HowWeGotHere,WhatWeFace,andWhereWeGoFromHere
ByRev.Dr.WilliamJ.Barber,II
Inanynonviolentcampaign,Dr.Kingsaidtheremustbefourbasicsteps:1)
gatheringfactsaboutinjustice,2)negotiation,3)self-purification,and4)direct
action.
OurMoralRevivaltourspentninemonthsin2016listeningtotestimonyofdirectly
affectedpeopleacrossAmerica.Theyexpressedrealfear,namingwaysthatextreme
policyatthestateandfederallevelbothhaveandcouldimpacttheirlives.Apartof
todayisdedicatedtolisteningtothesetestimonies.
Inresponsetotherealharmsthatourmostvulnerablesistersandbrothershave
experiencedsinceTrump’selectionandthepotentialharmofextremepolicy
proposals,over10,000moralleadersanddirectly-impactedpersonsrequestedthat
Trumpcomedownfromhistowertomeetwithus.Wehaveattemptednegotiation
onlytoseethatthegoodwilleffortsofrespectedelderslikeRep.JohnLewishave
beenmetwithcontemptandattack.
SowehavededicatedthisInaugurationDaytoself-purificationandpreparationfor
nonviolentdirectaction.
Asweprepareourselves,Iwantustotaketimetoconsiderhowwegothere,what
wefaceasanation,andwherewewhoarecommittedtoamoralagendamustgo
fromhere.Thankyouforsettingasidethisdaytoprepareyourselfforthemonths
andyearsahead.
HowWeGotHere
TodayAmericanbidsfarewelltothefirstAfrican-AmericanPresident—amanof
integritywhopulledusoutofrecessionandattemptedtogivehealthcareto
millions.Aswefastandfocusourselves,aconmanwhodidlittletospurn
endorsementbyforcesofxenophobiaandwhitesupremacywillbecomepresident.
Itisimpossibletoreacttothismomentwithanythinglessthanrevulsionand
profoundanxiety.
Trumpisvulgarityunbounded,andhisinaugurationstrikesfearintotheheartsof
thevulnerable,theweak,and,aboveall,themanyvarietiesofOtherwhomhehasso
deeplyinsulted.TheAfrican-AmericanOther.TheHispanicOther.ThefemaleOther.
TheJewishandMuslimOther.
Trumpranhiscampaignsensingthefeelingofdispossessionandanxietyamong
millionsofvoters—whitevoters,inthemain.Andmanyofthosevoters—notall,but
many—followedTrumpbecausetheysawthatthisslickperformer,oncearelative
cipherwhenitcametopolitics,wasmorethanwillingtoassumetheirresentments,
theirfury,theirsenseofanewworldthatconspiredagainsttheirinterests.He
articulatedtheirfearsrootedracismandclassism,butofferednorealanswers.He
merelysaid,“Youarerighttobeafraidandveryafraid.Obamaistheboogeymanof
comingdiversitythatwillundotheworldyougrewupknowingandIalonecansave
you.”
Someofyouarelikeme:whenyousawresultscomein,yousaidwhatJesussaidto
thefigtree:“Damn.”
Butwhilewedo,indeed,faceadiresituation,thisisnotnew.Trumpismisas
Americanasapplepie.TherecouldbenoDonaldTrumpwithoutAmerica’sfirst
blackpresident.BrotherVanJonesisright:wehaveexperienceda“Whitelash.”And
wemustbeclear:everystridetowardfreedominAmericanhistoryhasbeenmet
withthissamebacklash.
Indeed,Jesushimselfmetjustsuchabacklashafterhistriumphalentryinto
Jerusalem.ThisisthecontextofthenewcommandmentthatisrecordedinJohn’s
gospel.Thisbrown-skinnedPalestinianJewbuiltamovementfromthegroundup—
fromBethlehemup,fromtheGalileeup.Hestartedfreeclinicseverywherehewent,
andheneverchargedaleperaco-pay.Everywherehewent,Jesuswassowinga
revolutionoflove.
ButwhenhegottoJerusalem,hemetabacklash.Hemetsomereligiousfolkwho
wantedto“MakeIsraelGreatAgain.”HemetsomePhariseeswhoweredetermined
totakebacktheircountrybyanymeansnecessary.Jesusmetademocraticelection
beforePontiusPilatethatchoseBar-Abbasforfreedomandsenthimtothecross.
No,thepatternisnotnew.Butwewoulddowelltopayattentiontoitscontoursin
ourcontext.Fortheonlythingthatcanmeetandchallengearevolutionofhateisa
revolutionoflove.Inthesetimes,weneedtoknowwhattheradicalloveethicof
JesuscanlooklikeinAmerica’spublicsquare.
