Hello, my name is Alisha and I’m a 25-year-old biracial woman. There’s something I feel I need to say on behalf of myself, black people, and people of colour. Let me start with this, I have gone to church my whole life and I can’t remember ever hearing a message preached on racism or systemic injustices. I have heard countless messages discuss the topics of abortion, homosexuality, government, and politics. This is something I’ve struggled with and though I value the fact that you and so many others are finally willing to discuss the hard topic of race, I have a very serious question to ask, why now? A few weeks ago, Ahmed Aubrey was shot dead by two white men, one who was a former cop yet there wasn’t such an uproar, why not when Eric Garner, Michael Brown, or 12-year-old Tamir Rice were all killed? My second question is, why is it that the only time Christian leaders ever think to discuss these topics is when someone has died? I appreciate that some may feel that they don’t know enough to touch on these topics and my answer to that response is, it’s time to learn. There is no excuse for anyone to not be knowledgeable on these issues that we’ve been dealing with for so long. There are books, TED talks, articles, podcasts, Netflix series, etc. and if you still don’t feel comfortable then give a platform to someone who knows, who can speak from experience, and bring a Godly perspective. Give honour to black voices, listen, defend, elevate, and believe, not just because you want ethnic and cultural diversity in your congregation, but because there’s nothing more Christian than that. Let it not be a one time occasion, when the whole world is up in arms, but something you return to regularly. It’s time for the church to look deep inside itself and root out the prejudice, root out the judgment, root out the ignorance, and truly love one another the way God intended. You may never fully understand, but one thing you can do is stand with us, the way Jesus stood with so many.
Sincerely,
A girl who wants change.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:28
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. James 2:8-9
She Laughs Mission 
Well said
Blessings to you
LikeLiked by 1 person