The Movement for Today - Reflections on Civil Rights

The Movement for Today  

Reflections on Civil Rights

“This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Recently, the Civil Rights Room of the Nashville Public Library was formally dedicated.  This miniature “museum” will forever commemorate the sacrifice, service and commitment to freedom, justice and equality of the leaders and participants in the Nashville Civil Rights Movement.  Future generations, ad infinitum, will be able to visit this room and learn about the inimitable contributions of their forebears.  We pray that they will leave the room with a greater appreciation for the cost of liberty and full citizenship.  We rejoice in the dawning of today in which we vindicate those who were previously scourged for having the vision of coercing American society to fulfill the grand aims of the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution.

In the third chapter of the book of Ezra, the author records the “Rebuilding of the Altar” and the “Rebuilding of the Temple.”  In the latter scene, verses seven through thirteen, the older and younger generations gather for a momentous worship experience to thank Almighty God for His enduring goodness and faithful love which allow them to commence the process of rebuilding the Temple.  In a similar vain, we gather today in gratitude to the Lord for the innumerable persons who marched, bled, protested, prayed, and spent time in jail in order to secure a more just and equal America.  In the Ezra passage, as the foundation of the Temple is laid, great shouts go up.  However, the shouts are a mixture of joy and sadness.  The younger generation rejoices because of Israel’s return from exile and the blessing of commencing the rebuilding of the great and glorious Temple that they had heard from their parent and grandparents.  In the latter instance, the older folks greatly lament the loss of Solomon’s Temple and the history, culture, artifacts and memories that could never be replaced.  The text tells us that the shouts of joy and sadness were indistinguishable.

Civil rights celebrations often re-enact that scene in Ezra.  The younger generation rejoices over the gains since the bleak period of 1918 to 1975.  We are grateful for the access to education, corporate America, elective office, suburban housing, the upper echelons of Hollywood and the television industry, production and diversity in the recording industry, etc. that the sacrifices of the Civil Rights Movement allow.  In addition, we expect even greater achievements throughout all sectors of American society.  In contrast, the older generation wonders whether the younger generation fully appreciates them and the sacrifices that they made.  The elders of the Movement correctly criticize the youth and young adults for failing to study this important history.  Our elders lament the loss of unique and spiritual methods of nonviolent resistance and “soul force” in which the gains of full citizenship were obtained.  Yet, the younger generation wholeheartedly believes that there is more progress to be made.  Their forebears remain steadfast that there has not been sufficient gratitude extended for the significant progress that has been achieved.  Once again, the shouts of joy and the deeply felt laments of loss are juxtaposed indistinguishably.

Nevertheless, we face the challenge of defining the Movement for today.  In the Ezra passage, Israel had the task of rebuilding an entire culture in addition to their main house of worship.  How would they preserve the Law of Moses, the priestly rituals, the various feasts, the mandated sacrifices and the many other religious and social customs that they observed prior to the Babylonian exile?  Given the unrelenting assault upon affirmative action, the refusal of recent administrations to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the rise of the industrial prison complex in the United States, etc., one wonders how we will solidify permanently the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement?  In order to do so, I submit that we face the primary test of characterizing the components of today’s movement.

We no longer face the blatant, cruel and ugly Goliath of overt racism, segregation and the systemic subjugation of African-Americans.  Whereas these issues persist, they are not practiced in the obvious ways of yesteryear.  Thus, they do not lend themselves to the clear identifiably naming of the 1940’s through 1960’s.  The issues of today’s movement are blended with emerging cultural pluralism, burgeoning religious diversity and the increasing importance of economic globalization.  Today’s movement is multidimensional and multi-layered.  In addition to the moral denunciation of systemic evil and the prophetic quest for a more just society, today’s movement requires an equal level of intellectual depth as the one of the 1960’s.  Expertise in one or more areas (housing, voting, education, crime, the arts, economic development, etc.) is necessary from anyone who aspires to leadership.  More significantly, an even greater level of spiritual and personal commitment must be given by today’s leaders, considering the myriad temptations to pursue only one’s individual dreams and goals.  The context of globalization with the specific rise of the Pacific Rim, Eastern Europe and the continent of Africa and the competing interests of diverse ethnic communities in America necessitate new approaches to resolving lingering problems.

As we appropriately pause and celebrate past achievements, let us allow the past to instruct and continually challenge us.  As one of the recipients of the sacrifices of others, I feel a particular devotion to expanding upon their gains and exceeding their commitment.  I feel the necessary debt of paying homage to them.  However, I realize that we must look forward to even brighter days and greater successes.  Accordingly, I expect to work with my contemporaries to acquire the requisite intellectual, spiritual and public policy tools to successfully participate in today’s civil rights movement.  As we gather for milestones like today, then we will no longer need to contrast the sounds of joy and mourning.  Instead, the older and younger generations will harmoniously sing a jubilant song of triumph.