Post-Election Reflection

One of our hopes for Isaiah is that he becomes a lover of books. I was not much of a reader growing up, but I am trying to make up for it now. I am usually reading about 2-3 books at a time, and I always read at least a few pages of something before I go to sleep at night. So, our house is filled with books, and Isaiah has many of his own books to choose from as well. One of those books is this one:Last night, Isaiah chose this one to read and as I read it, I realized that this book now has a different ending. The book ends with the phrase, "Now anyone can go to any school, eat in any restaurant, or drink from any water fountain...and dream their dreams just like Martin Luther King, Jr." All these things are true, but there is one thing that African-Americans have never done...until Tuesday.

I watched the events unfold Tuesday night and knew I was witnessing history. I am excited for the day when I can tell Isaiah and his little brother about the night I saw the first African-American become the President. As a white man, though, my experience of that night is mostly cognitive, not emotional. I've been told my whole life that I can do whatever I want, and that is true because white men have ruled the world for over 2000 years, and America since its inception. I spoke with a friend of mine from Jackson on Wednesday night, he is African-American. He said, "Now I really believe I can be whatever I want. Not that I want to be president, because I don't, but I just believe it's possible now."

As I read The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. to Isaiah last night, something deep inside me clicked. I knew that history was different, and this little children's book somehow needs to be rewritten: "Now anyone can go to any school, eat in any restaurant, drink from any water fountain, or even be President of the United States..."

Dr. King once wrote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."* I like to think one of the last great injustices of the American racial divide has been torn down, which means true justice and peace are close at hand.

_____________________________

*from A Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963. If you have time, I highly recommend reading this letter. It's important to note that he is addressing clergy.