The Soul of Chicago: A Commitment to Resilience and Equity
I choose to identify with the underprivileged.
I choose to identify with the poor.
I choose to give my life for the hungry.
I choose to give my life for those who have been left out of the sunlight of opportunity.
I choose to live for and with those who find themselves seeing life as a long and desolate corridor with no exit sign.
This is the way I’m going.
If it means suffering a little bit, I’m going that way.
If it means sacrificing, I’m going that way.
If it means dying for them, I’m going that way, because
I heard a voice saying, ‘Do something for others.’
–Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
This quote is one that that can remind and to strengthen us in our commitment to the cause of Christ and community. We continue to find ourselves yet again angry, confused, and discouraged at the blatant disregard for Black lives in this nation. From the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl who was wounded after ringing the doorbell to the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri, to the expulsion of two of the #TennesseeThree legislators who protested gun violence from the floor of the chamber; the truth remains that Black Lives do not matter. It is also painfully clear that the lives of our trans siblings are in danger as over 150 bills across the country have been filed by Republican legislators to block access to basic human rights.
This past week, Brandon Johnson officially became the mayor of Chicago, and as Mayor Johnson takes the helm of this city, we can look to his words as guidance. His inauguration speech illuminated the resilient spirit of Chicago, a city that has always been home to the strong and the brave. He emphasized, "There is something special about this city. I like to call it the soul of Chicago." Mayor Johnson also reaffirmed his commitment to the city's struggling sectors, recognizing that, “we don't want our story to be that Chicago became so traumatized by violence and despair that our residents felt no other choice but to leave. And so a better day is ahead Chicago. Our stories get to reach well beyond this moment. They do."
CRS as an organization is non-partisan. We find both political parties to be guilty of injustice in our society. This is not an issue of left versus right. It is a clarion call for a moral revival to save the heart and soul of our democracy. As Mayor Johnson said, "In fact, we all are here because of the work of giants who came before us, and without whom this day would not be possible." As we move from Easter into Pentecost, we are reminded that we are empowered with the resurrection power of Christ to work to bring healing and hope to our communities.
The scripture in Hebrews 10:39 NRSV reminds us that “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.” This is why we at CRS are committed to working with congregations and organizations to help raise up a love army that stays on the battlefield in the fight for justice and equity even in the times of demon-acracy.
Next Steps:
1. Check your congregation’s membership
2. Join an Issue Team – email us with which team you would like to be a part of
3. Attend our Virtual Consent Decree Hearing
Rev. Erica N. Williams
Theologian In Residence