The Thomas Family
Legacy Foundation | J214 Project
Social Justice Page | A Biblical Approach
Proverbs 11:1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights He loves.
Working with kids in poor neighborhoods that were historically victims of government redlining, denied economic development and subpar education makes it easy to see why some groups have struggled more than others generationally. Though it's easy to focus on the members of a certain group that have "made it" we cannot overlook the majority who have not, and why.
(5) Step Plan For Repair, Equality & Justice For All
Anyone who's ever been around star college athletes knows that they enjoy certain privileges during their time on campus. Similarly, many famous celebrities experience a form of privilege when visiting Hollywood restaurants and hotels. Some of our top world leaders, and their families, will often enjoy extra privileges and better treatment as they travel to various countries simply because of who they are. We all know that "privilege" is, and always has been, a real thing. Though people acknowledge that privilege exists in the areas that I just mentioned above, a few deny that it happens amongst different racial groups. We'll explore below the long history that our nation and government have of allowing illegitimate privileges for certain people based on their race. Though many of the laws that created race-based privilege in this country have changed, some of the mindsets that oppose civil rights & equality have remained the same. As a result, we are still dealing with the residual effects of our country's systematic mistreatment of people based on skin color. See below.
Step 1. Understand The History
(History vs. His-story)
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In The Beginning
When the first enslaved African arrived in Virginia in 1619, it would be the start of 345 years of the legalized mistreatment, discrimination and race based brutalization of Africans enslaved in America. This included special sets of laws (written and unwritten) that would be used to harshly govern black people based on their skin color and/or blood line up until the 1960's. Though many parts of world history include the practice of slavery, the purpose of this section is to deal with the prolonged injustices against black people in America and the continued RESIDUAL effects that it has caused to this group specifically through enslavement, Black Code laws, Peonage, and discriminatory redlining, etc from our government. Again, no other group of people in America has had over 15 generations of their people legally oppressed. Any group that did not fall under this "oppressed" category historically, and that has never experienced the lasting effects of it in modern times, is considered "privileged" to a large extent. This does not mean that all non-blacks have had an easy life in this country. This is simply an acknowledgment that this country has never, for example, made oppressive laws against white people based of the fact that they were white, as they did to black people.
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And Now
In the 1960's, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law but the residual effects of our nation's long & bigoted history against minorities has proven to be difficult to overcome. Today, just a few decades after the initiation of the most recent civil rights movement, there are still constant examples of prejudice against black people (and other minorities) in the areas of banking, real estate, the legal system, education and healthcare just to name a few. Though many companies have recently paid out millions of dollars to settle discrimination lawsuits that have been filed against them for racist practices, that is still not enough to end this epidemic. We have to change the mindset and the hearts of the people who are still holding on to the wrong ideas, the bad social systems and the negative stereotypes that cause a racial divide amongst us.
We have to learn from history and do better.
Step 2. Acknowledge The Present
(This Is America)
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The below links are just a few current day examples of how systematic racism and discriminatory practices in this country help to keep inequality alive in America. The constant denial, by some people, that these racist systems still exist will further separate one group from the next. Although there are numerous examples of race-based injustices in our society, I've only listed a few below, by industry. We are working to change this sad reality.
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Banking discrimination is a current issue
Banking 1 Banking 2 Banking 3 Banking 4 Banking 5
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Legal system bigotry is a current issue
Legal 1 Legal 2 Legal 3 Legal 4 Legal 5 Legal 6 Legal 7
Educational inequality is a current issue
Education 1 Education 2 Education 3 Education 4 Education 5
Policing racism is a current issue
Police 1 Police 2 Police 3 Police 4 Police 5 Police 6
Society divisiveness is a current issue
Society 1 Society 2 Society 3 Society 4 Society 5
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Governmental / Law racism is a current issue
Government 1 Government 2 Government 3 Government 4 Government 5
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National Leaders (voices) & race-based divisiveness is a current issue
Leaders 1 Leaders 2 Leaders 3 Leaders 4 Leaders 5
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There are many examples in the Healthcare System and Media Outlets as well. Notice that the "police information" above shows officers being disciplined for regular public complaints but not for the racial profiling complaints against them. In fact, all 1,356 racial profiling complaints filed against the LAPD within a two year period of time, were dismissed according to one of the articles above. Another article shows how NYPD police officers purposely targeted minorities for 'stop and frisk' practices (98% minorities vs 2% white). That's a problem. Multiplying these policing stats across our entire country is a scary reality, and a systematic issue.
These real life examples above are not situations from hundreds of years ago that we read about in a history book. These are not ancient stories about what our distant ancestors went through. Each of these are just some of the systematic inequalities that happened to our grandparents, our parents and are happening to us. We cannot let this affect our children and grandchildren by accepting the lie that these practices no longer exist.
Step 3. Decide Your Stance
(A Fight Worth Fighting)
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Why Not Choose To Do It?
