Wednesday Word . . . Modern Martyrs
Tomorrow, August 14, is the Feast Day of Jonathan Myrick Daniels. He was a 26-year old seminarian who had gone to Alabama to help with voter registration during the Civil Rights movement. While there, he and several others were arrested for participating in a voters’ rights demonstration. They were released six days later, on August 20, 1965.
As they were about to enter a store, they were confronted by an armed part-time deputy sheriff and full-time white supremacist who aimed his shotgun at Ruby Sales, an African American teenager who was with Jonathan. He managed to push her to the ground saving her life, while he was killed instantly by the shotgun blast. The shooter took aim at Jonathan’s other companions, but they all survived. The shooter was eventually acquitted by an all-white jury.
This is but one, sad example of the sin of racism in this country. Some is overt, like the murder of Jonathan Myrick Daniels and others. Some is covert, like redlining, people being pulled over because of their skin color, or HOA’s with fine-print racial clauses.
And, unfortunately, it’s not just racism that infects our society. Over and over and over again we see instances where the rights of others are seen as a threat and are constantly under attack. Currently there is a group of lawmakers and political activists advocating for the revoking of a woman’s right to vote. The Supreme Court will hear arguments attempting to overturn marriage equality. And the list goes on.
As we remember Jonathan Myrick Daniels and his self-sacrifice for the equality and protection of black Americans, may we also remember two other aspects of our lives that we should strive to live into: 1) All people are created equal and should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and 2) There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; for all of you are one in Christ.
May we have the courage of Jonathan to stand up for both the ideals of our country and God.
Blessings,
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