RickLischer,whowroteagreatbookonThePreacherKing,oncesaidthatDr.King
didn’tgetintroubleforpreachinglove,butforpreachingitinallthewrongplaces.If
mybrotherCornelWestisrightthatjusticeiswhatlovelookslikeinpublic,thenthe
publicsquarecanbeadangerousplacetopreachloveintimeslikethese.
ButAmericahasanameforfacingthelovequestioninourpubliclife.Wefaceditin
theshadowofslaveryandamidthewreckageoftheCivilWar.“Reconstruction,”we
calledit.African-AmericansjoinedhandswithwhitesintheNorthandintheSouth
whowerewillingtoseeoneanotherasallies.Withinfouryearsaftertheendofthe
CivilWar,whiteandblackalliancescontrolledeverystatehouseintheSouth.
Together,theyelectednewleaders,somewhite,manyofthemAfrican-Americans,
formerslaves.AlmostalloftheSouthernlegislatureswerecontrolledbyeithera
predominantlyblackallianceorastronginterracialFusioncoalition.They
hammeredoutnewconstitutionsfromadeeplymoralperspective.LastDecember
6thwasthe150thanniversaryofthe13thAmendment,whichendedslaveryandled
tothe14thAmendment,whichrequiresstatestoprovideequalprotectionofthe
laws;andthe15thAmendment,whichguaranteestherighttovoteregardlessof
race,colororpreviousconditionofservitude.Uponthesewelatergetthe19th
Amendmentthatguaranteedwomentherighttovote.
TheseFusioncoalitions150yearsagoalsobuiltthefirstpublicschoolsandinstate
constitutionsgaveallpersonsaconstitutionalrighttopubliceducation—something
thattothisdayhasnotbeendoneinthefederalconstitution.Inthestate
constitutionofNorthCarolinatheystatedthat“beneficentprovisiontothepoorthe
orphanandthewidowisthefirstdutyofacivilizedandChristianstate.”They
includedlaborrightsandtherightto“enjoymentofthefruitofyourownlabor”in
1868,longbeforetheKnightsofLaborcamesouthwiththeirfirstSouthern
campaign.Theyknewthen–blackandwhitetogether–fromamoralFusion
perspective,thatlaborwithoutlivingwagesisjustadifferentformofslavery.They
expandedaccesstotheballotandwroteanewfairnessintocriminaljustice.Thisis
whatlovelookedlikeinpublic.
Butinfouryears,theexperimentoftheFirstReconstructionfacedpowerfuland
immoralopposition.Andwemustunderstandthatoppositionthentounderstand
Americarightnow.
ManyformerConfederatessawblackcitizenshipandinterracialalliances—Fusion
coalitions--asinherentlyillegitimate.TheyorganizedtheKuKluxKlantoterrorize
whiteFusionistswhomtheyviewedasracetraitors.Theyattackedblackleaders.
Conservativesbegantowailagainsttaxes.Thecryaboutcuttingtaxeswasaneffort
toendtheFirstReconstructionbykeepingthestategovernmentsunabletofulfill
thepromisesofthepost-slaveryeconomyandtoliftuptheformerslaves.They
wantedtokeeptheFusioncoalitionfromexpandingopportunityandenlarging
democracyandsupportingpubliceducation.Theycouldnotoutrightdeny,butdid
abridgethe15thAmendment.Theyworkedtotakeoverthecourts.Theenemiesof
theFirstReconstructionslowlytookoverthecourtsandin1883theynullifiedthe
CivilRightsActof1875.
Whatwasthisgroupclaimingtodo?Listentothisancientwarcrythatyoucanhear
echoedtoday.Whyweretheydoingallofthis--rollingbackvotingrights,taking
awaycriminaljusticereform,undoingequalprotectionunderlaw?Theywantedto
“takebackAmerica.”Theysaid“wecametoredeemAmerica.”Lookatthatword
"redeem"--theyusedmoralmessagesforimmoralactivity.Soundfamiliar?Andby
theturnofthecentury,allofthegainsoftheFirstReconstructionhadbeen
overturned.
Apoliticsofagapewasmetbyabacklashofhateandfear.WhatJesusexperienced
infirst-centuryPalestine,blackandwhitepreacherswhoworkedtogethertoforge
Reconstructionin19thcenturyAmericasufferedinthissoil.MybrotherJamesCone
hasnamedthedeepconnectionwell:“thecrossandthelynchingtree.”
