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How did faith in Jesus embolden three African Americans in their quest for freedom? Take ten minutes to watch this animated series and learn how The Reader, The Servant, and The Hymnist lived out their faith. Can you guess who they are before the end of the video?
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The end of May marked important anniversaries in the history of racial injustice. May 25 marked the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin. May 31 and June 1 marked the hundredth anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre. Below are some resources to help you reflect on these events and learn more.
One of the books most highly recommended by the J&RR Team is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, the founder of Equal Justice Initiative. Founded in 1989, EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. As part of EJI's work to educate the public, they've produced some excellent reports. They've just released their most recent report: Race and the Jury – Illegal Discrimination in Jury Selection.
I've been thinking about the word restoration a lot lately. It's a word that brings to mind healing, repair, making things right, and wholeness. As we pursue racial justice and reconciliation, what would it look like to put our focus on the idea of restoration?
The word restoration first jumped out at me during a sermon Pastor Scott Dudley preached on May 16. He said, "God's kind of justice is always about restoration, not retribution and revenge… restoration of what was lost or stolen or broken or hurt or wounded for individuals, but also for entire communities." What a beautiful way to think about justice!
After the long Covid lockdown, many of us are feeling a yearning to get out of the house. As restrictions loosen, businesses are reopening, including our area museums. This summer is a great opportunity to learn more about our local history. By understanding the history and culture of our city, we will be better equipped to bring God's healing and reconciliation to our neighborhoods and our region. We hope you had a chance to visit one of the places featured in our last newsletter. This installment will focus on Tacoma.
After the long COVID-19 lockdown, many of us are feeling a yearning to get out of the house. As restrictions loosen, businesses are reopening, including our area museums. This summer is a great opportunity to learn more about our local history. By understanding the history and culture of our city, we will be better equipped to bring God's healing and reconciliation to our neighborhoods and our region. Over the next few newsletters, we'll share some ideas of places to visit around the region. This installment will focus on Seattle.
by Heather Hedlund
The Fourth of July, Independence Day, is a day of celebration for the United States. In 1776, Congress made this bold statement in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." But those who aren't experiencing these freedoms have a hard time celebrating. On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered an address to an audience of abolitionists in honor of Independence Day. His address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" has become famous as an anti-slavery oration, but to his audience that day, it was probably challenging to hear.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.\
This week, Congress passed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday and the bill was signed into law on Thursday. Since June 19th falls on a Saturday this year, today marks the first time that federal employees will enjoy a day off in honor of Juneteenth National Independence Day!
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