A Bridge to the Dream

Newsletter January 15, 2024 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream and we honor it today. A dream where people are judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. He recognized that America, in his day, was far removed from the dream of America. And his vision, his dream, outlined a vision of what America could be.

The United States today is still far from the dream. And in order to think about how to build a bridge to that realizing his dream, we have to understand where we are, as a society, right now. We have to understand the nature of racial injustice in every sector it permeates, and create a plan of repair, restoration, and yes, restitution. This is how transformative change is made.

As a community, we begin each new month with a Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice book review to start our month thinking about these issues and thinking through Tikkun Olam (how to repair the world). For the past 9 months, we have explored a report of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. You may check out the full text HERE.

Having serendipitously concluded our reading the week before the Dr. King holiday weekend, our members spent Shabbat reflecting upon racial justice-- where we are, where we want to go, and what our responsibility is to get us there, as Jews and as global citizens..

Shari describes:

Rabbi Miler and other participating members engaged in the study of how deeply engrained racial bigotry, inequality, and injustice have impacted the fabric of America. Though I already knew a fair amount about the topic, studying the review proved how pervasively our legal system has subjected African Americans to a system stacked to force them to be subservient, rather than one that supports and embraces them. Over and over, I was astounded to learn how many laws, ordinances, and statutes from federal to state to local levels, in all corners of this nation, and in every aspect from social to financial to political to entertainment to sports to religious to health to education and more, have intentionally restricted or negated opportunities for Black people. Frequently they’re posited under the banner and aegis of our legal system as if they were constitutionally sound. They are not. Much of the report focuses on brutal, endemic violence causing death, imprisonment, and suffering where it should never have happened. The lack of equitable judicial governance is shameful. These portions were especially difficult to read. And the instances horribly common. 

Corrine shares:

The report has been an eye-opener on the ongoing plight of Black people. It came to me as  a shock as well as, a reality-check, that negative perceptions and prejudices against people of color, are still rampant, after centuries of colonialism and post-abolition of slavery. The fight against white supremacy, nationalism, xenophobia and racialization of people according to their origins, skin color, ethnicity, nationality, is more than ever,  a battle for the survival of  oppressed minorities.

Wendy reflects:

As one of the co-leaders of several chapter discussions, I was surprised by how chilling, how transformative studying this document has been for me. I confess that I approached the reading assuming that I already knew a lot about California history and about racism and slavery in the U.S. After all, I was a history major and did graduate work on racism, slavery, and gender issues; I had lived in California for 60 years and witnessed operationalized racism and uprisings in the 20th century. I was wrong. I knew the basics, but not the complexities that are so deeply woven into the tapestry of American history and race relations. As I read, I was horrified by both the actual details of how racism has been operationalized for centuries, and also horrified at how “white-sided” my education has been. This Report needs to be assigned reading for all Californians so that we can learn how to work towards a more just state, a more equitable society.

Having studied this illuminating text, Shari, Wendy, Corinne describe the personal responsibility that we each have in recognizing the problem. And the imperative to address it.

Shari notes that:

Judaism demands that we stand side by side with African Americans and all marginalized people. Normalizing injustice is not just. 

Wendy encourages:

As Jews, we are commanded “צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף, / tzedek tzedek tirdof” — “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” (Deuteronomy 16:20). .... Whether or not the wrongs were committed in our name, we are not excused from being part of the solution. We are expected to work towards the repair of the world: tikkun olam.

And Corinne envisions:

Governments/ political parties should be accountable for their policies towards people of color, not only on the eve of elections. Recommendations should be implemented within a reasonable timeline and national reviews undertaken on a regular basis.

I echo their sentiments wholeheartedly. Please take some time today to review the report, review their full reflections HERE, and consider what you might do in this new month and new year to address racial inequity in your sector, location, and sphere of influence.

All of us working together can help build a bridge from reality to bring about Dr. King's dream.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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