ButtheninthedecadesfollowingWorldWarII,wesawtheriseofaSecond
Reconstruction.Blacksandwhites,Latinos,youngpeoplecametogetherwillingto
marchandtosuffer,andbuiltaFusionmovementwithdeepmoralunderpinnings,
withleaderslikeDr.KingandJewishrabbiswhospokeoftheurgentmoral
necessityofnow.Thelanguageinthestreetsandthepulpitsmatched.Fromtheir
jailcellstheychangedthelanguageinthehallsofpower.PresidentsandSenators,
legislatorsandgovernors,editorsandpoets,allbegantowriteandtalkwithmoral
urgencyabouttheneedtoReconstruction.
WiththeSecondReconstruction,wesawdesegregationofpublicschools,Medicaid,
Medicare,andtheexpansionofSocialSecuritytofinallyincludewomenand
minorities.Wegoteconomicopportunity,theWaronPoverty,theCivilRightsAct,
theVotingRightsAct,anincreaseintheminimumwage--Fusionpoliticsbeginsto
gaintremendousground.ThisSecondReconstructionrequiredthebloodsacrifice--
thebloodsacrifice--ofwhites,blacks,Jews,Christiansandothersfightingagainst
JimCrow,inordertopasstheCivilRightsof1964.Twoyearslate,afterBloody
SundayinSelma,wepassedtheVotingRightsActof1965,introducedbyMike
Mansfield,aDemocrat,andEverettDirkson,aRepublican.Itslanguageisclear:to
enforcetheprovisionsofthe15thAmendmentpassedduringtheFirst
Reconstruction.AndthisbillincreasedAfrican-Americanvotingparticipationand
madeitpossibleforAfrican-Americanstobeelectedonceagaintopoliticalofficein
theSouth.In1966,forthefirsttimesincethe19thcentury,asubstantialnumberof
blacksvotedinintheSouth.Westillhadallkindsofproblemswithgerrymandering
andsecondprimaries,butitwasthemoraldawnofanewday.
DuringtheSecondReconstruction,therecameamoralcommitmenttoliftthepoor
throughapoliticsoflove.HeadStart.K-12funding.PellGrantsforhigher
education--anybodyknowanythingaboutthataroundhere?Alloftheseprograms
begantoenjoypublicsupport.TheWaronPovertyhadthreeparts:thefirst
boostedwagesthrougheducationandjobtraining.Thesecondpartprovided
incomesupportparticularlyforsinglemothersand[the]elderly.Andthethirdpart
wastocreateasystemofgovernmenthealthcaretotheelderlyandthepoor.So
whileyouhavetheCivilRightsMovementbreakingdownracialbarriers,theSecond
Reconstructionishelpingeverybody:thepoor,women,children,andtheelderly.Go
backandreadthespeechesofKennedyandJohnsonwhentheytalkedaboutthe
CivilRightsActortheVotingRightsActortheWaronPoverty,andtheyusedwords
like"thepoor"andtheyusedwordslike"moral."
In1960,beforetheWaronPoverty,morethanathirdofAmericanseniorcitizens
livedingutwrenchingpoverty.And30%ofournation'skids.By1975,evenwith
alloftheattemptstounderminetheWaronPoverty,childpovertyhadbeencutin
halfandpovertyamongseniorswasreducedby60%.Theseissuesweren'tframed
asDemocratorRepublican,leftorright,buttheywerechampionedatthedeepest
levelfromamoralperspective.
JustbeforehisassassinationDr.Kingbroughtthemoralvisionsofthecivilrights
movementandtheWaronPovertytogetherinhis1968PoorPeople’sCampaign.In
oneofhislastspeeches,Kingsaidthere'saschizophreniainAmerica,therearetwo
Americas:onebeautifulAmericawheremillionsdrinkthemilkofprosperityandthe
honeyofequality.Butthenthere'sthisotherAmerica,acountryofgrindingpoverty
thattransformsthebuoyancyofhopeintothefatigueofdespair.Andheusedthat
asamoralframeworkforannouncingthePoorPeople'sCampaign.Hedidnotlive
toseeit.
TheconservativesrevoltedagainstthisSecondReconstruction.Oncemore,the
politicsoflovewasmetwithabacklashofhateandfear.Theyturnedtoviolence
andterrorandtheykilledourleadersandfourlittlegirlsandSchwerner,Chaney
andGoodman.Andthentheylaunchedthe"SouthernStrategy"andguesswhatthe
mantraoftheSouthernStrategywas?Listenagain:"Wemusttakeourcountry
back,wemustredeemourcountry."Iknowy’allarereligionprofessors.There’s
probablyevenafewpreachersinthehousetonight.“Redemption”isatheological
term.ButitonceagainbecamethelanguageoftheenemiesofReconstruction.The
progressoncepopularbecameracialized.Programsthatwerebenefitingblackand
whitepeopleweresuddenlyracialized.Backlash.Entrenchment.Attackingblack
leaders.Taxcutstotakeawaythetaxbase.Attacksonschoolintegrationsand
insteaddrainingpubliceducationdollarsintoprivate,segregatedschools.
