Christians and Racial Justice: A Discussion

The rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the recent murder of George Floyd make it clear that racism is still powerfully alive in our country.  Racism has been called America's "original sin."  Struggles around affirmative action, welfare and immigration reform, and other policies show that the racial divide in the United States wasn't healed in the civil rights era.  What can we, as Maryknoll Affiliates, do about it?

Mary Morris Williams of Northeast Florida Affiliate Chapter asked herself that question when the Black Lives Matter movement began.  She realized she needed to know more and spent one year reading and studying the history of racism and of Black Catholics. Her first step was education in racial matters: white privilege; the history and treatment of Blacks in the Catholic Church; Jim Crow laws after the Civil War; the migration of Blacks to northern cities and California; and forgiveness and reconciliation in South Africa.

Please join Mary and other Affiliates in continuing this study using Sojourners' discussion guide entitled "Christians and Racial Justice." This four-part guide is designed to spark discussion and thought about how to live out God's call for justice in our world.  Each session includes Sojourners' articles, questions for discussion, and ideas for further study.  The guide can be found and downloaded at: 
https://sojo.net/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/DG_racialjustice.pdf.
We will gather together using Zoom videoconferencing on Wednesdays in August.  The time will be determined by interested participants.  

If you wish to join the discussion, please register with Rich Lessard at RichLessardMKA@gmail.com by July 27.  Please indicate the general time of day you would like the study to take place.  When registration is complete, participants will receive a Zoom link prior to the start of the first session.

Let's take this step together toward decisions and actions in which we can help change racism in our nation.  Will this be a starting point for a further journey—where will the Spirit lead you?