Cindy Finley

  • Home
  • About
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Speaking Schedule
  • RiverCross
  • Contact Me

August 13, 2017 By cindyfinley

They Didn’t Win

For 14 years our family called Charlottesville home. Three of our children were born there. And a fourth was welcomed into our family wrapped in the kindness, encouragement, and love of our Charlottesville community.

We love this place where we hiked the Blue Ridge, picked apples, built snow forts, and enjoyed deep friendships. Our kids rambled the hills around our home, climbed Big Rock, and had countless adventures across the creek in the beauty of the Roxaboxen town they created. We love this place.

To see the Grounds of UVA, and the parks and streets of Charlottesville become avenues of hatred, violence, and death  hurt my heart and angered my soul.

This is not our Charlottesville.

And it’s not. Charlottesville is the birthplace of presidents and explorers. But the way that these flawed men have been memorialized has been the source of controversy for years.

Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea.  Sacagawea was a rockstar. And yet, in this statue, she’s cowering beneath the explorers. In 2009, a plaque was added to the statue noting her contribution to the expedition.

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 4.11.20 PM

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Jefferson, who wrote, “All men are created equal,” had slaves. And one of these slaves was Sally Hemings, who gave birth to six of Jefferson’s children. Monticello still stands, but both Mulberry Row, Monticello’s slave quarters, and Sally’s room is being restored. The reality of slavery is being addressed with tours focusing entirely on the Hemings family and the experience of enslaved people are being conducted.

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 6.35.27 PM

And then there was the decision to take down the statue memorializing Robert E. Lee and rename Lee Park and Jackson Park to Justice Park and Emancipation park. Whether or not this was a good decision, I don’t know. But what I do know is that white nationalist, Jason Kessler, was there and made it clear that he already had plans for August 12th.

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 6.36.47 PM

Charlottesville is a town like any other, except, in my opinion, a bit more beautiful than most. 😉 There are issues and problems, and dissenting opinions. And yet, up to now, the people of Charlottesville have kept town business town business.

But Jason Kessler, a Charlottesville resident, saw this as a prime opportunity to unite others who share his views. Coming out of the town meeting in which the decision was made to take down the Lee statue, he announced his plans for a demonstration and a self-described white supremacist took up the cause. “The fascists must not have the streets. We call on all anarchist, anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian groups in Appalachia and East South Central North America to converge at Lee Park on August 12th at 9 AM EST, and carry on the active resistance against white supremacy. We intend to win.”

But they didn’t win. Not in Charlottesville.

Was there violence? Yes.

Was there death? Yes.

But there was more. Even before the events of August 12th unfolded …

There was courage. 

 

 

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 3.50.14 PM

UVA students stood in a sea of tiki-torch-carrying supremacists holding a sign saying, “VA Students Act Against White Supremacy.”

There was unity.

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 5.31.37 PM

Christians from multiple denominations gathered to prepare, worship, and pray.

There was comfort.

Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 5.42.12 PM

In the wake of horror of the day, the beauty of humanity was on display as people linked only by tragedy reached out and care.

No, they didn’t win. But they want to. And they have plans to come back to Charlottesville. And they have plans to spread the hate.

In our church today, my husband made it clear. “We stand against racism.”

We stand against racism. 

What does this look like? What does is look like for you and me to stand against racism?

Start

Wherever you are, start. And I’m going to speak quite frankly to my white friends now. When you say, “I have a black friend,” that’s great. But having one black friend is one small step. Get into her world. Ask her about profiling, about “the talk,” about the challenges of the white ceiling. And listen. Read books and watch movies about racism and discuss them with friends, black and white, in every sphere of influence. Start.

Stand

Be on the lookout for racism. And when you see it stand against it in your schools, churches, workplaces, grocery stores, wherever. It might be a racist joke, or the use of a “black” accent by a white friend, or demands made of the black person in line in front of you at Target. If you’re not sure if something you see is racial injustice, it probably is. But feel free to ask your black friend. She’ll let you know. Stand.

Stay

Racism has deep roots in our society. It just does. And it will take tenacity from all of us to dig it out for good.  Right now, there’s media attention. But as summer turns to fall, it will fade. But let’s not forget Trayvon Martin, and the Charleston Church Shooting, and Ferguson. Let’s stay the course for more than a few days. Let’s stay the course until racism is truly eradicated. Stay.

On August 12th in Charlottesville, VA, they didn’t win. And they won’t.

Together, let’s stand against racism.  

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” Ephesians 2:14

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Connect With Cindy

Subscribe to Updates

Search the Site

Topics

  • Family
  • Identity in Christ
  • Impact through Christ
  • Intimacy with Christ
  • Resources
  • Uncategorized

Archives

<
2017
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
▼
>
Jan3 Posts
Feb0 Posts
Mar0 Posts
Apr0 Posts
May0 Posts
Jun0 Posts
Jul0 Posts
Aug1 Post
Sep0 Posts
Oct0 Posts
Nov0 Posts
Dec0 Posts
Jan13 Posts
Feb2 Posts
Mar2 Posts
Apr5 Posts
May1 Post
Jun0 Posts
Jul3 Posts
Aug0 Posts
Sep0 Posts
Oct0 Posts
Nov0 Posts
Dec0 Posts
Jan20 Posts
Feb17 Posts
Mar18 Posts
Apr11 Posts
May2 Posts
Jun2 Posts
Jul4 Posts
Aug0 Posts
Sep4 Posts
Oct0 Posts
Nov1 Post
Dec1 Post
Jan4 Posts
Feb0 Posts
Mar4 Posts
Apr4 Posts
May3 Posts
Jun0 Posts
Jul4 Posts
Aug3 Posts
Sep3 Posts
Oct1 Post
Nov3 Posts
Dec2 Posts
Jan4 Posts
Feb2 Posts
Mar11 Posts
Apr6 Posts
May5 Posts
Jun4 Posts
Jul6 Posts
Aug6 Posts
Sep25 Posts
Oct23 Posts
Nov21 Posts
Dec21 Posts
Jan10 Posts
Feb11 Posts
Mar9 Posts
Apr9 Posts
May5 Posts
Jun11 Posts
Jul8 Posts
Aug4 Posts
Sep5 Posts
Oct7 Posts
Nov9 Posts
Dec2 Posts
Jan4 Posts
Feb1 Post
Mar0 Posts
Apr1 Post
May0 Posts
Jun0 Posts
Jul0 Posts
Aug0 Posts
Sep0 Posts
Oct0 Posts
Nov6 Posts
Dec11 Posts
Jan0 Posts
Feb0 Posts
Mar5 Posts
Apr8 Posts
May6 Posts
Jun6 Posts
Jul6 Posts
Aug4 Posts
Sep1 Post
Oct1 Post
Nov4 Posts
Dec4 Posts
Jan12 Posts
Feb10 Posts
Mar13 Posts
Apr15 Posts
May15 Posts
Jun10 Posts
Jul3 Posts
Aug8 Posts
Sep13 Posts
Oct24 Posts
Nov22 Posts
Dec3 Posts
Jan0 Posts
Feb0 Posts
Mar0 Posts
Apr0 Posts
May0 Posts
Jun8 Posts
Jul14 Posts
Aug0 Posts
Sep0 Posts
Oct0 Posts
Nov0 Posts
Dec8 Posts

Latest Facebook Post

Because Stories Heal

Thank You for supporting #ThemToo –

1 likes, 0 comments ⋅ 2 months ago

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2018 · Executive Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · Built on WordPress