TheelectoralattacksweredevelopedbyKevinPhillips,aNixoncampaignaideand
Republicanstrategist.Hecalled“theSouthernStrategy.”ThesecrettoAmerican
politicswasknowing“whohateswho,”hesaid,andtheSouthernStrategywas
designedtopersuadeSouthernwhitestoleavetheDemocraticPartyoutoftheir
oppositiontothecivilrightsmovement.Itssuccessbroughtabouttheendofthe
SecondReconstruction.
Infact,inarevealinginterviewRepublicanstrategistLeeAtwaterdescribedhowit
worked.Hesaidthis:"Youstartoutin1954saying'niggerniggernigger'butin
1968youcannotsay'nigger'--thathurtsyou,thatbackfires.Soyousaystufflike
'forcedbusing,''statesrights,'allthatstuff.You'regettingabstractnow.Youtalk
aboutcuttingtaxes.Andthesethingssoundtotallyeconomic,butthebyproductof
themisthatblacksgethurtworsethanwhitesandwhitesblametheirproblemson
blacksandthosewhomtheyaretaughtaregettingfreethingsfornothing."Atwater
wouldmanageGeorgeHerbertWalkerBush'ssuccessfulrunforthePresidencyin
1988,deployingtheWillieHortonadthatusedfrighteningimagesofablackrapist
todrivehomeitspoliticalwedge.HethenbecamenationalGOPchairandhesaid
thatthetargetoftheSouthernStrategywastodevelopasolidSouthwherethe
majorityofSouthernwhiteswouldresistandrepelanyFusionpoliticalalliances
betweenAfrican-Americansandwhites.
AtwateracknowledgedthattheSouthernStrategyoriginatedwiththepresidential
campaignsofAlabamasegregationistGov.GeorgeWallace.Wallacedidnotwinbut
hetaughtthenewconservativeextremistshowtousethelanguageofanti-elitism,
anti-communismandracialcodewordstoinflamewhitevotersreelingwithfear
andhatredoftheblackfreedommovement,theanti-warmovement,thecounterculturalmovement,thewomen'sliberationmovement.
Wallacelost,butRichardNixonlearnedhowtoout-WallaceWallace.Andifyou
thinkDonaldTrump’scampaignrhetoricwasunprecedented,justgobackandread
GeorgeWallace’sspeechinMadisonSquareGardenin1968.
StrategistKevinPhillipsconvincedNixonthatnotonlywouldtheyrecruitthewhite
Southbuthesaidso-called“whiteethnics”intheNorthwerealsoripeforthe
picking,correctlypredictingforexample,thatcertainpersons,evenDemocratsin
NewYork,wouldturnRepublicanbecausetheydidn'tliketheJewsandtheNegroes
whoruntheNewYorkDemocraticParty.TheSouthwouldbecomethebasebutthe
SouthernStrategywouldbeusedaroundthecountry.
Andwhofinallycapitalizesonthisandconcludestheendofthesecond
Reconstruction?First,CharlesKoch,whenin1973accordingtoanarticleinthe
NewYorkTimes,hehadameetingandsaidwe'renotgoingtoinvestanymorein
"Messiah"candidates,we'regoingtoinvestinbuildingamovementfromtheground
up,workingtotakeoverthecourts,workingtobuildthink-tanks,workingtochange
thenarrative.Andthenin1980,RonaldReaganusedthistothefullest.Reaganhad
becomegovernorofCaliforniaattackingtheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,
MartinLutherKing,andtheBlackPanthers.Hehadbecomeachampionofthe
movementtorepealthe1964RumfordActthatpreventedpropertyownersfrom
refusingtorentorsellpropertyonthebasisofraceorreligion.
Whenhegotthe1980Republicanpresidentialnomination,wheredidhisstaff
choosetoopenhiscampaign?Philadelphia,Mississippi--knownforonlyonething:
itwastheplacewherethreecivilrightsworkers,Goodman,ChaneyandSchwerner,
hadbeenmurdered.Hegaveaspeechandsaidthatwehavetotakeourcountry
back.HecallstheCivilRightsActof'64badlegislation.HesaidtheVotingRights
ActwasahumiliationtotheSouth.Hetoldthetalesofwelfarequeenswhodrove
fleetsofCadillacspurchasedwithfoodstampsandheclaimedtohavebeenina
grocerystorelinebeside“astrappingyoungbuckwithafistfulloffoodstampsand
astackofporterhousesteaks.”AndusingthelanguageoftheSouthernStrategy,he
wonalandslideintheSouthandwonalloverthecountry.AndtheSecond
Reconstructionwasforallintentsandpurposes,over.
