Response to the Murder of George Floyd from Jill Shook, Executive Director of MHCH (formerly GPAHG)

MHCH's Response to the Murder of George Floyd 

from Jill Shook, Executive Director of MHCH (formerly GPAHG)

The history of land and housing in the US is the history of exploitation and racism. The exclusion of Blacks from neighborhoods, homeownership, and opportunity has been woven into our legal system from day one of the founding of our nation; and the long shadows of racism persist (https://makinghousinghappen.net/2020/06/04/historical-factors-accounting-for-differences-in-black-and-white-wealth-and-home-ownership/) You can see the stark reality of this played out in racially divided cities across our land. Yet, many of us are blind to the causes of this pervasive systemic oppression, the cultural norms that enforce it. 

Growing up in Orange County in the 50's and 60's I was blind to all of racial injustice.  Not one Black attended my schools from kindergarten to high school. Not one Black lived in my hometown. Today I understand the exclusionary policies that have created whole cities of white folks like myself. From 1971 to ‘76, only one Black person attended my college, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Racism was not studied as a sin in my Bible college or seminary training. Coming to Pasadena and being mentored by an African American leader John Perkins opened my eyes. For my doctorate, I interviewed seven gang members in Pasadena, and found that unjust housing segregation was at the root of why they joined. See: "The Making of Ferguson: Public Policies" at the Root of its Troubles" https://www.epi.org/publication/making-ferguson/

In 2012, after the police shooting of unarmed 19-year-old Kendrec McDade, I spent countless hours at the City Hall and organized folks to join me. We wanted to know the truth. We asked for an independent audit, but it took over a year of letter writing, meetings, and organizing. We even had a "Walk the Second Mile" parade on Palm Sunday, with Anya Slaughter, Kendrec's mother, leading the way as over 100 of us silently entered Sunset Ave. from Orange Grove Blvd., to the spot where Kendrec was shot--seven times--by the police. Black pastors broke the silence with powerful messages. Praise dancers enacted the death and resurrection of Christ. Finally, after more organizing, the police report was released, but redacted in a way to coverup wrongdoing by the police. There are more laws to protect police than to protect college students like Kendrec. Kendrec’s future was cut short by police who reportedly made deadly "mistakes," yet were allowed to continue serving on the police force.

I've shed many tears in the past week grieving the loss of George Floyd and so many other Black lives cut short. I've also shed tears of joy seeing the huge crowds across the US and the world, speaking out for racial justice. I recall how Americans along with others worldwide helped to end apartheid in South Africa.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of activists, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (CAAA) was enacted by United States Congress. This act was the first in this era that not only implemented economic sanctions, but also offered aid to victims living under apartheid rule. The international outpouring today gives me cautious hope, but only if we all participate in the democratic process. We need to keep showing up at our City Councils, calling our elected officials, doing our homework, speaking with our hearts about the kind of world and cities we want. It is not easy, but it's worth it.

Jesus' called some of the religious leaders of his time "blind guides." His mission was to "bring good news to the poor, give sight to blind, release the oppressed from the oppressor..." God calls many cities throughout scripture to repent of oppression. I was blind to how my hometown had exclusionary laws and practices and later in Pasadena I naively became part of the problem. I was blind to this aspect of Scripture, and blind to Jesus’ core mission. Thanks to teachers like Lowell Noble and John Perkins, I began to see how "oppression", a common biblical theme, is a public sin cities need to repent of, and that we are the vehicles to bring about that change. We must not only repent of our complicity, but we do all we can to stop it.

Many aspects of racism need to be addressed. Our organization, MHCH is doing all we can to turn around racial inequities regarding housing injustice. More Blacks lost their homes due to the Great Recession of 2008 than any other group and 40% of those experiencing homelessness in the US are Black, even though they comprise only 10% of the population. We believe that everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, should have access to a decent and affordable home. Please join us on this amazing journey, what Dr. King calls “the beautiful struggle.”

Our next meeting will focus on racism and housing, June 23, at 7pm.

Please put this link into your calendars.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYldumspjwtHdFFSmVAoLZNO1hWEcvGjsj7

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.Your coming out to make a stand in the last week gives me courage and hope.

Thank you!!            

Jill Shook, ED, MHCH-Making Housing and Community Happen, jill@makinghousinghappen.org

www.makinghousinghappen.org

(Jill and Anthony with Jill's mother Donna who just celebrated her 90th birthday.)

How you can support our work