My class just finished reading the novel, Al-American Boys. It is written by two authors. One is black and the other is white, Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. I picked the book. Yes, I have students read the classics, but I also try to introduce them to literature that is current, seeing how that is what I also read. I want students to enjoy reading, not just do what we did “back in my day.” It’s not about “my day.” It’s about their lives and to give them an understanding that books are beautiful. The book was written in 2015 and is about racial injustice. The lessons are immense, and each character has to choose what to do or not do with the racial injustice in their own community and an incident that occurred to one of the students in their own school. All they have to do is choose.
First, let me address the fact that we as Christians cannot deny that the sin of racism does not exist. I live in the huge and diverse city of Los Angeles and racism exists here. If it exists here, then I cannot stick my head in the sand and claim that it does not exist in smaller communities in America. It does. We do not always see it. As a teacher, I have recognized that it exists in the education system. (It is way beyond what we teach in history. The education system is built on racist practices, but that is for another blog.) I have voiced my claims and instead of applause, I am pelted with verbal assaults and justification for the racist methods in the education system. Whether or not racism exists is not the question. What we, the Christian community and the church will do with that knowledge is what will move us forward or backward.
Just like the characters in the book, we all have a choice. We can choose not to care. We can claim that it is not my problem, which I have done and have repented. We can claim that it is easier and better to walk away from the discussion and focus on what we need to do in our lives. I have done that too, but it is not right, and I have repented. I did not watch the Oscars, but I heard the speech of Tyler Perry who called us to meet in the middle because in the middle is where we have a conversation. I think he’s been reading my other blogs because I have recognized that it is in the middle that we can understand those who think and live differently than ourselves.
We have to admit we do not know everything. I wish I knew everything about everything and everyone, but I am not that person on Twitter. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) I do not know everything about life. If I did, I would not struggle. I would already know the answers. Maybe that is why God does not allow us to know everything about everything and everyone. He wants us to find the answers. God is that way. He gives us the tools and we need to use them. Before anyone says that is horrible and that is not a loving God, I will tell you it is exactly what a loving God does. It is what any good teacher does. A good teacher desires for his or her students to discover the answers, not just give the students the answers. Once we admit we are not all-knowing, we will be able to see someone else’s point of view. We will be able to understand that which we have not experienced.
We have to listen. I understand that listening to the media can be exhausting and many of the stories in the media do not contain the truth. We need to develop relationships with people who will speak truth into our lives with love and grace. We need to listen to them and to their stories. Listening can also come in the form of reading. This young adult novel that we read in class revealed attitudes that people I know and I, myself have possessed. Listening to my voice in a novel of a character that is not on the “good guy” side is difficult, but hearing the truth is helpful. It is where change begins. Having heard the truth, I now will go into a new direction with change.
We have to change. If we do not change, we do not grow. Sunday April 25, 2020 was the tenth anniversary of our church’s first gathering on Hollywood Blvd. The street has not been the same since then, but the beauty of that gathering is that those of us who were there came from another location of our church. We were told we were moving the Sunday before Easter. We had a one week’s notice. For my friends who work in ministry, you know that is a miracle! People moved with joy and celebration. We drove out of the way of our connivence to bring the light of Jesus to a dark street. Change is difficult. Change is not fun, but it is necessary. No one is asking us to move to a new community. We are just being asked to change from seeing life through our own perspective and to see life from the perspective of others. That small change can make a great difference.
The times are changing. If we do not change with them, then we will become irrelevant, and we will struggle to represent the love of Jesus. We need to represent the love Jesus has to our communities in which we live, to everyone in them. There is so much to be done. Our churches need to recognize that segregation on Sunday mornings in diverse communities must end. Our families need to recognize that some of their beliefs have been passed to their children and it affects other children. We just have to start. One of the main characters in the book wanted to do something. He learned he just had to start with his own words and thoughts. God gave us minds and hearts. May our words and thoughts represent the love of God instead of our political beliefs, our generational beliefs, or any other beliefs that cloud our minds and blind our souls. I know that I will make a commitment to learn, listen, and change in order to love.
As a teacher, I taught the book. As any good teacher, I was also a student and the book, and my students taught me. We only hear the negative about our young generation. Those of us who work with them see the potential of greatness that Generation Z possess and could bring to our country. In order to go forward, we must learn from yesterday. Yesterday, we had an ideal that we created from our own perspective. May we begin today to see life through the lens of those who walk a different path than us, so that the future will be greatly impacted. If we see the need, then we will go forward. If we remain blind, we will stay stuck and die. The church must move forward. Let us all take our role.
Thank you to the authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely for their beautiful book, All American Boys.
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