THE ARC

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Around five years ago, amid a global pandemic, George Floyd was murdered, brutally killed by a knee to the neck in broad daylight. As a Christian, I will never forget the soul-crushing agonization I felt deep within me. 

I have never experienced this world as a person of color. I have never felt pushed to the side due to the color of my skin, my authority to speak has never been questioned because of my complexion, I have never dealt with unfair treatment or faced an inability to take out a credit card or car loan due to discriminatory policies. 

However, I acknowledge that so many who live among us have. They have experienced an existence unfathomable to so many, one marked by ridicule, spit-in-the-face, and a criminal justice system that harms them rather than supports them. 

While damaging elements have marked generational experiences, people of color in this country have displayed immense resilience and strength, never losing their faith, their hope, or their souls. 

While George Floyd's death was a tragic reminder of the deep racial inequities that still plague our society, it also sparked an unprecedented wave of awareness and action. Across the nation and the globe, millions marched in solidarity, calling for justice and accountability. 

As a white man, it would be easy for me to summarize the experiences of minorities with a few hollow words. However, I believe we must, collectively, speak the truth regarding the matter. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded that, over 60 years later, our country has yet to live up to his dream.

"Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."  

George Floyd's murder awakened the thoughts that many of the majority identity pushed to the back of their minds. It reminded many that racial injustice had never been quenched and that it still exists and permeates nearly every facet of our society today. 

This momentum led to tangible progress: cities introduced reforms to policing practices, independent investigations exposed systemic failings, and conversations about racial equity became central to our national dialogue. Even as challenges persist, these steps remind us that change is possible when we unite for justice.

I hoped the meaningful change sparked in the aftermath of George Floyd's death would endure. Yet, I fear that the fire for justice in many hearts has been dimmed by persistent racial hatred.

The dream that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of is alive today. It continues to echo throughout the halls of justice, throughout the chambers where decisions are made across our country and our world, along the sidewalks of city streets, from the mountains of Appalachia to the coasts of California, from Chicago to Miami and everywhere else in this great nation. 

If we listen, we hear a small, still voice, reminding us of what our God instructed us to do. In Matthew 25:40, we are told to care for the least of these. Parable after parable, we are called to love others, and the golden rule reminds us that we are to do unto others as we would do unto ourselves. 

Right now, many are in a dark time. Economic uncertainty, political unrest, and inequity continue to influence people's lives across America. However, I titled this journal entry THE ARC in reference to Martin Luther King Jr.'s thoughts. 

"The arc of the moral universe is long," he said. "But it bends toward justice."

The arc of the moral universe may be long, but it will only bend toward justice if we actively pull it in that direction. Let us seek justice by confronting inequities in our communities, love mercy by standing with those who have been marginalized, and walk humbly by listening to and amplifying the voices of those most affected. 

Together, we can honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream and create a nation that lives up to its promise of equality and justice for all. Despite the challenges, the spirit of resilience and the collective demand for justice reminds us that change is possible and within our reach.

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