We’veglossedoverthishistorytoooften.Andsowe’reshockedbyDonaldTrump.
Wecan’tmakesenseofwhat’shappeninginfrontofusbecause,somehow,we’ve
failedtoseethatthishasbeenhappeningallalong.
TheChallengeWeFace
TheelectionofDonaldTrumpdemonstratesthatweasanationhaveaheart
problem.WhenAmericaisweighedinthebalanceofGod’sdesireforloveand
justice,wearefoundwanting.Wehaveseenagainathemewhichrecurstoooftenin
theAmericanstory—thatwegoforwardonlytostepbackwards,thateverystride
towardfreedomismetbyabacklashofhateandfear.
Hereinthe21stcentury,racismandeconomicfearstilltoooftenconjureapowerful
magicwhichcompelsthisnationtoseeksafetyinhatingtheotherandsecurityin
thefalsenativismthathasfailedusbeforeandwillfailusagain.
LongbeforeanyRussianhack,theAmericanelectoralprocesswascompromisedby
racismandfear.TheSouthernStrategy’sdivideandconquertacticstouch
somethingdeepinoursocialDNA—afundamentalfearwhichiseverseekingto
comeforthandmasqueradeasnormal.
Oneofthemostunder-reportedstoriesof2016wasthatAmericaexperiencedits
firstfederalelectioninhalfacenturywithoutthefullprotectionsoftheVoting
RightsAct.Wehad25debatesduringthepresidentialprimariesandgeneral
electionandnotasinglequestionabouttheattackonvotingrights.Fourteenstates
hadnewvotingrestrictionsinplaceforthefirsttimein2016—includingcrucial
swingstateslikeWisconsinandVirginia.
OnElectionDay,therewere868fewerpollingplacesinstateswithalonghistoryof
votingdiscrimination,likeArizona,Texas,andNorthCarolina.Thesechanges
impactedhundredsofthousandsofvoters,yetreceivedalmostnocoverage.In
NorthCarolina,asJoanWalshreported,blackturnoutdecreased16percentduring
thefirstweekofearlyvotingbecause“in40heavilyblackcounties,therewere158
fewerearlypollingplaces.”
Wemustbeequallyclearthatthisisnotjustaboutapresident.Anentirewebof
moneyandinfluencehasbeenworkingtotieupAmericandemocracy.Evenasthe
dividebetweentherichandthepoorisatitswidestinournation’shistory,our
electorateisgrowingmorediverseeveryyear.Wealthyoligarchsknowtheycannot
holdontopowerintrulydemocraticelections;sowearewitnessinganall-out
assault—foreignanddomestic—ontheveryheartofourdemocracy.
Andthisisnotsimplyaboutthepreservationofagovernmentconceivedbyhuman
beings.Itis,fundamentally,aboutthewellbeingofcreationandthesurvivalof
thosecreatureswhobearGod’sveryimage.Weliveinamomentwhenmillions
desperatelyneedagovernmentandsocietywithaheart.MillionsofAmericansneed
healthcare,livingwages,andprotectionfromxenophobia,systemicracism,
homophobia,religiousbigotry,andclimatedestruction.Thisisaboutwhethera
governmentofthepeopleandbythepeoplewillinfactservethepeople.It’sabout
whetherwe,asapeople,canreconstructtheheartofourdemocracy.
WehavebeenclearthroughoutourMoralRevival,whichvisited22statesin2016,
thatallofourfaithandconstitutionaltraditionspointustowardthesame
fundamentalmoralvalues.WedeliveredourHigherGroundMoralDeclarationto
boththeRepublicanandDemocraticNationalConventions,andweheldMoralDay
ofActionralliesat32statehousesinSeptember12thtodeliverittositting
governorsandcandidatesforstatewideoffice.
Allacrossthenation,wemadeclearwhatwebelieveamoralagendashouldbe:
Numberone,wewanttosecurepro-labor,anti-poverty,anti-racistpoliciesthat
insureeconomicsustainabilitybyfightingforfullemployment,livingwages,the
alleviationofdespairedunemployment,agreeneconomy,laborrights,affordable
housing,targetedempowermentzones,strongsafetynetsforthepoor,fairpolicies
forimmigrants,infrastructuredevelopment,andceasingwar-baitingandextreme
militarism,andfairtaxreform.
