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The middle of January marked the beginning of eleven dialogue sessions that would take the participants through the calendrical markers Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. Each meeting carried us on the “sacred ground” of this sacred journey and led us closer to what the participants believed to be the destination in the first week of June. What everyone ultimately discovered was that even though the scheduled sessions ended, our sacred journey would never be complete. It had really only just begun.
Each foundational session brought us together to discuss videos, articles from various sources, and chapters from our two primary content books. From Debby Irving’s book Waking Up White and Finding Myself in The Story of Race to Howard Thurman’s Jesus and The Disinherited, we traversed the complicated stories of systemic racism alongside other groups that have been relegated to the fringes of long-awaited social justice freedoms and full civil rights afforded to more privileged groups under the simple auspices of being an American.
We learned that while strides have been made governmentally, socially, and spiritually, the road was difficult, rocky, and sometimes impassable. We also learned that the road is unfinished, yet, even with obstacles, there was an ever-present thread of continued hope that change would eventually come and that love would prevail.
Howard Thurman suggested that, “a reading of the Gospel that recovers a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised,” would challenge our submersion into individual and social isolation. He also argued that, “within Jesus’ life of suffering, pain, and overwhelming love is the solution that will prevent our descent into moral nihilism. For although scorned and forced to live outside society, Jesus advocated a love of self and others that defeats fear and the hatred that decays our souls and the world around us.” Thurman outlined this high calling from a perspective that is seldom heard and listened to in the present, and it was completely ignored when he originally put pen to paper in 1949.
Each time we met, it truly felt as if we were standing on Sacred and Holy Ground, and as the song by Geron Davis said, “There were angels all around.”
Following the eleven scheduled sessions, participants completed a brief evaluation of five primary questions and two additional housekeeping questions for a total of seven questions. While the responses were quite revealing about the impact of this program on the participants, they were similar in nature:
What drew you to participate?
The participants had a desire to supplement information they already knew and to learn the breadth, width, and depth of how systemic racism has been perpetuated throughout the entirety of our American history and continues into the present.
What was impactful?
Participants found the videos very impactful, for seeing the suffering of the disenfranchised segments of our country brought the reality of injustice across in life-altering vividness. They appreciated the core books because they provided two very distinct perspectives of the impact of racism: one perspective (Thurman) from those upon whom systemic racism has been perpetrated and one perspective (Irving) from those who have benefited - often unknowingly - from that system. The articles and book segments provided a current perspective on how destructive racism is and its long term impacts.
What new information did you learn?
One comment really stood out. A participant illustratively declared that the new information assisted in “lifting the veil of racism and my [our] role in its perpetuation.”
The participants found that they were all enlightened concerning the extent of how racism has been a part of the national fabric of the United States from before the Pilgrims landed until now. There was a realization that the legacy of colonization is a double-edged sword; progress and plenty for some through systematic disenfranchisement and oppression of others. Good intentions don’t always have good outcomes for everyone.
What was challenging and new about the information?
The participants all agreed that, even with all of the efforts made by those who promote social justice efforts, systemic racism still continues today.
What are some ideas for continued engagement in social justice issues?
The participants were open to new possibilities for continued social justice efforts, and they came up with several ideas for engagement, including by being a presence in local opportunities, continued conversations with others (because they now have more tools in their toolbox to have productive conversations), the willingness to listen to the concerns of other voices who have experienced racism, and the focused motivation to read and stay more current on the issues and problems of those who are pushed to outer boundaries of social justice.
All of the participants believed that it was a valuable use of their time and would encourage others to participate if given the opportunity to engage in future Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles. They did feel that it would be great to offer it to more Episcopal churches in our diocese.
As facilitators, it was a true gift and honor to have taken this sacred journey with such amazing, thoughtful, and loving folks in our community. We had some difficult conversations, but they were conversations that needed to happen. Our hope is that these difficult conversations continue, include listening to marginalized voices, and lead to true reconciliation on Christ’s terms – loving one’s neighbor as oneself.
