Another powerful post. Had to be difficult to write, but thanks for doing it.
January 6, 2021 lives in infamy.
Evidence of a broken democracy where a broken justice system convicted lesser criminals, but let a felon and the instigator of insurrection walk, only to be enabled to return to likely pardon other criminals.
This is the height of white privilege and the fruit of white supremacy.
Soon after I started following you I read David Zucchino’s book about the Wilmington massacre. What struck me then was how the white supremacist rhetoric published in the Redeemer’s “newspaper” sounded exactly the same as what comes out of the mouths of Trump and his cohorts. Just as an experiment I typed out - verbatim - some of the quotes in the book and dropped them in conversations with conservatives. To a person, most asked me which Fox News personality “said that.” I didn’t know whether to scream or cry.
Thank you for this post. I did not know this history. Until I read Ron Chernow’s :Grant, and followed that with Fredrick Douglass Prophet of Freedom, and HCR’s How the South Won the Civil War, I was ignorant of the failures of Reconstruction. I do not understand why we are so fearful of learning a fuller picture of our history. If you cannot face your past, how can you move forward toward a better future?
Susan Mcmahon made a salient point this morning in THE PREAMBLE; "And here’s the part that some people seem to forget about the founders. While we have practically deified them, Washington himself didn’t view their talents as particularly prodigious. He said, “I do not think we are more inspired, have more wisdom, or possess more virtue, than those who will come after us.” While this may not be the most urgent point, she is certainly on point. The deification of the founders is the OT golden calf in this. The Constitution is not the Ten Commandments given on the Holy Mountain. And since so many of the tenets of white supremacy are so deeply embedded in the Constitution, any remodeling/rewriting of that document will likely lead to another rhyming event of Wilmington and Jan 6th. When originalism is embraced as the key concept, the OS is you will, so is WS and all it's evils. But once WS falls, the true possibilities, dreams and hopes of democracy can begin to become the reality of all.
Once again, history repeats itself. Thanks for making this connection, Dr. Tisby.
I would think that if we go further back in history we would find similar Supremacist stories and their unfortunate results. I am not a Biblical historian but I do recall that Moses, Esther, and Nehemiah were examples of the ruling government marginalizing one group (the Jews) in order to remain in power. There was no treat from the Jews but those in power made them the common enemy. Where are the pharaohs and the Persians today? They have faded and been replaced in the US by white supremacy.
So what should we do on the 20th this year? Many have suggested staying of all media as a sign of protest against the incoming regime. However, I choose to celebrate the antithesis of the MAGA party by sharing select MartinLuther King, Jr. quotes and other stories that affirm the beauty of our diverse nation.
Your question "what action should we take?" leads me to reply "joint action and collaboration across racial lines". But this has been tried in Wilmington (and elsewhere) and has been brutally attacked. I think we should keep it up anyway, even though the resistance is, and will continue to be, utterly bloodthirsty and without a shred of human compassion.
In the meantime we pastors need to be (or become) more direct in pointing out the incompatibility of racism with Christianity. We need to be as vocal - and as platformed - as the religious hacks who support MAGA. Difficulties: (1) for myself, there is still stiff resistance in many places to female clergy (2) clergy aren't trained for political action... I have a LOT to learn (3) some progressives reject faith-based arguments and won't tolerate Jesus-followers as allies under any condition. Strengths: the words of Jesus are clear: support for people who are disenfranchised and/or un-privileged is required of all believers (2) HOPE. (I reflect on the Shawshank Redemption) (3) No matter what, Jesus is Lord.
I think it would be easier for pastors to address the sin of lying, than the sin of racism, because racism can be more easily denied. My reformed church is a vocal proponent of "submitting to pastoral authority." I believe such churches should have disciplined members who were bearing false witness against their neighbors on social media with the big lie. But church discipline only seems to be for keeping the church in unity, not for bringing back the wayward, and is used selectively.
Addressing sin is always part of ministry, for certain. However I would not teach "submitting to pastoral authority" or make use of church discipline, except in extreme circumstances (such as child abuse, spousal abuse, physical violence, theft, etc) because the power of the clergy and church have been mis-used and abused way too often -- especially in recent years, and especially by clergy & church leaders who support MAGA and Christian Nationalism. As Christians, our discipline (discipleship) comes from and is in relation to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit -- and this is what the churches need to teach: how to have an authentic, personal relationship with God.
