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The movie 12 Years A Slave is the account of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was drugged and abducted from Washington, DC and sold into slavery in Louisiana. In one scene, a conversation takes place between Solomon’s slavemaster and another white man who is against slavery. The other man (played by Brad Pitt) comments on the way this slaver’s people are being treated and the slavemaster says he can do what he wants with his property. The question is then asked, how is it that these people are his property, to which the slavemaster answers, “Because I bought them. And the law says I can do whatever I want to what belongs to me.”
The dissenter states he is not speaking about law, but rather about what is true and right. He makes the point that all men have been created by God, and what is true and right for one group is true and right for another. Just as laws had enslaved the Africans, a law could be enacted that could enslave or kill the slavemaster. He asks, “Would that make it right?”
I don’t want to spoil the movie for you, so I won’t tell you the slavemaster’s response. I share this portion of the conversation simply to illustrate that the law often obscures what is true and right. As a society we must train ourselves to think about the difference, especially as we formulate public policy. Just because one can legally do a thing doesn’t mean one should. The aim should always be to do what is right.
People of colour are over-represented in the criminal justice system. As a pastor in a community that has historically been marginalized, I am continually aware of this truth and the systemic ills that contribute to it. The biblical model Jesus provides is that of love and concern for our fellow human beings who may be suffering injustices in our society. Therefore, the struggle for social justice is a key imperative of my faith. Being on a lower rung of the socio-economic ladder is not immoral. But being a society that ignores the needs of people because of their lower socio-economic status is. A city is only doing as well as its poorest resident.
If we are going to stop the flow of blacks and First Nations into the criminal justice system, we must address their basic areas of need. Public policymakers must alleviate the disparities in our society by revamping our health, education and employment systems. This will help ensure fair and equal participation by everyone. This is what is true and what is right. In addition to policy changes, every individual showing genuine respect and compassion for every person they encounter, practicing small acts of kindness one person at a time, can change the intolerant tone of our city.
This is why the North Central Community Council has continued to pursue the opportunity to build a community hub on the site of the former St. Patrick’s-Alexandra School. Providing space for community to be nurtured and to grow through educational, recreational, artistic and cultural opportunities is true and right—not only for north end residents, but for our entire city.
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This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2015.
Very well written and said. I’m not religious but that doesn’t take away from the point you’re making at all. I believe change is happening and these issues are becoming more prominent in people’s minds. I do fear progress will be slow, and more can certainly be done.
I’m always put off by things people say about why our criminal justice system is so skewed. “Just don’t be a thug” is a common one. This is an ignorant statement as it doesn’t account for the difficulties of growing up in a poor and shunned community. I can also claim some ignorance as I am very lucky to have supportive and well-off surroundings while growing up. I can’t say I’d be the same person under I am today if I grew up under different circumstances.
Well said as always and always with grace filled conviction Rhonda! Paragraph four is a wake up call for all people-especially Christians. We are called to be our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. If they are not doing well then we must do what we can to right the societal wrong.
Thanks Rhonda for speaking the truth in love. You remind me of my grandfather 🙂 The Rev. Capt. Dr. William Andrew White. Keep up the good work. Peace & Love, Holly M. Roddam
I too wish to share comments of well written Dr. Britton.We know what is right ; we make it seem so difficult(as a society)Doing the right thing is what we’re supposed to do.-equity in social justice!
If over-representation in the criminal justice system by people of color and First Nations is evidence of oppression, then so is over-representation in the criminal justice system by males.
“revamping our health, education and employment systems” What is Rev Britton talking about, Nova Scotia is already a socialist welfare state with FREE health care, we spend over 4 billion per year on health care, it’s our biggest budget expense. Any NSian, black mikmaq white whatever, has MSI and can get free health care. As for education, we have “Afrocentric” schools as per the black communities demands, Melinda Daye is the school board boss, again I’m not sure what Rev B is talking about. What is an “employment system?” Businesses create jobs, do you think lowering taxes might help create economic opportunities and make companies want to do business here?