Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” that his opinion had become that the white moderate was the biggest obstacle to the cause of justice for black and brown people. He defines them, not by their ideology, but by their actions that frustrate the advancement of civil rights and prolong the suffering of black and brown people because the white moderate is more devoted to “order” than justice; prefers a negative peace which is lack of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; approves of the cause, but not direct action; sets a timetable according to a myth that liberation must wait for a “more convenient season”.
In a season of temptation to leave well enough alone, the Church is called to stand at the front of the cause of justice to be, in King’s words, the headlights rather than the tail lights on this ride to justice.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” that his opinion had become that the white moderate was the biggest obstacle to the cause of justice for black and brown people. He defines them, not by their ideology, but by their actions that frustrate the advancement of civil rights and prolong the suffering of black and brown people because the white moderate is more devoted to “order” than justice; prefers a negative peace which is lack of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; approves of the cause, but not direct action; sets a timetable according to a myth that liberation must wait for a “more convenient season”.
In a season of temptation to leave well enough alone, the Church is called to stand at the front of the cause of justice to be, in King’s words, the headlights rather than the tail lights on this ride to justice.