I agree with everything you said. I attend a church that is both politically and theologically conservative, so I was thinking about my own sphere. My young pastor believes in pastoral authority because of his own education and mentors. I don't believe such teaching anymore, but I put up with it in church because of my pastor's character and personality. He himself doesn't believe the big lie, but from what I see, he isn't holding his parishioners to account for their participation. If you believe in pastoral authority, I can't think of a better time to practice it than with members who are bearing false witness against their Democratic neighbors.
The January 6th insurrection wasn’t the first time a violent mob attacked democracy in America. It happened in 1898—and the lessons are as relevant as they are chilling.
Both the January 6th insurrection attempt and the Wilmington Coup of 1898 were rooted in efforts to undermine democracy, maintain white supremacy, and suppress political representation."
Steps we can take?
Learn the "rhymes" of history. Non-violent, creative resistance. Celebrate Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr's day "aka Contrast Day 2025." Learn from the Black Church. Counter white Christian Nationalism (wCN). Creativity: truth-telling & writing, The Arts. Courage. Take a Stand in our local communities. Lift up minority voices. Live like Jesus of Nazareth. Face the "whitelash" & consequences. Not obeying in advance. Read Dr. Tisby's books & Timothy Snyder's "Tyranny." Advocate to protect the marginalized & vulnerable. Link arms & hands for justice, civil rights & human rights for ALL.
Thank you for this post. As many have noted, I had not heard of the Wilmington Coup of 1898 but will now share that with the communities in which I participate. And that's an action that all of us can take to heart...once we learn something, name it, share it. And also as someone noted earlier, we need to be speaking from the pulpits and within our congregations about white privilege, racism, white supremacy...it is what the Gospel calls us to do, for the sake of ALL our neighbors.
Please see Stephanie McCrummen’s recent article in the Atlantic profiling the New Apostolic Reformation, including overlap with the Jan 6, 2021 insurrection. It’s titled The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows.
What to do? I fear our world is only going to be more chaotic. My response is to stand in solidarity with groups and organizations who are already doing the work. I am also building a network of others who are willing to act when notified. We want to defend the marginalized, lift up the othered, watch for attacks on democracy and follow Christ's example of loving others.
Another powerful post. Had to be difficult to write, but thanks for doing it.
January 6, 2021 lives in infamy.
Evidence of a broken democracy where a broken justice system convicted lesser criminals, but let a felon and the instigator of insurrection walk, only to be enabled to return to likely pardon other criminals.
This is the height of white privilege and the fruit of white supremacy.
Soon after I started following you I read David Zucchino’s book about the Wilmington massacre. What struck me then was how the white supremacist rhetoric published in the Redeemer’s “newspaper” sounded exactly the same as what comes out of the mouths of Trump and his cohorts. Just as an experiment I typed out - verbatim - some of the quotes in the book and dropped them in conversations with conservatives. To a person, most asked me which Fox News personality “said that.” I didn’t know whether to scream or cry.
Thank you for this post. I did not know this history. Until I read Ron Chernow’s :Grant, and followed that with Fredrick Douglass Prophet of Freedom, and HCR’s How the South Won the Civil War, I was ignorant of the failures of Reconstruction. I do not understand why we are so fearful of learning a fuller picture of our history. If you cannot face your past, how can you move forward toward a better future?
Susan Mcmahon made a salient point this morning in THE PREAMBLE; "And here’s the part that some people seem to forget about the founders. While we have practically deified them, Washington himself didn’t view their talents as particularly prodigious. He said, “I do not think we are more inspired, have more wisdom, or possess more virtue, than those who will come after us.” While this may not be the most urgent point, she is certainly on point. The deification of the founders is the OT golden calf in this. The Constitution is not the Ten Commandments given on the Holy Mountain. And since so many of the tenets of white supremacy are so deeply embedded in the Constitution, any remodeling/rewriting of that document will likely lead to another rhyming event of Wilmington and Jan 6th. When originalism is embraced as the key concept, the OS is you will, so is WS and all it's evils. But once WS falls, the true possibilities, dreams and hopes of democracy can begin to become the reality of all.
not sure what you mean by "the OS is you will". what is OS?
WS stands for White Supremist?
Once again, history repeats itself. Thanks for making this connection, Dr. Tisby.
I would think that if we go further back in history we would find similar Supremacist stories and their unfortunate results. I am not a Biblical historian but I do recall that Moses, Esther, and Nehemiah were examples of the ruling government marginalizing one group (the Jews) in order to remain in power. There was no treat from the Jews but those in power made them the common enemy. Where are the pharaohs and the Persians today? They have faded and been replaced in the US by white supremacy.
