early morning april 4 a shot rings out in the memphis sky

"Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."--Letters From A Birmingham Jail--Rev Dr. Martin Luther King

And 54 years following the Brown versus Board Supreme Court ruling of 1954 schools still appear segregated in my city. We simply built expressways and bedroom communities and new structures called "evangelical churches". And Sunday remains the most segregated hour of the week.

It would seem to me that Christians should have resisted this white flight. And, of course, it is always more complex...and always will be... unless we become more intentional. Can suburban churches stop talking about meeting "my needs","my success", "my life" just long enough to hear the whimper of a drowning world. As Bono said, "Jesus can you take the time to throw a drowning man a line, Peace on Earth"--which was directed, of course, to the "haves" who "horde".

"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant 'Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

More MLK

"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."--Rev. D. Martin Luther King

"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says "Love your enemies," he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. ... The chain reaction of evil — hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars — must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

And this is why Jesus broke the cycle of hate and violence by willingly going to the cross. The cycle was broken, the chain reaction of evil diffused at the cross--this is the message of God--this is love poured out.