a voice is heard in Ramah

Tell me, friend, where were you when America reminded you that your life was disposable?
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) July 14, 2013

All the black people who are surprised right now, please raise your hand. Even indignation is a white privilege.
— tressie mc (@tressiemcphd) July 14, 2013

Disgusted. Heartbroken for Trayvon's family. It's still open season on Black boys and men in 2013 America. Dangerous just for existing.
— Grace (@graceishuman) July 14, 2013

it hurts SO much. but my prayer now is that we make sure this means something. remember it, swim in its length. let it mobilize us.
— Brokey McPoverty (@brokeymcpoverty) July 14, 2013

Black children are not seen as children in the eyes of this society. They're are seen as problems in the making.
— Sister Outsider (@FeministGriote) July 14, 2013

Jesus. They killed our child and blamed him - and us - for it.
— Wil Gafney (@WilGafney) July 14, 2013

I expected, I wanted more from my country. As a black woman, I can only produce black children. But I can't do that in good conscience.
— Miss SoLo DoughLow (@whimsikal) July 14, 2013

At 26, with 2 degrees, an honest job, no involvement in the legal system EVER, I can be killed and turned into a predator as a Black Man.
— Mr. Brown (@Ntuitive_PHIve) July 14, 2013

When I think of this trial, I think of inequality in every aspect of the "justice" system- policing/arrests/jury selection/sentencing...
— Proteas & Magnolias (@ArriannaMarie) July 14, 2013

Understand the collective mourning: This isn't only for #TrayvonMartin. We're mourning the very idea that we're human in the U.S. It's dead.
— Elon James White (@elonjames) July 14, 2013

For the last 24 hours, I swear the phrase "unforgivable blackness" has been ringing in the air at a pitch only black boys can hear.
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) July 14, 2013

The fundamental danger of an acquittal is not more riots, it is more George ZImmermans.
— jay smooth (@jsmooth995) July 13, 2013

White people & all ppl who don't identify as black, who are trying to unlearn your fear of black bodies, train each other. Vigilantly.
— dream hampton (@dreamhampton) July 14, 2013

This is the state of race in America. This is it. Look closely.
— Grace (@graceishuman) July 14, 2013

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children.
— Wil Gafney (@WilGafney) July 14, 2013

Drew G.I. Hart: Pain Medicine: Trayvon, Simon of Cyrene, and Jesus
Black Youth Project: 100 Young Black Activists Respond to George Zimmerman Verdict 
Enuma Okora: The mother of all grief (Washington Post, On Faith)

Christ have mercy. Kyrie eleison.

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a grand canyon of light

I love my country
By which I mean
I am indebted joyfully
To all the people throughout its history
Who have fought the government to make right
Where so many cunning sons and daughters
Our foremothers and forefathers
Came singing through slaughter
Came through hell and high water
So that we could stand here
And behold breathlessly the sight
How a raging river of tears
Is cutting a grand canyon of light

{from Grand Canyon by Ani DiFranco. Happy Fourth, friends.}

on solidarity

Not long ago, I joined up with a motley crew of writers desiring to live in a way that proclaims that Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not. Folks are writing this week on the topic of solidarity, and like a good student of liberation theology, I have a number of thoughts on the matter which I can distill to Proximity, Listening, and Humility. I want to position myself near those who are oppressed and hurting like Jesus did, I want to honor their stories, and I want to take cues from them. I learn a great deal from Christena Cleveland (please stop whatever you are doing and read this series now), Shay Kearns, T.F. Carlton, Sarah Moon, Mihee Kim Kort, and D.L. Mayfield.

And if you missed them the first time around, I've touched on similar themes before:

waging peace: conflict, christian unity, & power

sacrificing privilege on the altar of grace

all oppression shall cease: a feminist theology of power

a church disarmed 

tragically hip: privilege & the emerging church

to love is to serve is to liberate

What does solidarity look like in your life? How do you need it? How do you demonstrate it? How does the Church practice this well and poorly? How can we do it better? How does Jesus model solidarity with those who are outcast and oppressed?

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