Black Friday reflection: I was scared. I stood inside the Target with my shopping cart and then I heard the sound. I had been walking around, trying to look casual as I waited for a sign. When would the protest begin and what exactly were we going to do? I gripped my basket and walked. Trying to put enough things in my cart, so I didnt attract suspicion; but not too many things, because someone would have to put them away. At some moment, not of my choosing, I would abandon this cart and join the fight. But when I heard the chant- Hands Up and the refrain dont shoot. I was afraid. I hadnt been afraid on the streets as we marched. I was energized. Or as my sister would say fired up and ready to go. But here I stood terrified. I could hear the crowd chanting and I walked toward them but I did not know if I would join. I kept looking into the eyes of the shoppers. They stood between me and the other protestors. I saw terror in their eyes, and a form of judgment I had not known. My timeline is full of support, prayers and words of gratitude. Those prayers have sustained me. But this was different. These shoppers did not support this action. They simply wanted to shop without having to think about Michael Brown, Jr. or police brutality. They wanted sales and not sermons written on placards. I had to wade through them and my own fear of judgement to Join the Fight. I swallowed hard and touched my cleric collar; then stepped from the aisles and into the crowd. This moment of fear and panic happened each time we went to a store. Bishop Yvette Flunder says that prophetic work is messy, inaccurate and dangerous. I had never worn a cleric collar before Michael Brown was killed. Now it is my uniform. When I put this collar on I am connected to others who have summoned the courage of Christ to Join the Fight while we are scared. #fergusonlive #joinThefight
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 22:28:05 +0000
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