Reaching the Next Generation for Racial Reconciliation
Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-men’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn by the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.” - Abraham Lincoln
These are the words that caught my attention as I stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in January. What does Abraham Lincoln mean by three thousand years ago? What are the two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil? Also, the walls were covered in Biblical truths. Doing research, I learned quite a bit about Abraham Lincoln. From all appearances in research, he was a man after God’s heart. His heart was reconciliation to Christ and to right injustices that faced this nation.
As I stood at the feet of his statue with my friend, I posed a question. Does the 250 years mean that we will not see justice for black people in this nation until 250 years from the date of this speech? He was a young black man and he too wondered the same thing. It made me sit back and think that something he was passionate about - justice and reconciliation for his own people may not occur in this lifetime. We don’t know for sure what the 250 years meant, but it made us wonder what Abraham Lincoln meant.
It also posed a question to me as a white person. Am I willing to pick up the fight that started during the Civil War? The war started with blood and sweat. Maybe today it continues. It continues in toil. After the civil war came segregation and that did not end until 1964. Have we full recognized that it was 101 years later after the civil war that segregation ended? Before it ended another war was started on the black people.
Planned Parenthood was created in 1916. Did you know that Roe vs. Wade where abortion was allowed to be legalized was in 1973 - less than 10 years after segregation ended? Did you know that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, founded it so that she could target black people and other minorities? We all have an enemy and the black people in America, for some reason, have been systematically targeted throughout our nation. As we all know, there is one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy - the devil.
“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life abundantly.” - John 10:10
This is a dialogue we need to be having with our future children, the youth we mentor now, and our young adults. The enemy is not white or black or any other race. It is the devil. Our job is to share first that the Gospel changes everything. Next, it is to tell this new generation to accept that we continually have wronged a race and it is our job to toil as a nation to right that wrong - just as Abraham Lincoln said.
How can we do that?
Start by sharing the Gospel and loving all people equally.
Get out and vote. Your votes make a difference. All of these laws were created by politicians. Get informed and help your families be informed. Are you backing people that bring solutions or division?
Learn your history. Many people are unaware of the laws, stories, and policies that created this country. Educate yourself and those around you.
Toil for those less fortunate than you. If you are white, you do have the advantage of not being oppressed by the laws that created this country. What can you do to make a difference?
Get involved in the pro-life movement. Abortion statistics continually show that this is a way to target the black community. Find a pregnancy center and get involved. Make sure you are educated on how to empower black families and give them their value. Go into impoverished black communities simply to say they are loved and deserve to have whole families.
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.