The theme for this Black History Month is accompaniment. In Brazil, they call it muturao. Our folks got the idea from our South African friends. Often those in the developing world understand the need for one another more than we do.

It was a hot summer day. The second time the KKK had come to our small town demonstrating their un-civil rights. They had appeared a few years earlier at a farm, burning crosses as signs of welcome to inner-city children needing a home to put their troubled lives together.

This second occasion found them on the county courthouse steps spewing their hate. Police surrounding them, fences keeping them from young persons, mostly of color, reacting as the Klan wanted them to do. Several of us had organized an alternative events day and many went. But angry young people will be angry young people and a lot of them wanted to say, "This is my town, not yours!” I found myself, as I have found myself on other occasions, the only person without color standing between youthful anger and intentional bigotry.

That day came to mind recently as I listened to the news of James Ford Seal after 40 years being led before an African American Federal Judge for the killing of Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore. Evidence was brought to light because of the accompaniment of those who remembered long after government reclined on the easy chair of neglect. It was brought to justice because a one time grand wizard of the KKK, hearing voices from the grave, confessed that his soul was dying and he could no longer keep his secret.

So the question is "accompaniment" for this morning. Accompaniment, mean people of good intent regardless of color, because of their understanding of the connection of all God's children, walking hand in hand. The question is, “How do we bind the bigot?”

Not only the bigot in the courthouse or on the courthouse steps, but the bigot within us. Because if you have grown up white, there are certain privileges denied others, that you and I cannot understand. Which means, what is required is an accompaniment, working together, side-by-side, those who are victims with those who have privilege given to them by the lottery of birth, each helping the other to a loftier place.

"I am a bigot." It is a hard thing to hear, let alone say. Yet, have you never told or listened, without protest, to a racist joke? Never tried to "Jew" someone down? Never felt uneasy when a person, different than you was next to your car? Never had an unkind thought about Roman Catholics or Muslims? Never patronized a woman or reacted with discomfort around someone who was gay? It's a strange name for those who have to struggle so hard to simply be themselves.

These are but tiny seeds of prejudice planted throughout lifetimes that can so easily blossom into bigotry. "That manifestation of strong, unthinking feeling toward someone or something."

"From 6 or 7 or 8, you've got to be taught to hate," and we all have been taught at least by our culture. So, the struggle for people of the good news, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, rich nor poor, black nor white, gay nor straight, the struggle is to live the gospel when fear and a search for security drive our world. How are we to live? I offer three stories this morning.

Pulitzer prize author Robert Coles tells of God's testing.
For years, my mother and father went to the symphony on Fridays. Dad would leave the apartment and walk; mother was less interested in the journey, but loved the park benches where she would smile at strangers and greet the world. Both were in their 80s and one Friday six inches of snow fell. Dad walked. Mom, unable to get a cab also decided to walk. Wondering if her heart might give out she reassured herself, "It's only a mile.” The streets were empty and she got a boost from the fact that others were intimidated.

Suddenly she heard steps behind her. She glanced to see a black man gaining on her. "Keep walking," she told herself clutching her purse. Then he was beside her as they both reached the corner. Her hand released the purse just as the young man asked if he might help her across the street. He picked up the purse and placed it in her trembling hands. She looked into his eyes for a second and tried to smile. He guided her across the intersection and left saying, "Have a good day."

At lunch, my father asked if she was alright. She replied, "I thought so until today.” All during Brahms' Requiem she pondered on that young man. She later said; "I prayed God didn't have time to notice me.” When Bob Coles asked his mother what she meant she replied, "I'm getting closer to going home and meeting God. I'm sure this day didn't improve my chances of staying near.” Then she asked, "Was God testing me?"

A new heaven and a new earth depends first upon our understanding ourselves. It has been said, all of life is God's testing ground. Have there never been times when you hoped God hadn't noticed?


Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus. You can't help but like him. With a name like that and small of stature, he must have had a tough time on the school playground. Jesus spotted him up a tree, called him down, and invited himself for dinner. It must have been the walk of walks for this less than popular predator. That is what he was, Zacchaeus the tax collector. His job description was to take money from his people at a cost-plus rate; he was the I.R.S. with the syndicate behind him.

