What is the worst of what has become of us?

Jesse (J.C.) Owens – 1936 Olympian won four Gold Medals, has a passage in “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson:

“I wasn’t invited to shake Hitler’s hand. I had to ride a freight elevator to my own reception at the Waldorf Hotel in NY.  And I wasn’t invited to the Whitehouse to shake the President’s hand.”

You and I know the Jesse Owens’ story because he was a famous and extraordinary Black Olympian – the inequality, the racism, the appalling illustration of the Owen’s story is horrifying, and we are all aware of it.

What is even more horrifying are multiple hundreds of thousands of stories like his from the past hundred years – stories of less know Americans that caused terror, fear, and inhuman existence to millions.

Stories from right here in America – stories that occurred thousands and thousands of times – stories of the most grotesque and violent nature – stories that dehumanize and brutalize countless numbers men, women, and children – stories that scarred and shaped the hearts and heads of many generations of Americans.

In each story, there are always victims and there are always those who victimize others.

What’s the point Kevin – what happened (and continues to happen) to the victims is horrendous, but it  does not the capture the worst of what has become of us – truth be told, the worst of what became of us, is how those who victimize others, became even more shocking.

Those who victimize others scar, and shape the hearts and heads of generation after generation – creating and perpetuating a legacy that hates our fellow Americans and…

…lies about our nation’s history.

…are insensitive to pain and suffering.  

…accepts unequal education, economic and legal ideals.

…embraces inadequate wages, treatment, health, housing, and life conditions.

…are ignorant to the moral decay of our apathetic behavior.

…tolerates church’s deliberate blind eye to the sin rooted in our hearts.

…are oblivious to the ugly stench of racism toward victims, who’s only offensive was to wish to breathe free.

What is the worst of what has become of us?

We made more of us…..