#TreasuresofDarkness, Day 12-Acts 26:17–18..Depiction of Evil from A Polarized America

New Decade and the new opportunity that has arisen, to not make the same mistakes that this country did over three years ago.

“[It is] resolved, that members, congregations, and synods of this church be encouraged to “promote public life worthy of the name” by speaking out as an advocate and engaging in local efforts such as voter registration and supporting legislation to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens …”

There is always this discussion about the whys, people of color get involved with justice issues especially when it comes to public policies and laws that affect communities of oppression, who are living in a state of perpetual trauma.

#ELCAVotes was birthed from the atrocities of the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which overturned a key provision of the VRA that protected rights of citizens, especially those who had been oppressed and mrgnialized. As a result, with little to no protections or oversight, “new voting barriers for people of color, the elderly, students, the disabled and low-income workers” overnight, had a devastating impact.

“Florida, Iowa and South Dakota have made it significantly harder for Americans with past criminal convictions to have their voting rights restored, and this is why the issue of voter rights is tied to the ELCA’s criminal justice statement. In Florida and Iowa, people with convictions are essentially permanently disenfranchised.Here are some stats: Nationally, 5.85 million Americans who have done their time have lost the right to vote; 1.5 million are in Florida. Overall, 7.7 percent of AfricanAmericans have lost their right — compared to 1.8 percent of whites” #ELCAVotes Bible study, by Rev Kwame Pitts

This was an issue then, and it still remains an issue now. Although there have been strides and protections that have happened and Women of Color, who have fought for voting rights and protections, there is still the systemic issue of racism when it comes to voting in America. People of African Descent are still targets for widespread voting discrimination and harassment because we have decided, we will no longer vote as the powers that be want us to vote.

We have to be reminded that it took is until 1963 to be given the right to VOTE.

Below, is the original post from three years ago…

And PLEASE GO VOTE

I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles — to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

This is how racism was fed in America

When I was in undergrad and told them where I was from,

there was this assumption that because I was a person of Color,

Of African Descent,

That I must be associated and belonged to some gang

And was a product of violence.

This is what the dominant culture in America sees, when they see us

Recently, a congregational member pushed back

that “All Lives Matter”

But I don’t think that the dominant culture gets it

Nor have they ever

We were put on boats, baptized in the name of Christ and then enslaved

So this is why we are pushing against the norms,

Refusing the lies that we have been told

We had to swallow

Calling out to the Ancestors, to the Creator, to the Lwa, to the Orishas

This is why we have to push towards revolution,

so that never again,

this depiction of People of African Descent

Will not be what the status quo believes-

and allows us to be created in their warped conception

of our Sacred Bodies

Really? Satan is supposed to be BLACK??

Instead,

We

Are

Beautiful

And

Children

Of

LIGHT

Never again, ashamed of who we are.