Racial Justice Sunday- A Call to Action

The history is filled with examples of unsung human rights heroes whose actions have transformed our world. They were ordinary human beings until they stood up for racial justice. We have a long way to go before every single person on this planet is able to enjoy the same liberties and Racial Sunday is a reminder that there is a lot of work ahead of us.

Institutional racism is an age-old practice and in more recent history figures such as Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi have fought to illuminate its effect on individuals and taught us aways to fight it. The campaign started by Martin Luther King Jr. was not confined to one country but gradually extended to the world. He also demonstrated the power of powerful leaders when they came together to learn and share the flame of justice and faith.

In 1959, Martin Luther organised the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) where he lectured and discussed race-related issues with religious and civil rights leaders’ home and abroad. He also visited India in 1959 to learn about the Gandhian principle and after a brief discussion with the followers of Gandhi he was quoted to say that he was convinced that non-violent resistance was the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.     

The recent incident of George Floyd has reminded us the power of institutional racism alongside many human rights reports that identify that steady and collective action is required to raise awareness and to make a positive change in our society. Therefore, I personally appreciate the significance of Racial Justice Sunday which was started by British churches in 1995 aiming to pray and raise awareness about all matters related to race, justice and faith.  

Racial Justice Sunday is celebrated to reflect on the importance of human diversity and to collectively respond to injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer.

But the question is, does one day of awareness heal or make a difference in transforming attitudes? Within our churches we have a challenge to discuss how we as one body in Christ take a lead to reject racism in church institutions. How can we make a safe space for other Christian fellows who are different in race and culture?

There are many similar stories of systematic institutional racism over the years that has damaged self-esteem of those who are different, many times resulted in depression and unsuccessful life. Equality and Human Rights Commission report shows that unemployment rates were significantly higher for ethnic minorities at 21.9% compared with 6.3% for white people, 35.7% of ethnic minorities were more likely to live in poverty compared with 17.2% of white people. It was also found that Black and minority ethnic (BAME) people with learning disabilities die younger than their white counterpart especially young people who are suffering from racial abuse. Organisations who provide counselling or therapy to people going through cross- cultural discrimination have reported about the trauma young people going through. One of the reports published in The Guardian shows that, “UK schools record more than 60,000 racist incidents in five years”.

The recent incidents at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club unveiled how players are bullied and suffer from racial abuse in sports. If Azeem Rafiq would have not raised his voice and spoken against the racism he faced during his career a formal investigation would not have taken place, resulting in Yorkshire CCC chairman resigning and many players coming forward to apologise for their racist behaviours and comments in the past. More positive and uplifting voices are needed to discourage racism.  

 

A Call for Action    

1. The charity Barnardo’s is helping children who are going through this trauma and have a commitment to tackling racism. Volunteer and donate to support their work such as the bespoke BAME Fund which will be used to address the structural inequalities faced by BAME children and young people. For more information visit: Barnardo’s Commitment to Tackling Racism | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)

2. We can educate ourselves about racial justice and use this knowledge to offer support by petitioning the government when an incident of racial injustice takes place. To encounter racial discrimination at wider level the European law was produced during the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Article 6 states, “the State has prime responsibility for ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms on an entirely equal footing in dignity and rights for all individuals and all groups.”

3. Religious leaders and clergy from different ethnic background and denominations should continue to raise awareness through their writings and sermons. As Revd Raj Bharath Patta has encouraged us to share our thoughts on this important issue. Revd Inderjit Bhogal and Revd Israel Selvanayagam who are Methodist ministers and part of Asian Theologians Forum UK have done a lot of work in Methodist churches to raise awareness in the churches. Racial Justice Commission is also set up by the Church of England. The purpose of this commission is set forward the agenda for change, in careful gospel-driven discernment balancing the needs of individual communities and society, maximum opportunity to ensure fairness for all. It is three years plan (2021-2023) where the commission will report to the archbishops every six months. I have faith that people in the commission will work with a Christian passion and values to make churches more open and welcoming by respecting the difference.

Finally, let us recognise that we all are created by one supreme power. Jesus Christ came for all. We all baptised into one body therefore we are united in one spirit. According to Galatian (3:28), “Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of us equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greece, a slave or free person, a man or a woman.”

Practicing his commandment to “love one another” will help us to remain in love in God leading us to accept each other into His spiritual family as Joseph accepted Jesus in his family. Another well-known story is about Pharoah’s daughter accepting Moses. During that time Egyptians grew to hate the Jews but acceptance of Moses is not a story of compassion and empathy.

Let us practice the teachings of the Bible, “Let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth” (1John 3:18). I would like to conclude with a prayer:

“Lord God, grant wisdom and strength to all church leaders, charities and communities in the UK who are working to make a meaningful change by raising awareness about racism and provide pastoral care to uplift their spirit.

We pray for the wisdom and understanding for those who are still ignorant of this crucial issue.

Lord grant us with wisdom that we don’t judge each other by appearances but judge with right judgement (John 7:24). As judgement by appearances lead to divisions for minority groups. Help us to celebrate the gifts of cultures and customs that you have blessed to different nations.

Lord give us understanding to serve your kingdom not as a representative of race but as your children made in your image, give us sight to see each other as equal.

Amen.”

Mrs Awais Mughal

CMS Mission Partner Leeds and

Member of Asian Theologian Forum

 

Useful links:

Britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/TheSouthern-Christian-Leadership-Conference

Ctbi.org.uk/racial-justice-Sunday-13-february-2022

Barnardos.org.uk/barnardos-commitment-tackling-racism

The guardian.com/education/2021/mar/28/uk-schools-record-more-than-60000-racists-incidents-five-years

Churchofengland.org/about/archbishops-commision/racial-justice-commission

Equalityhumanrights.com/en/race-reports-statistics