America on the Brink

opportunities, policing, etc.). Allies can vote in the best interests of their black neighbors, instead of their own. Allies can also show racial solidarity by joining and or partnering with black led organizations and supporting their leadership and solutions to problems ailing black America. The Story of the Good Samaritan in Black and White There is a deeper reason for my insistence that “listening is not enough.” I say this because Jesus would say the same thing (in a more profound way of course). If you really think about it, the story of the good Samaritan is a modern parable of race relations in America. The story is found in Luke 10, a chapter discussing the command to love God and neighbor. The story goes like this. In response to a lawyer’s question “and who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells a compelling story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest saw the man and passed by on the other side . A Levite came to the place, saw him, and passed by on the other side . But a Samaritan came where the man was, he responded differently. He took pity on him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. So, Jesus responds with his own question. He said, “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Both the Priest and Levite come to a place of violence and suffering. They witnessed profound human suffering and passed by on the other side. The Samaritan does the opposite. He witnessed human suffering and showed compassion by doing something. Jesus used these stark examples to describe what neighbor love looks like and instructs his disciples to follow the example of the Samaritan. The story illustrates how people can see but “not really see” people in need because to see and not show compassion is not to see in the biblical sense. The same is true for listening. To listen and not do anything about what you heard is not really listening. This story of neighbor love helps us to understanding the deeper meaning of ally work. At the end of the day, black people need good neighbors to ward off the continuing onslaught of racism. In a real sense, this is not just a story about a random victim of violence, a priest, a Levite, and a good Samaritan. It is also a story about us. The question for us is “Where are we in this story?” Where is America? In response to protests over the tragic killings of Arbery, Taylor, and Floyd, there are many who look and hear yet do nothing to alleviate the suffering of their black sisters and brothers. This has to change. It takes both Cs to build a better America – compassion and courage. Listening is not enough. We need more “good Samaritans” doing the right thing, so we do not lose the momentum and meaning of this moment for our national life.

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