So, what must we do to move past
empty rhetoric into meaningful
t
ransformation? Jennifer Harvey sug-
gests two other r-words: repentance
and repair. The power of repentance
comes in voicing the ways in which
we have not only fallen short, but
actively participated in and benefited
from unjust systems.
Repentance calls us to examine
privilege and disempowerment.
Because of our race, socioeconomic
class, education level, sexual orienta-
tion, gender, religion, age or other
identity, how have we welcomed the
stranger or loved our neighbor?
When has the label of "Other" meant
more than "child of God"?
Then, having repented of these
shortcomings, we can help rebuild
systems. We know that language
has power, that it's a system we all
use. It's a system we can repair. So
what words can we choose to honor
each person as a living, loving child
of God?
Alexis Presseau Maloof has a master's
in writing and pedagogy. She is a
mother and freelance writer.
Notes
1. Wikipedia contributors, "Death of Eric
Garner," as edited by Cyanidethistles, 04:32, 2
August, 2014, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_
of_Eric_Garner&oldid;=619509598 (accessed
April 15, 2015).
2. Wikipedia, "Death of Eric Garner," as edited by
206.212.134.12, 22:26, 3 December 2014,
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_
of_Eric_Garner&oldid;=636522175 (accessed
April 15, 2015).
3. Kelly Weill, "Edits to Wikipedia pages on Bell,
Garner, Diallo Traced to 1 Police Plaza," Capital,
March 13, 2015, Iwww.capitalnewyork.com/arti-
cle/city-hall/2015/03/8563947/edits-wikipedia-
pages-bell-garner-diallo-traced-1-police-plaza
(accessed April 15, 2015).
4. Nick Wing, "When the Media Treats White
Suspects and Killers Better than Black Victims,"
Huffington Post, August 14, 2014, www.huffington-
post.com/2014/08/14/media-black-
victims_n_5673291.html (accessed April 15, 2015).
5. Shaun King, "The emerging trend of innocent
black men and boys dying after calls to 911," Daily
Kos, February 13, 2015, www.dailykos.com
/story/2015/02/13/1364225/-The-emerging-
national-trend-of-innocent-black-men-boys-being-
killed-after-calls-to-911# (accessed April 15, 2015).
6. Jaeah Lee,"Here's the Data That Shows Cops
Kill Black People at a Higher Rate Than White
People," Mother Jones, September 10, 2014,
www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/police-
shootings-ferguson-race-data (accessed April 15,
2015).
7. Jennifer Harvey, "No More Reconciliation Talk,"
Huffington Post, September 5, 2014, www.huffing-
tonpost.com/jennifer-harvey/no-more-reconcilia-
tion-ta_b_5698596.html
May/June 2015
9
Resources
Practicing God's Radical Hospitality:
Exploring Difference, Change and
Leadership Through the Spiritual
Discipline of Hospitality
By Teresa Chávez Sauceda
This resource published by
Presbyterian Women is geared
toward small groups that are
committed to having difficult
conversations—about difference, identity and
belonging—in order to achieve positive change. Such
conversations are the first steps toward the repentance
and repair needed for recognizing each person as a
child of God.
Order item PWR13060 through Presbyterian
Distribution Service, 800/524-2612; $9.00 each plus
shipping.
"12 Things White People Can Do
Now Because Ferguson"
By Janee Woods
http://qz.com/250701/12-things-
white-people-can-do-now-because-
ferguson/
This Quartz article by Janee Woods
offers 12 concrete actions (and
links to a number of other
thought-provoking articles) concerned individuals can
do to work toward justice and equity for all people.
Her suggestions include a number of suggestions about
language.
A