Jeannine Lake: I will march…

In maximizing the historical moments we are witnessing in terms of a worldwide call for racial equality, we must remember that most American minorities are never arrested or come into contact with police.

Yes, we have witnessed police brutality and, yes, we are tired of excessive force against minorities. These issues are serious, real and tragic and they deserve every single moment of attention they are receiving.
But while the #BLM movement is long overdue for justified restructuring in law enforcement, our efforts right now MUST extend further than criminal justice reform.

We cannot overlook racism, prejudice and bigotry in our workplaces, in our schools, colleges and higher learning centers, at mortgage and lending institutions and in funding practices.
We must not overlook health disparities and food deserts, must not forget that black people are also homeless and not getting help for mental illnesses.

We cannot demand that the police treat us better and not lend our ear to help black children who are called “nigger” in school every single day without any serious repercussions.
We cannot ask for more fairness in sentencing in the courtroom and leave our black women begging for someone to help as she lays bleeding out in a hospital room after giving birth.

We cannot ask the prosecutor to be receptive to alternative diversionary opinions when people in Georgia have to wait 9 hours to VOTE!
In other words, let’s make it more than just about police … because, I hate to tell you, America, but the truth is this and it’s high time we recognize it … for black people, the whole damn house is on fire – not just the rooms with police in them.

Racism is a problem in our homes, at our jobs, in the government, in the media and beyond.

And of course, let’s not forget the historical and storied history of racism in the American Christian Church. (Yes, I’m looking at you Franklin Graham, Paula White, Jerry Falwell, Jentenzen Franklin and Robert Jeffress Jr.)
We are resetting the button and this moment in America seems like a very good one to those of us who have waited decades to see the types of changes we are seeing today.

NASCAR just banned the Confederate flag from all its events and that is MONUMENTAL as far as changing the culture of this nation (seriously).
But until the banks stop shutting off certain neighborhood businesses from receiving loans, until schools begin hiring black teachers to mirror the rate of the black population in their cities, until we have numbers that reflect TRUE success in MAJOR sectors of life, I will keep marching.

I will march today. I will march tomorrow. I will keep marching until I die.