So what should we do on the 20th this year? Many have suggested staying of all media as a sign of protest against the incoming regime. However, I choose to celebrate the antithesis of the MAGA party by sharing select MartinLuther King, Jr. quotes and other stories that affirm the beauty of our diverse nation.
Will you join me?
Your question "what action should we take?" leads me to reply "joint action and collaboration across racial lines". But this has been tried in Wilmington (and elsewhere) and has been brutally attacked. I think we should keep it up anyway, even though the resistance is, and will continue to be, utterly bloodthirsty and without a shred of human compassion.
In the meantime we pastors need to be (or become) more direct in pointing out the incompatibility of racism with Christianity. We need to be as vocal - and as platformed - as the religious hacks who support MAGA. Difficulties: (1) for myself, there is still stiff resistance in many places to female clergy (2) clergy aren't trained for political action... I have a LOT to learn (3) some progressives reject faith-based arguments and won't tolerate Jesus-followers as allies under any condition. Strengths: the words of Jesus are clear: support for people who are disenfranchised and/or un-privileged is required of all believers (2) HOPE. (I reflect on the Shawshank Redemption) (3) No matter what, Jesus is Lord.
I think it would be easier for pastors to address the sin of lying, than the sin of racism, because racism can be more easily denied. My reformed church is a vocal proponent of "submitting to pastoral authority." I believe such churches should have disciplined members who were bearing false witness against their neighbors on social media with the big lie. But church discipline only seems to be for keeping the church in unity, not for bringing back the wayward, and is used selectively.
Addressing sin is always part of ministry, for certain. However I would not teach "submitting to pastoral authority" or make use of church discipline, except in extreme circumstances (such as child abuse, spousal abuse, physical violence, theft, etc) because the power of the clergy and church have been mis-used and abused way too often -- especially in recent years, and especially by clergy & church leaders who support MAGA and Christian Nationalism. As Christians, our discipline (discipleship) comes from and is in relation to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit -- and this is what the churches need to teach: how to have an authentic, personal relationship with God.
I agree with everything you said. I attend a church that is both politically and theologically conservative, so I was thinking about my own sphere. My young pastor believes in pastoral authority because of his own education and mentors. I don't believe such teaching anymore, but I put up with it in church because of my pastor's character and personality. He himself doesn't believe the big lie, but from what I see, he isn't holding his parishioners to account for their participation. If you believe in pastoral authority, I can't think of a better time to practice it than with members who are bearing false witness against their Democratic neighbors.
"History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.
The January 6th insurrection wasn’t the first time a violent mob attacked democracy in America. It happened in 1898—and the lessons are as relevant as they are chilling.
Both the January 6th insurrection attempt and the Wilmington Coup of 1898 were rooted in efforts to undermine democracy, maintain white supremacy, and suppress political representation."
Steps we can take?
Learn the "rhymes" of history. Non-violent, creative resistance. Celebrate Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr's day "aka Contrast Day 2025." Learn from the Black Church. Counter white Christian Nationalism (wCN). Creativity: truth-telling & writing, The Arts. Courage. Take a Stand in our local communities. Lift up minority voices. Live like Jesus of Nazareth. Face the "whitelash" & consequences. Not obeying in advance. Read Dr. Tisby's books & Timothy Snyder's "Tyranny." Advocate to protect the marginalized & vulnerable. Link arms & hands for justice, civil rights & human rights for ALL.
Thanks for bringing to light the history of the Wilmington Coup and comparing it to January 6th. The similarities are sobering...
Awesome article! Thank you!
Thank you for this post. As many have noted, I had not heard of the Wilmington Coup of 1898 but will now share that with the communities in which I participate. And that's an action that all of us can take to heart...once we learn something, name it, share it. And also as someone noted earlier, we need to be speaking from the pulpits and within our congregations about white privilege, racism, white supremacy...it is what the Gospel calls us to do, for the sake of ALL our neighbors.
Please see Stephanie McCrummen’s recent article in the Atlantic profiling the New Apostolic Reformation, including overlap with the Jan 6, 2021 insurrection. It’s titled The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows.
What to do? I fear our world is only going to be more chaotic. My response is to stand in solidarity with groups and organizations who are already doing the work. I am also building a network of others who are willing to act when notified. We want to defend the marginalized, lift up the othered, watch for attacks on democracy and follow Christ's example of loving others.