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Thought for the Week
On August 22, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at the Democratic National Convention, formally accepted the Democratic nomination as candidate for President of the United States of America. Sixty years ago, on August 22, 1964, civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, spoke powerfully at the Democratic National Convention.
Earlier in 1964, Ms. Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Speaking before the Credentials Committee, seeking to have members of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party seated at the convention, she spoke forcefully for a mandate that state convention delegations be integrated, challenging Mississippi’s Democratic Party’s blocking participation of Black citizens. Her words vividly described the horrific racism experienced particularly in the South, as she advocated strongly for the rights of Black Americans to vote and to have representation. Due to some political maneuvering, her words were not heard live on television, but later were aired by networks during the evening news, providing an even wider audience.
In 1968, Fannie Lou Hamer was part of Mississippi’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention, the state’s first integrated delegation.
The Democratic National Convention this year, including many speakers, looked very different than in 1964. A lot has changed, but how much?
For reflection:
- Do I believe that politics in this country, or at least in the Democratic Party, is now “post-racial?”
- Do I believe the church is post-racial? Do I think the church can be post-racial? Do I want the church to be post-racial?
- What would have to happen for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), that is 89% white, to be more racially diverse?
- How diverse is my congregation, and what would have to happen for my congregation to be more racially diverse?
- What can I do to make this happen? Do I want to do anything to make this happen?
Rev. Dr. Sharon L. Mook, member of the Antiracism Team
revdrSLM@outlook.com
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