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This country has been shaped by the decisions it's private citizens have made, as well as the decisions made by our government. It's factual that some of those decisions have marginalized some of it's citizens causing them to experience generational obstacles that some families have yet to fully recover from. This "recovery" process happens a little more quickly for some people than it does for others. I liken it too the trauma experienced by veterans that were once P.O.W.'s or even the inhumane mistreatment of sexual abuse victims. When either group is removed from their bad situations it can take many years to fully recover from it. Some don't recover at all. Either way, a complete process of repair for these individuals often takes time, and a plan to heal. If you are in a position to help just ONE veteran or just ONE rape victim than why not choose to do it? If you see others helping these groups of people who need it then why would you oppose them? Likewise, if a particular group has unjustly suffered generationally from governmental and societal marginalization, then why would the same government that's historically helped other mistreated groups via programs and reparations, not choose to help the most mistreated group in our nation's history?
Repair Is Doable
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The word "reparations" for some people is like saying "bomb" on an airplane. The thought of having to pay money to a cause that you don't believe in (though this is what happens with your tax dollars everyday) scares people. Though many reparations to various groups have been paid in the past by our government and others I want to focus on the "repair" aspect of reparations and not necessarily the "send people a check" part. So again, I won't mention any of the proposed direct cash payments but I will discuss the idea of REPAIR for black people in America. Everything in life that has ever been broken has a path to repair. This includes individuals and groups.
#4. Repair The System & Repair The People
Living To Serve
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Government (& other) Based Injustices Against Black People 1600's - 2000's
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A. Slave Code laws 1600's to 1861
B. Black Code laws 1865 to 1940's
C. Peonage / Jim Crow 1890's to 1940's
D. Black Wall Street Bombing 1921
E. Government Redlining, National Housing Act 1934 - 1968
F. Race Based War on Drugs 1971
G. Race Based Crime Bill 1994
H. Race Based Stop & Frisk Practices up to 2000's - 2010's
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The above are a FEW examples of what negatively effected black people both historically, and today, from residual effects (in part). This is all proven to be race-based mistreatment.
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Government Based REPAIR For Black People
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A. Direct descendants of enslaved Africans should have their lineage assessed in detail to place a value on the missed advancement opportunities of their families as a result of historically oppressive efforts by our nation's laws & leaders. That value should be freely applied to various economic, educational and other opportunities for at least 4 consecutive generations of living descendants. Other repair TBD.
B. If there are businesses, companies, colleges or universities existing today that benefited from the free labor of black people via Peonage, the Convict Leasing System or similar laws, then some reasonable portion of that entity's profits and/or interest and/or equitable shares (if a public company) should be redirected to those living descendants up to 4 generations. Other repair TBD.
C. For descendants of black Americans who were victims of Black Code laws, Jim Crow laws or similar laws that dismantled black families, then some reasonable value should be placed on the missed opportunities of those generations of families. Living descendants should be compensated economically by direct funds paid by the government, free educational opportunities including college level courses. Other repair TBD.
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D. For those black families effected by Government Redlining 1930's - 1960's legally and until 1990's illegally, living descendants should be compensated via 0% auto and mortgage interest rates for primary homes and up to 3 investment properties for at least 3 current generations. Free counseling and similar benefits should also be available as needed due to traumatic experiences of created ghettos. Other repair TBD.
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E. For the black people incarcerated by racist policing & laws that targeted minorities, their legal cases and records should be revisited by current non-bias legal representatives and considered for expunged records and compensation for unjust time of incarceration. Free counseling and similar benefits should also be available as needed due to traumatic experiences of unjust incarceration. Other repair TBD.
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F. For those who want to help REPAIR black families generationally effected by the residual effects of 87% of our nation's history mistreating them, government funds should be available to start non-profit organizations that assist communities of color, specifically black. Additional tax breaks & other incentives should be given to corporations who use their resources to help REPAIR black families who need it. Churches should allocate time & resources into local black communities that have been effected by long societal injustices. The bible is clear that we help marginalized people and although about 10% though many black families are doing economically "well" there are still many that need REPAIR.
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Other repair TBD.
#5. Maintain 'Love Efforts' Generationally
Be Intentional
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Love is not a suggestion in the bible; it's a command. That's why in theory it's easy to be a christian. There's not a lot of guess work involved. You simply help people that you're able to, pray for folks regularly, and for the purpose of this discussion, refuse to pass down divisive thinking and bigoted values to the next generation. Our young people that are walking around with hate in their hearts towards various racial groups need to be corrected via education & love. The mindset that must be kept, and taught, by our government leaders, school teachers, judges, churches, law enforcement, parents and our communities in general is that every society deserves equality and justice for all, again through love. For those that know that we are all equally valued as human and unconditionally loved by God, a much better world is attainable if we push though the opposition to it.
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We can REPAIR and maintain a great society by making sure that those younger than us have a God inspired, non-racist, hate free, love filled example to look up to.
The Bible's Response To Partiality & Favortism
Acts 10:34-35
God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation those who fear Him and do what is right.
Revelation 7:9-105
A heavenly picture of the age to come. I saw a great multitude that no man could number from every nation, tribe, and language standing before the throne of God.
Romans 10:12
The is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all and blesses those who call on Him.
Equality > Racism
Galatians 2:11-13: When Peter came to Antioch I opposed him publicly because he was clearly wrong. Before certain men came from James he would eat with the Gentile believers. He then stopped eating with them because of what Jewish believers might think. Others joined him in his actions.
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Bigotry starts with one person and then spreads. We must always call it out!