As a Universalist, I believe that all persons are of equal value (I mean, if God is going to save everybody, no one’s disposable, right?); indeed, it seems likely that all sentient beings are of equal value; and I also believe that everything’s going to turn out all right in the end, especially if we all fight to transform the world and create paradise here on earth in our lifetimes. Where must such transformation take place? I found part of the answer in an essay by Ron Daniels in Race and Resistance: African Americans in the 21st Century:
There is a need for joint work [between various racial groups in the U.S.]. In fact, we cannot do this simply by seeing the Klan show up and throwing rocks are bricks at them and cursing at them profusely. That is simply not going to solve the problem. That’s sometimes our definition of antiracism work. We get out, the Klan shows up, all seven of them, 300 of us show up, throw rocks at them, call them bad names. We go home and we’ve done our work for the year. We need some real serious, joint work based on mutually acceptable agendas of issues. One of the areas I’m very keen on in environmental justice, fighting against environmental racism, environmental depredation, and uniting in the struggle for environmental justice. It is a common-ground issue that deals with things like housing and health and community development. All those issues are encapsulated in environmental justice.
This sounds like Universalist transformation to me: transformation so as to bring about paradise here on earth. Yes, I know it’s hopelessly idealistic, but that’s what religion is supposed to be (and besides, it’s more productive than throwing rocks).
Maybe it’s because I am in a backward region, but I think, in spite of such tower figures as Rev. Reeb and Ms. Luiza (sp) our faith has a long way to go.
I say that, fully aware that we shouldn’t have a long way to go, but I think we do. Much to my chagrin, it seems to me that our faith:
1) Does not see integration as part of anti-racism
2) Only sees anti-racism as an issue to be addressed outside of our church.
Again, I could be wrong and I hope I am. I would say this, in this era of a Black man leading a major political party and having to compete against a white woman. I don’t remember seeing many blogs talking about Viola and her sacrifice. Not that her death means one side should have prevailed, but that of All the faiths, ours inspired a white woman to make the ultimate sacrifice and thereby laid the foundation for Obama.
In a very real sense her blood cemeted the foundation for the path Obama followed to where he is. As a black man, that meant a lot to me. I wish our ministers would say more about it publicly.
Chuckphilly — Thanks for mentioning Viola Liuzzo. A short biography of her may be found here:
http://www25-temp.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/violaliuzzo.html
She spent much of her life working for justice; she was a remarkable woman. I think maybe I had better preach a sermon about her this fall; thanks for the suggestion.
You also write that Unitarian Universalism “only sees anti-racism as an issue to be addressed outside of our church.” Yup. Systemic racism pervades all of U.S. society, including predominantly white churches — just ask any of our UU ministers of color who have served in predominantly white churches….