An Eye-Opening Experience

The other day in my Intro to Worship class, we began the day just as any other--through relaxation, song and prayer. Class discussion began with a simple activity in which everyone participated, as normal. But then we were given some strange instructions. "African American students, please take a seat in the front row. White students, take a seat up in the balcony." Shocked by the professor's request, I followed orders. I felt a sense that I knew what the point of this activity would end up being. What I didn't know was how deeply it would affect me.

As we sat in the balcony listening to our professor lecture, I stopped really listening after he said something to the effect of: You all are up there because you are unclean. You aren't worthy of being this close to the spirit--to the word of God.

While those words were not his verbatim, I immediately felt shocked and uncomfortable, almost sick. Understanding the goal of this exercise, I started thinking about the ways in which humanity has been, and still is separated and segregated. And for just a second, I felt some connection with all of those who have been outcast and marginalized. Fortunately for me, I could escape it when the exercise was over and the class was dismissed. Unfortunately, however, I realized how real this whole scenario was for some of my classmates in their everyday lives. It may not be the 1960s anymore, but for some--too many--that hate, segregation and marginalization still lingers.

In our debriefing of this exercise in class, a classmate expressed her discomfort with being placed at the front of the chapel explaining as if she felt she was on display for all of those sitting in the back. She added that she wondered what the people in the back felt but at the same time realized that historically speaking, the people in the front of the church didn't really give much thought to those in the back. Personally, I found myself avoiding looking at the front row at all. This was not at all because I was trying to ignore what was happening, but rather because I felt shame. Shame for the way they have been treated, shame for the way their ancestors were treated and shame that their treatment could have been at the hand of my ancestors. While I realize that I am not personally responsible for all the injustice in the past, I am responsible for the justice of the future, which is what I believe I'm being called to do.

"Be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is fighting

some kind of battle."
-T.H. Thompson and John Watson