Rally 2 End Racism
The National Council of Churches, over its more than 60 years, has decried the policies, practices, customs, and acts that bore evidence of racism in the United States of America. Resolutions, institutional apologies, and conferences have confirmed intent to end racism while providing evidence of some progress in attacking numerous racist acts. Despite those efforts, there is indisputable evidence that racism is still alive and well!
Three years ago at a gathering with the faith community in the nation’s capital, a mandate was issued. The Black faith community in the United States of America declared that it was determined and committed to motivate and move this nation toward corrective action to destroy the evil of racism and the negative consequences of race that deny liberty, justice, and opportunity to far too many US citizens and residents.
The gathering was the vision of Bishop Reginald Jackson and the then Rev. Staccato Powell, whose leadership is the AME and AMEZ Churches resulted in the member churches of the National Council of Churches (NCC) to join in partnership. In the shadows of the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, there was a renewed sentiment that declared it is imperative for American citizens to demand accountability from its leadership at every level of government and that everything be removed, corrected, and banished that prohibits or restricts us from being one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.
Uncomfortable that any authentic progress was being made, the Governing Board of the NCC took inventory of its “soul.” Each of the 38-member denominations and faith groups confessed that for over 230 years, this nation failed to face the evil of racism. They agreed on the urgency for the church to commit itself to move this nation to take corrective action. NCC said, “As people of faith, we believe conversion is possible and necessary. Therefore, we call for dialogue and action that addresses the elimination of racism.” After some further soul searching, it was clear that God was calling for holy boldness.
Leadership’s commitment is not enough. Accountability only takes place when local congregations take action that is supported by the regional bodies and undergirded the national denominations. So, the bold launch of the action was identified. It would be on the 50th-anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It would acknowledge that Blacks in America waited 246 years for the end of slavery, 10 years to see the legal end of segregation, 64 years for the legal declaration to end the public education’s “separate but equal” practices, and that the promise of “liberty and justice for all” is still unmet. It would acknowledge the complicity of the church in perpetuating racism and take action now to end it.
The year 2018 is the year for action to end racism and challenge the entire nation. On April 3, the Greek Orthodox Church gathered for Holy Week services and welcomed people of all persuasions to St. Sophia’s Cathedral in DC for an ecumenical worship service. Joined by Dr. Agnes Abuom, the World Council of Churches’ Moderator of the Central Committee, the linkages began.
On April 4, before sunrise, hundreds of people gathered at the foot of the King statue. Clergypersons, lay leaders, and activists shared their commitment to keep marching till racism ends. Dr. King’s cousin, the Rev. Touissant King Hill, Jr., the pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, brought words of appreciation from the King Family and joined the crowd in marching silently to the National Mall with only the sound of drums echoing in the air. I don’t remember hearing an airplane, helicopter, or even the engines of the cars that passed us. I felt the presence of all those who marched before us saying, “keep going.” At points, I seemed to hover above the group from all walks of life and then descend to the pavement buoyed for the path ahead.
Arriving at the National Mall, we joined people from across the nation, Canada, and the Caribbean who had come to pledge to end racism and act now. Approximately 15,000 were in attendance while thousands more watched by live stream and listened over the radio. Throughout the day, people watched, cried, sang, huddled and created new networks. Others who were visiting the museums wandered over to understand the message and many stayed, abandoning their tourist plans. The theme was clear: we must commit to finishing the work to end racism. To do so requires we: awaken ourselves to the truth that racism is ever-present, deeply rooted in American culture, and profoundly damaging to our communities; confront racism, speak truth to ourselves, our communities, and institutions, and stand against injustice; and transform the hearts, minds, and behaviors of people and structures that shape society.
Speakers, activists, spoken word artists, musicians, vocalists, and choirs echoed that message in their own genre. Social media was active with Facebook posts, tweets from #AT2EndRacism and #Rally2EndRacism, texts, posts on Instagram, and selfies.
At noon, a 35-mile per hour windstorm swept through the Mall, sending attendees scattering for shelter and stage crews scrambling to secure the stage and equipment. Vendor booth siding was removed and a voice announced that we would resume shortly. As the storm passed, the music began and the crowd reassembled for the resounding final challenge by keynote speaker, Bishop Vashti McKenzie.
It is important to recognize the clear message sent regarding the AME Church’s commitment by the presence and support of our Episcopal leadership at the launching Rally. Bishops McKinley Young, Vashti Murphy McKenzie, James Lavert Davis, John Franklin White, Clement Willie Fugh, Harry L. Seawright, Frank Madison Reid, III, and retired Bishop John Richard Bryant played major roles. Other AMEs served in the planning/implementation process. They include Mrs. Valerie Gary Bell, the Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Mr. John Thomas, III, the Rev. Dr. William LaMar, the Rev. Abraham Smith, Mr. Bobby Rankin, Mr. Reginald McGill, Mrs. Saundra Lucas, Dr. Richard Allen Lewis, Mrs. Cajetta Stephens, Mr. Harry Richards, and the AME Bookstore.
“It breaks my heart to be fighting the same battles today that I began fighting 40 years ago,”says Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, director of the AME Church’s Social Action Commission and co-chair of the NCC’s Truth and Racial Justice Task Force. She continued, “Christians are people who believe in miracles, and I for one believe that together, we can finally end racism. With God and together, we cannot fail.”
