CHRIST IN WINTER:
Reflections on Faith & Life for the Years of Winter…
Congressman John Lewis
spoke at MSU four years ago when our granddaughter was a freshman there. After
his talk, she told him that her grandfather had marched into Montgomery with
him—and a lot of other people—at the conclusion of the Selma march. He told her
to thank me. Good grief! John Lewis thanking me? We ALL should be thanking him.
Yesterday was the 53rd
anniversary of Bloody Sunday. It was not the only time John Lewis was beaten
and bloodied. That happened a lot back then to people who dared to champion
civil rights for all citizens, including black folks. But it was a pivotal day
in the consciousness of the nation and in the turn-around in the struggle for civil
rights.
Someone noted on Twitter
yesterday that we overlook the significance of John Lewis because he is still
with us, still alive, still working for civil rights for all. He is truly a
legendary figure. He’ll be recognized more for his importance when he’s dead;
that’s the way we do these things.
But we need to see him now
for what he represents—that there are always plenty of people who “honor”
people like Lewis with their talk but want to turn back the clock to a time
when people like he was then—young, poor, and black—have diminished rights,
have to sit—at best—at the kids’ table. We all need to thank Lewis and the
other pioneers of Civil Rights by joining them in the continuing struggle
against the domination system of our time.
JRMcF
No comments:
Post a Comment