We Shall Overcome...Someday by Carroll Makemson

When I visited my grandmother in Virginia in the 1950s as a child, the back of the bus was off-limits, the “Girls” restroom at the zoo was not for white girls nor was my favorite seat at the movie theater. My family explained that it was a “race thing.” That was perplexing to me because, in Illinois, where I lived, any seat on the bus worked, the only place I saw a “Girls” sign was on the restroom at school, and even the balcony was available at the theater. Those restrictions while visiting in Virginia were my early introduction to the difficult and complex issue of race. Decades later, racial issues are still a complex issue for me, much of our society, and maybe for you, too.

Because I grew up in a community where schools were integrated even before “Brown v Board of Education,” I believed that life in the United States was changing through Supreme Court decisions and legislation. Gradually, it was, but I came to realize that the “freedoms” I had in Illinois were minor compared to the overarching race-related social justice issues of educational equity, fair housing, voting rights, and equal employment opportunities. The death of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968, opened my eyes to the work of the Civil Rights Movement with its struggles and sacrifices. My awareness was growing.

Time for a confession: soon, the busyness of being a working mother overshadowed my commitment to equal rights advocacy although I always claimed to be colorblind without acknowledging the role systemic privilege played in my life. Recently, I read Debby Irving’s book “Waking Up White,” convinced my book club to read it, and a meaningful conversation ensued. Awareness was still growing. Irving writes about her book,

“As I unpack my own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, I reveal how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated my ill-conceived ideas about race.”*

Ouch! She knows me.

Fortunately, the folk song “We Shall Overcome,” sometimes called the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, uses the verb “shall” which expresses a strong assertion, intention, or even an obligation in the future tense.** “Shall” means we must still hope, advocate, and work for better race relations and opportunities for all people. The folk song with an interesting history is based on Galatians 6:9,

“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up.” NRSV

Today, January 15, is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, a good day to remember his legacy and ponder his dream. Perhaps we can find inspiration for action by rereading one of his speeches or sermons, listening to “We Shall Overcome” on YouTube, or putting the Liberty Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at William Jewell College on Monday, January 21, at 10:00 a.m. on our calendars. Its theme is “400 Years of Persecution and Survival: The Dream Lives On.” The speeches and music are guaranteed to assure us that the dream does live on and that we can be a part of it. Maybe you will even take this librarian’s recommendation and read a book about systemic racism such as Waking Up White or join me for my next read White Fragility.*** Coffee for discussion is on me!

We shall overcome someday if we do not give up!

*debbyirving.com

**lexico.com

***Note: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo comes highly recommended by two of my respected pastor friends.