It is obvious that racism and a measure of bad blood, no matter how small, exist on both sides of this issue. At this juncture, we need to engage the younger generations in a structured process of seeking to develop deeper racial harmony in the South. What concerns me the most is that despite the negative Press Jena has received, there are copycats hanging nooses in that region and around the nation. Last Thursday night, kids in nearby Alexandria, LA dragged nooses behind their truck. Friday morning, four nooses were discovered in High Point, North Carolina (nearly 900 miles away) at a local high school.
The primary lesson that I take away from this story is the fact that the generational problems of racism and segregation in the South still exist. This is not to isolate or condemn Jena. Rethinking the race question happens in each successive generation.
How do we begin to heal the racial divide in our nation? After all, despite our nation’s diversity, the black–white gap seems to be the greatest ethnic division we face within our borders. I believe that the only catalyst that can unite the races in America is the Christian Church.
Fifty years ago, the national evangelical movement missed its opportunity to help direct the Civil Rights Movement. If the white church in the South had preached against racism and called for local churches to lead the movement for justice on biblical grounds, they could have helped navigate the nation through many strife-filled years. The church of the ‘50s opted to maintain the status quo instead of leading the nation through a very delicate transition.
Once again, America is at a crossroads. The Church is uniquely poised to help the entire nation develop new ways of dealing with the increasingly complex racial and cultural adjustments necessary to heal our land.
James Jenkins, a strategist with African Americans For the Louisiana Baptist Convention, made the following comments in this regard, “Outsiders tend to stereotype a town like Jena, …I know the people in this town. … This is not a racially divided town…good is going to come out of this. This [national attention] is going to affect relationships in the town, and that will affect the community in a positive way.”
I agree with James Jenkins’ assessment of Jena and her faith. Therefore, I call upon the Christian Church within a 50 mile radius of Jena to start the process of healing by doing the five following things:
1. Initiate a closed door summit with preachers and church leaders mediated by national ministries.
2. Call for a nationwide Reconciliation Sunday to occur next month in which there will be pulpit exchanges and special messages on love, harmony, and racial unity.
3. Develop a Jena scholarship fund for six, of the most deserving black kids at the Jena high school.
4. Implement a program to develop cross-cultural friendships of clergy in the region.
5. Bring the clergy, civic leaders and law enforcement personnel together to discuss community problems. This summit should lead to a concrete plan for easing racial tensions during the next year.
We need a new Civil Rights Movement led by Bible believing, evangelical churches. If you would like to join me in my quest to bring racial healing to our nation, please contact us via our website - thetruthinblackandwhite.com.