Although we in our country and in our Church would like to believe that racial injustice is a thing of the past, reality tells us differently. In his book, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, Father Bryan Massingale explains what racism looks like today and reminds us that is still very much alive even if is a different type of racial injustice than before the Civil Rights movement. Some of us are old enough to remember segregation in the South and the sits-ins, protests, dogs and guns being used to quell racial disturbances. Sister Thea Bowman’s (a candidate for sainthood) stirring address to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1989, began with an emotional rendition of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” (had Mother Church even abandoned the black community?) She ended with a powerful moment, in which all the bishops stood, arms crossed in the way the civil rights workers crossed their arms in front of themselves to protect them from the dogs and tanks, along with her to sing “We Shall Overcome Someday.” But is that someday here? Massingale reminds us that racial injustice is as alive today as it was when Jesus was persecuted by his own people and by the Romans. Even in the Church, there are leaders who were afraid to speak out of for racial equality and who do not understand “white privilege.”

We still have racial injustice in our country. The Prison Policy Institute reports that the taken as a percentage of total population, blacks are twice as likely to be incarcerated, followed closely by Native Americans and Hispanics. Knowing the percentage of blacks in prisons is five times the percentage of whites tells us something about how far we have not come. 

Last year, I coordinated a pilgrimage for my church to the birthplace of Father Augustus Tolton  (also a candidate for sainthood), the first openly black Roman Catholic priest in the United States, born a slave in Missouri, he and his family fled to Illinois. At the site of his birthplace, we prayed this prayer for racial justice.

A Prayer for Racial Justice 

When our eyes do not see the gravity of racial injustice, shake us from our slumber and open our eyes, O Lord.

When out of fear we are frozen into inaction, give us a spirit of bravery, O Lord.

When we try our best but say the wrong things, give us a spirit of humility, O Lord.

When the chaos of this dies down, give us a lasting spirit of solidarity, O Lord.

When it becomes easier to point fingers outward, help us to examine our own hearts, O Lord.

God of truth, in your wisdom, enlighten us.

God of love, in your mercy, forgive us.

God of hope in your kindness, heal us.

Creator of All People, in your generosity, guide us.

Racism breaks your heart, break our hearts for what breaks yours, O Lord.

Ever present God, you called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different people; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion and the treasures of diversity among us. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If you would like more information on Fr. Augustus Tolton or Sr. Thea Bowman, email me at Linda@LindaLysakowski.com