An Appalling Silence: Our Greatest Enemy

Rev. Monica C. Jones, Ph.D., Contributing Writer

In his letter to the world from a Birmingham jail, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made one of his most emphatic and critical statements to us. He stated that when we remain silent, we are doing just as much harm to our cause as our enemies. It is an “appalling silence” that makes us co-conspirators in an evil enterprise.

Week after week, month after month, we see guns taking the lives of innocent people, including our children. Meanwhile, greedy, bigoted politicians are sponsoring and passing laws not to strengthen anti-gun violence legislation but rather to promote increased access to assault weapons. For example, in Florida, the governor has signed legislation allow ing people to carry, without a license, a concealed weapon.

All over the country, legislation looms that prevents women from maintaining reproductive autonomy and health care. In many instances, these laws threaten the well-being of women in the midst of a crisis due to pregnancy complications. Unfortun ately, ignorance fuels these ill-advised political moves and the mostly male-sponsored commentary that appears to be dominating the debate.

Right now, the 45 th individual to occupy the White House is using his power and influence to encourage violence against those he dislikes or who dare to hold him accountable. This includes positioning a picture of himself with a bat next to a black DA who is bringing him to justice. It includes predicting “death and destruction” upon the country.

What is our response? How often are we speaking out against these atrocities either in the press, in interviews, or directly to the people in the community? Preaching about the issues in the pulpit is a good thing, but it cannot be the only thing. We must go outside the walls of the church to combat any evil that threatens God’s people. If it means running for office, we should do it. If it means supporting, organizing, or establishing an advocacy group, we should do it. If it means leading an existing grassroots organization, such as the NAACP, we should do it. Otherwise, we leave it to other voices to advocate. Unfortunately, many of these voices will be at best ineffectual and at worst hate-filled. It will be the silence that Dr. Martin Luther King warned against all over again, and it will be appalling.

The Reverend Monica C. Jones, Ph.D., is the director of Christian Education Ministries and an associate minister at Big Bethel in Atlanta, Georgia.