yourself on the racial history of this country. Explore the racial tensions and disagreements of the 1st-century church and how they had to unify.
- Practice listening. Allow a friend who is hurting to vent to you without offering solutions. Seek to understand before you are understood.
- Be wise, if and when you speak. If you are someone who always speaks your mind, maybe now is not the time. An analogy may be helpful to give perspective: People who commit suicide do so for a variety of reasons, but the bedrock of that low point of desperation is because he or she believes the lie that they are worthless and have no hope. I trust you don’t go around telling parents who have lost their son or daughter, “Sorry for your loss, but maybe you shouldn’t have let your children believe lies about their intrinsic self-worth?” Let’s be wise and be merciful.
- Pray and fast for this country to repent of racism. Justice is an act of worship. Read Isaiah 58:1-13. Praying our lament would lead to holistic legislation, benefiting communities, and supporting law enforcement.
- Find the bias within yourself, then surrender that to God. Ask him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).
- Get to know people of other races and ethnicities. Listen to their stories and share your own. Encourage them and check on them.
- Don’t pass up on an opportunity to be a bridge between different people. Always remember being a bridge means you’ll take a beating from both sides, remember to be brave.
- Cry with a close friend. Repent to the Lord in their presence if you have a solid relationship with them.
- Repent sincerely. If you feel it’s necessary, repent publicly if you have the conviction to do so.
- Question or confront a friend or family member that speaks negatively about a black or brown person. Confront their sin as described in Matthew 18:15-20.
- Pursue justice, not vengeance. Jesus flipped tables to purify the house of God, not to topple the government. He was fulfilling Scripture.
- Question your misconceptions.
- Join hands with those who do not have a voice, use your power to raise awareness, and advocate for change. Bring these conversations up with your non-black friends. You might be surprised and be able to influence them for the better.
- Discuss race from the pulpit or advocate that your pastor does. The church must stand up and denounce racism and systemic injustice.
Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago states, “An American theology that shows people how to get to heaven but does not teach them how to live with their neighbor on earth is inadequate and thoroughly unbiblical.” May our leaders step to the forefront of the marches and let their light shine before men so that they will see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). The church must both doctrinally affirm the image of God in theology, but also practically uphold the value in the humanity of our neighbor.
How can I help at the local level?
Support local community groups that are doing the work to bridge racial gaps, address racial wounds, and seek the betterment of the city.
Try to support minority businesses (women-owned, black-owned, Latino owned, immigrant-owned) and be intentional about where your money goes.
This is not the left versus the right, a new social Marxist liberal Gospel, but rather a battle of the Kingdom of Darkness versus the Kingdom of God.
Dr. Martin Luther King said it poignantly – In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Every person can make a difference. We must stand together to honor the image of God and human dignity in all men and women that will heal the racism in America.
Books to Read: (These are not all Christian authors.)
Dr. Eric Mason– Woke Church
John Piper– Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian
Benjamin Watson– Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race
Thomas Sowell– Culture Trilogy (Race and Culture, Migrations and Cultures, Conquests and Cultures)
Ta-Nehisi Coates books, articles, and lectures
Jasmine L. Holmes– Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope
Fredrick Douglas– Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas
W.E.B. Du Bois– The Souls of Black Folk
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.– A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches,
Joel McDurmin– The Problem of Slavery in Christian America
Jemar Tisby– The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism
Malcolm X– The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Dr. Anthony Bradley– Ending Overcriminalization & Mass Incarceration
Michelle Alexander– The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Richard Rothstein– The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
Eric Foner– Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877
Soong-Chan Rah– Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times
Sheila Wise Rowe– Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience
Douglas Blackmon– Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
Articles for Consideration:
American Racism: We’ve Got So Very Far to Go
The North won the war, but the South won the Narrative
Crash Course on Institutionalized Racism
Brief History of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Brief Overview of Black History
The Rise of Drug Dealing in the Life of the North American Street Gang
Brief History of the Black Church
Local Community Groups in Atlanta
-AND Campaign
-Jude 3 Project
-Peace Preparatory Academy
-Hands On Atlanta
-Police Athletic League
-Atlanta Police Explorers Program
-The Hispanic Liaison Unit
by James E. Francis, Jr., EdD, APC
james@restorationcounselingatl.com
James helps with issues such as anxiety, anger, depression, life transitions, resilience, and spiritual maturity. He believes that therapy should be clinically excellent and theologically accurate. He prioritizes the integration of Scripture with elements of psychology to operate a holistic growth model. James uses reflective prayer to help individuals align their beliefs with Scripture. He then walks beside them to promote step-by-step healing from the pain of the past. James’ goal is to hold individuals accountable through encouragement and empowerment by activating their drive toward spiritual maturity.