Thenweshouldhaveeducationalequality--thateverychildshouldreceivehigh
quality,well-funded,constitutionallydiversepubliceducation,accesstocommunity
collegeanduniversity.
Third,weshouldsaywewanthealthcareforall—notjusttheAffordableCareAct,
butjusteverybodyhavinghealthcare.WeshoulddefendSocialSecurityand
Medicareandweshouldprotectwomen'shealth--women'shealth--and
environmentaljusticeshouldbeatthecenterofamoralagenda.
Weshouldalsofightforfairnessinthecriminaljusticesystembyaddressingthe
continuinginequalitiesinthesystemthatnotonlyaffectblackpeoplebutblack
people,brownpeopleandpoorwhitepeople.
Andthenfinally,weshouldprovideforequalprotectionunderthelaw.Weshould
saythatwe'regoingtoprotectandexpandvotingrights,women'srights,LGBTQ
rights,immigrantrightsandwewillnevergiveuponthefundamentalprincipalof
equalprotectionunderthelaw.Forthereeventobeallowedonthestagea
discussionaboutendingthe14thAmendmentissinisterandunholyandweshould
bechallengingitwiththedeepestpartofourmoralfiber.
WhatIsNeededforMoralResistance
InlightofthisMoralAgenda,wewrotetoMr.Trumpsaying,“Wedonotbelievethat
theseareleftorrightissues.Theyarerightorwrongissues.Andwhileweknowno
humanbeingisperfect,wewishtospeakwithyouaboutthesemoralissuesbecause
fartoomuchisatstakeforyoutosuccumbtoyourworstdemonswhileinpublic
office.”
Somethingswestandfornomatterwhoisinoffice.
Wemustbuildamovementthatdeclares,“Standingdownisnotanoption.”
Wemustbringpoorpeopletogether—black,white,andLatino;Christian,Muslim,
Jewish;peopleoffaithandpeoplewhotrustinamoraluniverse;gayandstraight;
civilrightsandlabor.
Amoral,fusionmovementistheonlythingthathasevermovedthisnationforward.
Andwedeclareinthefaceofmean-spiritedregressiveforcesthatwillbowto
nothingbutMammon,“Wewillnotstanddown!We’regoingforwardtogether,not
onestepback!”
Thisisourresolutionfor2017.Wecannotstanddown.
Fromtheabolitioniststothosewhofoughtlynchingtothosewhopushedback
againstJimCrow,fascism,andapartheidinthe20thcentury,westandinalongline
ofwitnesseswhodeclared,“Wecannotstanddown.Forus,itisamatteroffaith.As
theNewTestamentlettertotheHebrewssays,“wedonotbelongtothosewho
shrinkbackandaredestroyed,buttothosewhohavefaithandaresaved.”
Thismovementmustbuildaplatformtoliftthevoicesofeverydaypeople.Amoral
reconstructionmovementmustputafaceontheseinjustices.It'snotabout
speakingforpeople.It'saboutmakingsurethatpeoplehaveaplatformsothat
whenyousaysuchandsuchnumberpeoplediedfrom[thelackof]healthcare,
there'ssomebodytherewhoneedshealthcaretalkingaboutit.
Andwehavetorecognizethecentralityofrace.Ifwe'regoingtodealwithanyissue
America,youcan'tfindawaytosteparoundrace.RacismisAmerica'soriginalsin.
AndaThirdReconstructionmustbedecidedlyanti-racistandanti-povertybothat
thesametime.Whensomebodyasksyou"isitraceorclass?"yousay,"itis."That's
youranswer--itis.Youcanneverseparatethetwo.Ourclassdivisionscan'tbe
understoodapartfromasocietybuiltonwhitesupremacy.Andthere'sadifference
betweentalkingaboutwhitepeople--Idon'tdothat--versuswhitesupremacy.
Becausetoday,youevenhavesomepeoplewhoareblackpromotingpoliciesthat
fuelandundergirdwhitesupremacy.Sothecritiquehastobeanti-racist/antipovertynomatterwhatthefacelookslikewhenthepolicyisputforth.We’vegotto
tellthetruthaboutracism.We’vegottounderstand.ThepeoplewhoelectedDonald
Trumparen’tracists.TheyareasoffendedbytheKlanasyouare.
EduardoBonita-SilvawroteabookcalledRacismWithoutRacistswherehe
concludesthattherearenoraciststoday.Wedon'thavearealraceproblem
becausepeoplehavelearnedandperfectedthelanguageoftheSouthernStrategy.
