On Monday night, local radio podcast Kindlings Muse hosted a show entitled “The New Face of Justice: Life After Selma.” SPS professor Jeff Keuss and SPS alum Anna Miller hosted the event, which featured panelists Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil and SPU theology graduate and community organizer for the #blacklivesmatter movement, Marissa Jenae.
One of the highlights of the discussion included the generation gap in the work of racial justice. Dr. Salter McNeil, who had the opportunity to travel to Ferguson and meet with the young activists who were organizing protests, stated that “young people are teaching old people.”
When the question was raised whether the tactics of protesters are too off-putting or divisive, Dr. Salter McNeil said, “Young folks are not trying to talk to [the older generation] anymore — they’re not trying to ‘massage’ it for us,” because they are fighting oppression that is taking away their lives and opportunities. Marissa questioned the unwillingness of churches to become involved in this work, and pointed to the fact that engagement in the work of racial justice includes a “social cost,” and many churches are not willing to make the sacrifice. She talked about her work being a direct response to her faith in Jesus, and stated that Christians can earn the respect of those who have been disenchanted by the church through their involvement in these efforts. She said, “if you’re fighting for the freedom of the most marginalized in our society, then all will be free.”
Be on the lookout for the podcast at the Kindlings Muse site: http://ift.tt/1uPIvQ2
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