For me, racial reconciliation is very personal. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri as a white, blonde hair, blue-eyed girl amongst a predominantly black community. Note, I am intentionally saying black because people like to make blank statements that everyone in America is African-American. Some of my best friends were actually from Africa and American citizens. Others did not know if their heritage was African and were very frustrated at being called African. This is extremely personal because these are the people I consider to be family.

Let me ask you this: How would you feel if I asked you if your family could be my new cause for social justice? What if I told you that I’m going to take them and put them on TV to share how sad their lives are? How would you feel if I said they may be shot at today for how they looked and I’m trying to stop it? It’s different when it’s personal. Some of the people I love most in life are being targeted, told they are less than, and told their voices don’t matter.

I will never justify rioting and looting. However, I’m asking, if you will listen. Instead of picking up a sign declaring how you feel, will you put it down and sit? Will you sit with your neighbor and hear their story? Can you listen without judgment and hear their frustrations?

I grew up in St. Louis where the Ferguson riots were. My dad was an associate pastor near that area. Later, we moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the most segregated city in the nation. I have spent the last four years of my life sitting in the streets of the black neighborhoods hearing stories.

Can I tell you what I heard? In this city, more than half of black men in their thirties have been incarcerated. Infants die at an unprecedented rate - equivalent to that of a third world country. HIV and AIDS rates are through the roof.

When I talk to most people in my city, they don’t know that. This is specifically in the black community of Milwaukee. I would be angry too. Don’t think that one incident of injustice set this off. It is a systematic, continual ignoring and oppressing of an entire group of people.

So, what can you do?

Pray. Listen. Be present. Step out of your comfort zone into your community. Right now, I’m trying to stand beside my friends as they are finally stepping into a voice. My hope is that people will listen now.

The most segregated time in the United States is Sunday morning. This is the time where I encourage you, as the body of Christ, to pray and see how God is calling you to move. I am proud of my church this weekend because they chose to go into the inner city to simply pray and talk to people. It doesn’t fix the issue, but it’s a start. God usually uses those who are moving better than those who are sitting.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be sharing various articles on these issues so that we can learn what we can do to help bring unity during these times and be a light in the midst of chaos. Our nation desperately needs healing and only God can do that.

I have already lined up several of my friends to tell you how they have taken action. You will be hearing from people who stepped out of their comfort zones into churches that were different than theirs, women who adopted from the foster care system, women who started podcasts, people who worked in the inner-city and more.

Our heart at Tirzah is to talk about the issues Christian women face today by bringing it back to God. That’s why all of our articles are rooted in Scripture and why we can’t stay silent about the issues that fill our news feeds and our communities. Join us to learn what we as Christians can do to help and to better understand the issues facing us today. If you have a story to tell, submit an article or send us an email to tirzahmag@gmail.com - we’d love to chat with you further.

Sincerely,

Alycia Marie (2 Tim. 1:7)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alycia Marie is a free-spirited wanderer and follower of Christ. She spends her days exploring around the city with the unique family that God has given her. At this time, she is currently working with non-profits and churches to tackle rebuilding families in the city of Milwaukee. In her free time, she plays with preschoolers, writes in coffee shops, and travels the world.