Bonita-Silvasaysthattherearenoraciststoday,butthatonlythewillfullydeaf
cannothearthedog-whistlepoliticsofrace:forinstancewhenyoucallthePresident
a“foodstampPresident,”ajuvenile,unfit,alie,asocialistandun-American.But
evendeeperthanjustthename-callingit'sthepolitics,becauseracismisapower
term,it'snotjustaboutprejudice.It'sabouttheabilitytoimplementyourprejudice
inpublicpolicy,inrealwaysthataffectpeople'sreallives.Sowecanneverhavea
trulynewSouthandanewcountryandaThirdReconstructionuntilwehavea
grownuprealitycheckandadiagnosticexamaboutthepowerofthereincarnated
vestigesofthewhiteSouthernStrategythatcontinuestoholdalockonsomuchof
thepoliticalconsciousnessofAmericaandtherebyendsuphurtingblack,white,
Latinos,andourveryfuture.
Wemusthelppeoplefacethisquestion:Whatisitthatcausesmanywhitesthatare
poor--sincethecensussay18.9millionwhitesarepoor,that's8millionmorepoor
whitepeoplethanblackand5millionmorethanLatino--whatcausesmanywhites
particularlyintheSouthandsometimesinareasoftheNorthtobeagainst
programslikeFoodStampsandMedicaidwhenmostlywhitesareusingthem?
Whatcausesyoutobeagainstlivingwageswhen400families,accordingtothe
bookThePriceofInequalitymakeanaverageof$97,000anhour?Whatcausesyou
toelectpoliticiansthatrepresentthepoorestcountiesinthecountrynorth,south,
eastandwest,whovoteagainstprogramslikelivingwagesandlaborrightsand
unemploymentbenefits,andearnedincometaxcreditsthatRonaldReagan
supported?Whatisit?Weneedagrown-upconversationaboutraceandclass.
Whatisit?Whatisit?WhatisitintheSouthwhereyouhavethemostuninsured
people,youalsohavethemoststatesdenyingMedicaidexpansion.Butaswiththe
SouthernStrategy,it’snotjusttheSouth:elevenstatesoutsidetheSouthhave
blockedMedicaidexpansion.That’smillionsofpeoplewithoutaccessto
healthcare—peopledyingunnecessarilybecauseofthatcrazypolicy.
Whatmoralvisionmakesyoustandagainstprogramsthatpreserveruralhospitals
thatserveconstructionworkers,healthcareworkers,farmers,andveterans,many
ofthemwhite?Inmystate,wedeniedMedicaidexpansion--500,000peopleare
beingdenied--346,000ofthemarewhite.Andwhiteextremistssupported
politicianswhoareagainstthehealthcarethatwouldhelpthemajorityofwhite
people.Whatmyth,whatmythhasallowedyoutosupportre-segregatinghigh
povertyschools?Whatmythmakesyouthinkthatprivatizingschoolswithpublic
moneyisthewaytogo?Whatmoralvisionsaystoyouit’ssafertohaveasociety
wherepolicefeeltheycanassassinatepeopleonthespot?
Andthenlastly,wemusthaveamovementthatfocusesonvoterregistration,
education,andvoterparticipation.Weoughttobebotheredthatwehavehada
three-yearfilibusterinCongress--StromThurmondonlyfilibusteredalittleover24
hoursand30minutes--we'vehadthreeandhalfyearsandtheCongresshas
refusedtofixSection4oftheVotingRightsActwhichistheirdutyunderthe15th
Amendment.Andhere'swhy.Becauseanattackonvotingrightsisnotablack
issue.Ifyouunderstandthishistoryofreconstructionanddeconstructionandhow
alwaystodeconstructthecountrytherewasanattackonvotingrights,thefactis
thattheattackonvotingrightsisanattackonwomen.It'sanattackonpublic
education.It'sanattackonlaborrights.It'sanattackonprogressivepolicy,which
iswhyeverybody--black,white,andeveryorganizationwhobelievesinprogress--
shouldbeunifiedindemandingthattheVotingRightsActAmendmentActbe
passedthat'ssittinginCongressrightnow.Thatshouldbeamoraloutragethat50
yearsafterSelma,theVotingRightsActhasbeentakenfromus,leavinguswithless
protectionthanwehadin1966.Thisisnotjustanattackonblackpeople,it'san
attackonthepowerofFusionpolitics.It'saboutbeingabletoraciallyredistrict
withoutanychallengesonthefrontend.It'saboutbeingabletorollbackprogress
invotingwithoutanychallengeonthefrontend.Itisaboutstoppinga
Reconstructionofthenationthat'sgonnacome--theyreallycan'tstopit,but
they'retryingtoslowitdown.Slowitdown.Andweoughttobedeeplyconcerned.
