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I had the privilege last week of going to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. As you can imagine, walking through the civil rights history of Alabama, decade by decade, was sobering.
I was struck by all of the people who fought the good fight and never lived to see the change that they helped create.
There have been some remarkable achievements and progress in Alabama. No more back-of-the-bus seating, ‘whites only’ signs, or separate drinking fountains.
But there has also been a remarkable lack of change. I was in Alabama visiting predominately white suburban schools. Schools with money to pay visiting authors; schools with excellent libraries, teachers and staff. I was, metaphorically, drinking water from the ‘whites only’ fountain.
Approximately 85%–87% of Birmingham city students identify as Black/African American and 11%–12% identify as Hispanic. The district, serving over 19,000 students across 43 schools, has approximately 1%–6% White students and a high concentration of socioeconomically disadvantaged students. In other words, the segregationists are winning.
My son said, what did I expect?, a sign at the end of the museum saying that ‘Our work here is done. Good job’? Well… yes. I like neat endings. Not messy life where God wants me to pay attention, take action, and have faith.
My experience in Birmingham has led me, strangely enough, to gratitude. Gratitude for all who came before us and worked for social justice. Gratitude for Newport Presbyterian and so many members who, within and outside of the church, are fighting the good fight and trusting in God.
This week say a prayer of thankfulness for the trailblazers. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
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