Holding Hands Up for Justice

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. (Exodus 17: 8 - 12)

"I feel numb...and I am tired" she said. I could tell by her voice that she was done. Just by her tone, I instantly felt a glimpse of the weight she was carrying. Her name is Danielle, she is my sister, and she is Black. Why did I just identify her race to you? Because it matters. Because the color of her skin plays an important role in determining life or death in this country.

Through her eyes, America is painted differently, much more different than what we studied in our history classes. Our textbooks state that the era of Jim Crow laws are over, but what is still not over, is the modern day oppression inflicted on the Black community and people of color.

We have failed to teach and expose systematic institutions protecting the immoral values of bigotry, prejudice and hatred. Such places are well and intact today concealing a dirty reality of our country that echoes confusion, distress, hopelessness, and loss in the minds of our people of color.

Another video went viral. Another headline story appeared in the news these past few days. Another life was taken from the Black community.

This is a moment to lament, "for how long will this go on? Will there ever be change?"

I see Danielle and my Black brothers and sisters suffering, some silently and others vocally. Yet one common thing is that they are going through it and it is a hard space they've been in for hundreds of years now in this country.

"I see you feeling trapped, unheard, pushed to the ground with a crushed spirit. You are getting tired, your arms are getting tired. They have been raised on the mountaintop of this war against injustice. But you are not alone. I see you and I'm coming, ready to hold your hands up during this battle for justice"

I speak into our communities, seeking to establish a bridge with those who are Latinx/Non-Black during these difficult times. May we come together, to listen and validate the long term suffering and oppression of the Black community because they are getting tired and have been tired. It’s time to be present with a communal pain and advocate. It’s time to speak up and correct erred thinking, and it’s time to lift the hands up of our brothers and sisters on this mountaintop of America today.

Recognizing and honoring the lives taken at the hands of evil and injustice:

Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many others.