Station 5

Quote:
“Jesus’s ministry was essentially liberation on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. I don’t need a doctorate in theology to know that liberation defined the heart of Jesus’ ministry.”
-James Cone, American theologian, author of Black Theology and Black Power

Reflection:
God has always heard the cries of those in pain. In the exodus, God saw the pain of God’s people and set the Israelite slaves free. God pulled God’s people out of the exile in Babylon after their homes had been conquered. And in Jesus, God liberates us from the power of sin. God’s work is in setting people free from the things in the world that hold them down.

Protests are the voices of people who feel like their cries of pain and oppression haven’t been heard. The protests of the Civil Rights Movement led to real change in our country. Nevertheless, systems persist that make freedom for black and brown people feel out of reach. Black students have less access to AP and advanced classes than white students. Black children are twice as likely as the national average to live in food insecure homes. The persistent and significant wealth gap between Black and white Americans widened even more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Black families have been left particularly vulnerable to hunger, homelessness, and sickness. How does reflecting on these facts affect your understanding or opinion of recent protests demanding racial justice?

Photo: Civil Rights Protests - Competing Sides. Photo Credit: Donald Uhrbrock.