We Must Move Forward…Together

We must learn from our mistakes. When we look at the history of America’s journey forward there is a pattern we can detect that gives us insight into why we still struggle to move forward. Progress has often happened in various movements in America while using Black people to bring progress, while at the same time segregating them to a space that reveals an underlying belief that the progress is NOT really fully for them. Then when Black people raise their voices, it is seen as an intrusion or even ungratefulness. There is the underlying thought that Black people should just be grateful to be included in some way, but should never think themselves equal enough to actually be included with all of those who benefit from the work of progress. Below is a brief history to illustrate what I mean.

When America was founded, our Founders brought all of their wisdom together to discuss a blue print for our great nation. It was a beautiful vision for creating a land where all men and women should be created equal. During that Great Conversation, the discussion of slavery came up and many wrestled about starting a free land, where all human beings were not free. The Founders decided to “table that discussion” (because many did not feel Black people were equally human) so that they could have more unanimous support for starting the country. Too many in the South could not fathom a country where Black people were equally human. They kept the discussion unfinished with the hopes that going forward America would continue the discussion and maybe rectify the hypocrisy of starting a free country where everyone was not free. Black people fought in the Revolutionary War, hoping that in fighting for the freedom of America, maybe they would earn the honor of being free too. The war ended and we won, with the help of Black people and even Native people, but that did not help them win their freedom. America progressed towards independence, while some people, the very ones who helped to fight, remained captive.

When America was divided between North and South, our leaders continued to have a Great Conversation about how to bring the country together. This discussion revealed that it would be in the best interest of American economics to end slavery and to make all people free. The Civil War came. Black people fought on the side of the Union. The Union won. Lincoln gave his 2nd inaguaral address which included his plans for Reconstruction. John Wilkes Boothe sat in the audience and was so horrified about his plans that he decided to kill Lincoln. Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnson became the new president. The Conversation about how to acclimate Black people into a life of equality and citizenship was tabled again. Jim Crow laws revealed that the leaders in the south would not support the equal treatment of Black people. America progressed towards becoming a union, while some people, the very ones who helped the Union win, remained oppressed.

When America was becoming a world power and Black people still had to sit in the back of the bus, the restaurant or other public spaces, the Great Conversation continued about what to do about “The Negro Problem.” What should be done about these brown people who are still here and want to be treated equally? This time there was no war, but there were marches, sit-ins, and conversations with various civil rights leaders. Protests were a mixed crowd of Black and Whites, trying to have this conversation that over the decades kept being “tabled.” This time, though people were brave enough to keep having the conversation. Some (Black and White) were killed for trying to continue the work of having this hard conversation, but this time people refused to be silenced. People refused to wait for another time to have the conversation. People refused to stop using Black people for their own selfish progress, and began to see Black people as more than a tool to be used to further their agenda. People decided to believe that Black people should be part of America’s continued progress forward. This time the conversation continued at the March on Washington, through MLK’s Dream, through a bi-partisan vote to finally end Jim Crow and disrimination of any kind. John F. Kennedy was murdered as he appeared to be a little too supportive of Civil Rights (although he wasn’t necessarily a major champion of it). This time though, the next president decided to continue the conversation. Lyndon B. Johnson, although a racist himself (or wanted to appear to be so to satisfy his supporters), picked up the mantle that JFK left behind and unlike Andrew Johnson, he kept pushing for the Civil Rights Bill. Then MLK and Congress and LBJ joined together for the signing of the bill. America finally progressed, (WITH the very people who helped to fight for this moment) to the first steps of being the land of the free.

There is still work to be done. We only really progress forward when we work together. Healing the sores of racism is not something that just White people can heal or Black people should fight for. It is a battle we all must fight together. Many times churches, schools, organizations, businesses claim to want to bring racial healing, but there is always a reason to table the discussion, or to wait until some great goal is met and THEN we can deal with the scars of racism. History has proven that constantly putting this off, ending the conversation, silencing Black voices only brings some type of tragic and violent end. Yet, when we are brave enough to include one another in the work of healing our country, our churches, schools, businesses, organizations and communities then progress can authentically happen. Progress without addressing the racism is progress rooted in White supremacy. We must break the generational sin and do things differently. History has shown us this. Ignoring, dismissing, silencing, or even demonizing the voices of those who keep crying out that there is still work to be done, so that you can move forward with your own goals, is not real progress, because we can only progress authentically, when we progress together and are all equally blessed by that progress TOGETHER.