To look at Jane Elliott, now an 87 year old retired school teacher from Iowa, anyone might think of her as an older lady enjoying a slower pace of life. But then, she opens her mouth and her passion, determination, and focus to raise awareness of racism is evident as she wears a sweatshirt that says: “God created one race – THE HUMAN RACE – Human beings created racism.”
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered in Memphis, TN. Far from Memphis, Jane Elliott, then a teacher in Riceville, IA, was shocked by the news. Her class had studied Martin Luther King, Jr. recently and she wondered how she would now explain his death.
Her lesson plan for the day was to be about the Sioux prayer: “O Great Spirit, keep me from ever judging a man until I’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.”
On April 5, 1968, Jane walked into her school and guided her class through the now famous “Blue Eye / Brown Eye Exercise.” In response to my sermon on June 7, 2020, I am sharing a few videos from various points in Jane’s life, including a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon.
The following is a clip from a speech Jane gave before a white audience. She asks a few very direct questions to help people reflect on their own views on racism.
In a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon, Jane addressed the statement some people make about not seeing race because they are “color blind.”
While Jane Elliott is an activist fighting against racism, neither she nor any other activist can actually change our minds. The role of an activist is to raise awareness, make people uncomfortable, and hope that people do something productive with their discomfort.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement is doing the work of the activist by getting the attention not only of white America, but the whole world. It has shed light on the darkness and the deep-rootedness of racism. It has overturned rocks that protect systems and have allowed people who benefit from white privilege to not have to deal with the ugliness of racism. I recently commented to my wife that I can go days and weeks without thinking about the color of my skin, much less that the color of my skin would be used against me. Our black and brown sisters and brothers don’t have that luxury. Another friend told my wife that she wears her skin color everywhere she goes. It’s the first thing that enters the room. Before anyone hears her speak and gets to know who she is, they make judgements and assumptions because of the color of her skin.
With the world’s attention on racism and with more and more white people emboldened to speak and address racism at more local levels, now is when the process of change begins. But change is slow and frustrating. Activists and those who have a changed perspective see the need for the change to happen immediately – perhaps not considering how long their own journey through change has taken. Others may not be sure why change is needed. And still others may be considering what they will lose in the exchange.
Changing hearts and minds is a tough thing to do – both for the people seeking change and for those whose lives require change. It can be frustrating. Change can be slow. One thing is for sure, change … real change … cannot be forced, coerced, guilted, or shamed. Neil Strauss wrote on twitter: “Shaming someone into action creates acting. Inspiring someone to action creates change.”
As a Lutheran-Christian, I rely on what we call the “law/gospel hermeneutic.” What this means is that God’s law works on us by revealing our sin and need for a savior. Racism is sin because is breaks relationships and causes division that God does not intend. People have difficulty saying three simple words: “I am wrong.” Many of us go to great lengths to avoid saying them. Being forced to do so can bring about action, but, as Neil says, that action may just be acting. This is where the “gospel” part of law/gospel comes in. The gospel is the good news – the grace – that gives the space to take action that results in change.
#BlackLivesMatter makes people uncomfortable because it is actually fulfilling the role of God’s law that makes us aware of sin, convicts us, and reminds us of our need for a savior. It’s something at work outside of us that brings about inward change. We may say that this change in inspired.
The Latin word for inspiration is inspirare, which means “to breathe or blow into.” Spirare is where we get the English word spirit. So, we may say that when God inspires us, rather than inspiration being merely an emotional response, it is a creative or God-breathed response. God inspired Adam and gave him life. Jesus inspired the disciples. The Holy Spirit inspired and continues to inspire us by leading us into new ways of life. Having been inspired by the Holy Spirit …
We pray for the continuing work of #BlackLivesMatter.
We pray for the people working for change at both the most global and the most local levels.
We pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon all people (Acts 2; Joel 2) that we would be God-breathed to receive new life, and that we would be active participants in helping to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth (Lord’s Prayer – thy kingdom home, they will be done).
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
For more on Jane Elliott, see her website – https://janeelliott.com/.
Epicurious Lutheran 