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Letter from Birmingham Jail | Session 2
March 13, 2022 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Following Sanctuary worship on Sunday, March 13, the Facing Systemic Racism Committee will present our second session on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s, Letter from Birmingham Jail. Led by Dr. Beverly Harris-Schenz, we will explore a summary of one of the seminal issues in Dr. King’s letter: “just” vs “unjust” laws.
Dr. King explains the use of “legality” in authoritarian societies, as a means to control and discriminate against marginalized people. Such “laws” apply to those groups, but rarely to those in authority. As examples, Dr. King cites laws used by segregationists in Alabama to prevent Blacks from voting; the laws of Nebuchadnezzer, which led Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego to follow a higher moral law; as well as the laws employed by Hitler to discriminate and isolate Jews, and those in Hungary against their freedom fighters.
There is no dearth of other historical examples. However, our discussion will focus primarily on how “unjust” laws have been used in the past and are currently used in our country to discriminate against and marginalize people of color. This presentation will be followed by small group discussions, both in person and on Zoom.
Join us in person in the Social Hall or online via Zoom. You also may call in by dialing 301.715.8592 and entering meeting ID 841 7387 8710 and passcode 442300 when prompted.