WhichiswhyifwewantarevolutionoflovetowardaThirdReconstructionwe
needtodemonstrateacommitmenttoresisttheone-momentmentality.Whenyou
checktherecords,thesamepeoplewhoarefightingenvironmentaljusticeare
fightingpubliceducation.Samepeoplefightingpubliceducationarefighting
Medicaidexpansion.SamepeoplefightingMedicaidexpansionarefightingwomen's
health.Thesamepeoplefightingwomen'shealtharefightingtheLGBTQ
community.ThesamepeoplefightingtheLGBTQcommunityarefightingthelabor
rightscommunity.Soiftheyarecynicalenoughtobetogether,weoughttobe
courageousandsmartenoughtocometogether.Notforonemarchorprotest,but
foralong-termmovement.
WearetakingthisdaytorevisitDr.King’smethodsbecausehelearnedinpractice
andfromthosewho’dcomebeforehimthatnonviolentsocialchangerequireslong,
hardandsustainedwork.Ittakesresearch,developmentofsolutions,andon-going
commitment.Itdemandsfarmorethanbringingfolktogethertomarchandwave
banners.
Dr.King’sinvolvementinmassivedemonstrationsisinvariablytoutedashis
ultimatemethodforchange,butnothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Many
activistsfalselybelievewewhoarereallyconcernedcancreatemomentsthat
inspiresuddenchange.Butthisisnothowsocialchangehappens.Wemustlook
beyondfeel-goodmomentstobuildasustained,grassrootsmovement.
Suchmovementsalwaysbeginintheleastlikelyplaces.Thisweekend’smassive
ralliesinAmerica’scitiesmustinspireustogobacktoourcommunitiesandhouses
ofworship—toourfamiliesandtoourworkplaces—tobeginorganizingmoral
fusioncoalitionsfocusedonstatelegislatures.EvenasTrumpismdominatesthe
headlines,theworstpolicyviolenceinAmericaisstillhappeningatthestate
governmentlevel.Andifwedonotchallengevotersuppressionand
gerrymanderingatthestatelevel,wehavenohopeofchangingCongressandthe
WhiteHouse.
Moralfusionorganizingtakestime,whichmeanswehavetocommittokeepgoing
evenwhenitdoesn’tlooklikewearewinning.Whenwestartedfightingbackwith
MoralMondaysinNorthCarolina,theysaiditdidn’tmatterbecausetheextremists
hadallthepower.They’dtakencontrolofallthreebranchesofgovernment,and
theyweren’tbackingdownaninch.Butwestoodtogetheranddeclared,“Standing
downisnotanoption!”Andwewentintothefiretogether.Wemarchedtogether
andprayedtogether.Wewenttojailtogetherandweregisteredvoterstogether.We
petitionedourlegislatorsandsuedthemincourttogether.
Andwewon.Justafewweeksago,whenGovernorPatMcCroryfinallyconcededthe
election,theextremistsinNorthCarolinahadtocedecontroloftheexecutiveand
judicialbranches.Iknowthenationalnewshighlightedtheundemocraticpower
grabthelegislaturewagedinresponse.Butthat’snotthewholestory.Becausea
federalcourtalreadyruledtheirauthorityillegitimatebecauseofracial
gerrymandering.We’vegotaspecialelectioncomingin2017.Whatwe’re
witnessingisthelastgaspsofadyingorder.
InSouthAfrica,duringthestruggleagainstapartheid,theyusedtosay,“Onlyadying
mulekicksthehardest.”
Today’sinaugurationisnottheend.Itis,instead,asignofjusthowmuchisatstake
inourcommonlife.Theywouldnotbefightingusthishardiftheydidnotknowour
strength.Todaywecenterourselves.Wekeepourfocusandmaintaindiscipline.
AmericaisinthethrowsofaThirdReconstruction,andwemustlearnfromthose
who’vegonebeforeusevenaswesaytooneanother,“It’sourtimenow.”
Wearegoingforwardtogether,notonestepback.
ForadeeperanalysisofReconstructionhistoryandmoralfusionorganizing,
seemybookwithJonathanWilson-Hartgrove,TheThirdReconstruction:How
aMoralMovementIsOvercomingthePoliticsofDivisionandFear.
Ifyouwouldliketoorganizeastudyofthesethemesinyourcommunity,the
UUCommonReadhascreatedthisresourceforgroupstudyandreflection:
http://www.uua.org/sites/live-new.uua.org/files/thirdrecon_discguide.pdf