But suddenly he saw his job differently. He saw people not as a means to an end but as equals. "If I have defrauded anyone of anything I will restore it four-fold.” An incredible resolution, but even more telling is Jesus' response, "Today salvation comes!” "If I have defrauded I will restore four times.” "Today salvation comes." There are two parts to reconciliation and reclamation. "Half of my goods I give.” That is justice. And "if I have defrauded.” That is reparation.

In this land of the free and home of the brave, there is no question that white people have not done right by persons of color. Before a black child takes a step, there is discrimination. If not personal then systemic. It began with capture and indenture by our ancestors. Read the auction notice in the front of the bulletin that Renee Boykin's uncle sent her. "Negro woman, 4 children, 2 will be sold with the mother, the others separately. Yellow girl sold for no fault.” As educators we have until recently slanted history, softened it with political correctness. As taxpayers, we elect those who pledge "no new taxes" as we watch city schools crumble. As jurists, we find loopholes to strangle justice. As parents, we pass on subtle supremacy. As sports fans we use athletes, a majority of them of color, as gladiators and then cast them aside when talent is spent. How many have you heard interviewed who can't put a sentence together? As bankers, we restrict the flow of currency. As legislators, laws get slanted. As ministers, we preach bland sermons of assurance in a personal Jesus, when children are shot and prisons overflow with those who happen to have skin pigmentation we lack. It is the ugly side of America. Things may be getting better, but we still have a long way to climb before we reach the top of that holy mountain where we can see a promised land. "If I have defrauded anyone.” We have defrauded over and over again and the only way to find our own freedom is to use whatever it takes to balance the ledger. Only then does salvation come.

The third story is from Will Campbell, no relation. (1) Campbell graduated from Yale Divinity School and went home to Mississippi to fight prejudice. One day P.D. East, an agnostic news editor, asked him to tell the Christian message in ten words or less. Campbell thought and then replied, "We're all bastards, but God loves us anyway."

Several months later, a deputy sheriff gunned down a young Harvard Divinity student named Jonathan Daniels who had been picketing "white only" stores. He was one of Campbell's best friends. It was then that P.D. East said to him, "Let's see if your definition works now.” "Was your friend Jonathan a bastard?” Campbell replied that even though he was one of the most gentle persons he had ever known, he had to answer, "Yes.” "All right, was sheriff Thomas Colman a bastard?” "You bet!" said Campbell. Then P. D. East pulled his chair closer and asked, "Which one do you think God loves the most?"

"The question hit home like an arrow to my heart," said Campbell. "Suddenly it all became clear and I started to cry and then laugh and then cry again. After 20 years of sophisticated theological thinking, my head had told me God would be with my friend. But unless God is also with my friend's murderer, there is no Gospel, no Good News." Later Campbell discovered that news editor, P.D. East, had been an illegitimate child and had spent his life being called a bastard.

We are all bastards, some more than others, but until we all, black and white and "every person under heaven," recognize that, none of us will grasp God's amazing grace; which means, we will always seek to position ourselves better than someone else.

Now this congregation prides itself as a progressive church whose minister, Harry Taylor, walked the picket lines for the integration of Cleveland's schools. So, you have the right to ask, "Why do we have to listen to this stuff?"

There are two reasons. First, we need to constantly remind ourselves the battle is never over as long as one child needs to be lifted into the light of the new world God wants for everyone. The second reason comes by way of John Steinbeck who tells of a king disguised as a begger who came to a little French town. He noticed the bust of Pan was thrown into the castle's mote and asked how it got there. "Someone pushed it," said an old man. "They're always pushing it in.” "Why," asked the king? "Don't know. Some people just push things over."

"Are you the owner," asked the king? "No" said the old man. "Then why pull the statue out?” "It's how things get done," said the old man. "Some folks make messes and others clean them up.” People have choices, yet in truth, as people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, people who know how much God loves us and who are aware of God's incredible grace, we have no choice but to say,"I will give four-fold and even more to restore my brothers and sisters to their rightful place that God intends for us all.” That is what we mean by "accompaniment!"


1) Will Campbell, Brother to a Dragonfly

---

Back to Past Sermons