To Ferguson and beyond

In the past few weeks, we have been thinking about Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager who was shot by the police. My husband, Brian Merritt, traveled to Ferguson, Missouri to join other Presbyterian ministers to listen and pray with people. We have been grieving Brown’s loss, holding vigils, and praying for peace and justice.

As we know, the shooting of Michael Brown was not just one incident, in one town. The reason that the fear and concern grew was because it was that proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. It was the outcry of people who have been living under a system that has targeted young black men.

So what can we do about it? First, if you’re not familiar with Michelle Alexander’s work, go ahead and get a copy of The New Jim Crow. If you know yourself well, and you realize that you have good intentions, but you also have a really busy schedule, and you have that sinking feeling that the book will probably sit on your shelf collecting dust, then watch this video. It’s long—over an hour long. It’s also very compelling.