The Beloved Community

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 85 years old on his birthday this year. It is so good to see the huge outpouring of love and support within the community for his legacy and that of the civil rights movement and its martyrs. The idea of the Beloved Community came from remarks Dr. King was making in the 1950s as he was grappling with non-violent strength and the nature of "agape" a love that transcends struggle and opposition. It feels like a trust from a deep well-spring to be part of that experience of community in these times.

Our Peace and Justice Center director, here with his daughter, focuses much of his time and attention on The New Jim Crow (see the book by that name by Michelle Alexander.) Mass incarceration is a scourge here in America and it's good people are waking up to it... we have 5% of the world's population and 25% of the world's prisoners. Much of this is due to the criminalization of mental illness and addiction and I'd add poverty. The statistics show that people of color are incarcerated at much higher numbers for the same "crimes"-- this glaring inequality is the face of racism in America.

The program tonight to celebrate the life of Dr. King was incredible. I only include Karisha (who sang Hallelujah! with her singing partner Sarah in their amazing MaMuse duo) because I got such a sweet picture of her with her baby. There were more children tonight than I remember ever at one of these events and at the end about 25 of them came up to sing Bob Marley's "One Love."

Trinity Methodist Church has hosted this gathering for many, many years. I think this was among the best celebrations ever. The church was packed and we all shared a wonderful Jamaican dinner after the "service," thanks to Baba Ross-Walcott and a few dozen volunteers. I'm so grateful for the organizing that went in to the program and the dinner planning. Thank you friends.