{"id":21239,"date":"2019-01-21T17:37:57","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T22:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=21239"},"modified":"2019-01-21T17:55:15","modified_gmt":"2019-01-21T22:55:15","slug":"monday-morning-moment-martin-luther-king-jr-day-where-are-we-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=21239","title":{"rendered":"Monday Morning Moment – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Where Are We Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n

Recently, flying back to Richmond, the inflight entertainment included the Spike Lee<\/a> film BlacKkKlansman<\/em><\/a>. The film is based on the Ron Stallworth<\/a> book written about his experience (in 1979) as an undercover policeman investigating a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan<\/a>. John David Washington<\/a> and Adam Driver<\/a> are the lead actors in the film. The movie trailer<\/a> was funny and won the film a place on my “gotta see” list.<\/p>\n

It was definitely entertaining, but more serious than funny. As well as deeply thought-provoking. Spike Lee highlighted Civil War images, lynchings and other Jim Crow era horrors, Civil Rights era leaders, as well as real-life footage from the more recent Charlottesville riots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To think that Ku Klux Klan membership (along with other racist groups) could be on the rise<\/a> again gives pause. Full. Stop. Pause.<\/p>\n

This social disease…racism…is not the fault of one man, one government administration, one political party. Minister and social activitist, Martin Luther King, Jr.<\/a> called racism a moral issue, a sin problem, an evil of our society<\/a>. None of us are immune to it or the hatred that both births racism and is borne out of it.\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: The Blue Diamond Gallery<\/a>, Alpha Stock Images<\/a><\/p>\n

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He was murdered<\/a> for his non-violent stand for people and against racism…or was he murdered simply because he was a black man?<\/p>\n

Fast forward 50+ years, and we are still struggling with the real societal ill of racism. Fortunately, we also have voices like Martin Luther King, Jr.’s stirring us to act in truth and in love. One of those voices in my life is that of a young local minister, Rayshawn Graves<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some time ago, Rayshawn preached out of Ephesians 2:11-16<\/a> on the reconciling of Jewish and Gentile believers. He also preached on Galatians 2:11-16<\/a> on how racism can creep into even the most devout believers if we aren\u2019t careful. My takeaways from his sermon follow:<\/p>\n