This month is Black History Month, a month to celebrate, share and understand Black history and culture in the UK. Emma Crick de Boom, Reconciliation Enabler for the diocese, writes a reflection on racial justice and equality.
This Black History Month the ongoing lived reality of racial injustice and inequality may be sensed or observed more acutely by some. Amidst this we may think and wonder, ‘what does God’s shalom, peace and justice mean?’
Dr Lisa Adjei is a speaker, writer and thought leader who founded the Sankofa Collective, a community of Christians walking together towards racial justice. She speaks powerfully to what it means to make your faith count in a complex and divided world in a recent blog post on the Difference website.
"Jehovah Shalom – the Lord who is our peace. The word Shalom, often translated as ‘peace’, has a deeper meaning than how we may perceive it today. Shalom isn’t about just being nice to one another, singing kumbaya and not fighting. It has a deep foundation of truth. Shalom can be translated as “make things right”, “make full restitution” or “to restore”. It is the presence of justice."
Lisa powerfully describes how justice and peace cannot be separated from one another. This means that enacting justice can be an important way of repairing broken relationships, particularly within the often unseen structures of our societies and economies. If you are wondering where to start, here are a couple of ideas:
1. Go deeper
You might like to reflect further on some of the themes Lisa highlighted. 'God is Not a White Man' by Chine McDonald and 'We Need to Talk About Race' by Ben Lindsay are two brilliant books that look honestly at the Church, offering insight, challenge and practical inspiration. In this fantastic short video from the Sankofa Collective, the Revd Dr Kate Coleman talks about racial justice through the lens of the gospel.
2. Discover the opportunities on your doorstep
We are often unaware of the fractures and injustices that are in the very places we live and work. Who could you ask in your community or church to find out more about this in your area? These conversations can reveal how we can be involved through prayer and action.