George Floyd and Beyond
This article was written in the wake of George Floyd’s death. In recent days, the trial of Derek Chauvin has begun. Our country is in a time of transition and change with a new administration. I go back to these words and thoughts. I hope for them to be words to reflect on.
My country…our country is in pain. Parts of our lands are literally on fire because of protests and riots. A lot can be said about where we are now. What about another approach? I propose one based on the human experience in the form of stories. I am a chaplain where my primary focus is with the Muslim community but I have interfaith training as well. My education and training are in chaplaincy. We are the first to meet people when there is mental or emotional harm just as paramedics are there for people enduring physical harm. Our training is where religion and spirituality meet with mental health. My clinical pastoral education teacher always told us to meet people where they are. He always reminded us that people may not be ready or want religion. This is where I come from, a place of servitude to you America.
The human experience is like a story. Stories are wonderful things. We could not wait for them before bed. We watch it in the form of movies; read it in the form of books. Friends share stories of what happened the night before. We tell scary ones around the campfire. It is how we remember our grandparents and days of old. Stories connect us to the past. We share them so that others may learn from them. Stories are a way for us to express our thoughts, feelings, and our identities. We naturally want to share our story with the world. When we are unable to, our feelings get hurt. How many times have we gotten into a fight with someone who would not hear our story?
In the pursuit of a status quo, some stories are pushed away or ignored to preserve other stories. It is natural for people to want to preserve their own stories. Must we do it at the expense of other stories? The beauty of the human experience is the collection of stories from everywhere and from everyone, even those who may not look like you or me. Unfortunately, pushing away stories is sometimes expressed as hatred, racism, and xenophobia. People become otherized and experience ill treatment from those with power and position. As a result, there is pushback, protest, and sometimes rioting. explode. This vicious cycle of violence continues -- driven by fear, a sense of superiority, and desire to maintain the status quo. Without a doubt, no people, creed, or color is solely guilty. At the same time, there are always examples injustice. We must, as Americans, make sure we do not become oppressive to each other, that we do not stand on the side of injustice. This means that it may be uncomfortable for us at times. But how else do we grow? My teacher, the Prophet Muhammad told his companions to restrain the hand of the oppressor.[1] This is the duty of every American to protect one’s fellow citizen. This is what makes our country great. We must protect each other.
The pushing away of stories and experiences leads to a growth of immoral elements that grow deeper into a society, all to maintain the status quo. After some generations, it grows into blind or subtle racism and plain ignorance by many people. It is then that the system becomes oppressive, unjust, and unethical. One of the reasons people try to deny or push away the stories of others is the fear of losing something. I think there is nothing to fear and a lot to gain by actively listening to the stories of those different from us. You gain a greater understanding of the American experience. You gain a love for the other. You gain a friend. You gain a neighbor. You gain a greater firmness of your own identity and story. You can truly live the saying, E Pluribus Unum.
Those whose stories are pushed away respond in different ways, especially when it continuously occurs. Every day we see the effects of injustice in our country. This most recently manifested in the murder of George Floyd. The vicious cycle of violence continues. We have seen rifts in society about how Americans are supposed to comport themselves in protest. What is the right way of protesting? One function of protests is to get the stories out: we must hear and be mindful of people’s stories, especially those that have not been heard and understood. After this, we can move towards change.
Stories come together to form a bigger narrative. Who wants to listen to other stories? Chaplain Khalid Latif of New York University said once to a crowd to invite someone to your home for dinner who you see as the other. What better way to get to know people than over good food? In the process of writing this, I think of Blues musician Daryl Davis’ journey across the country meeting with members of the Ku Klux Klan as an African American. He describes this in a Ted Talk[2]. This should be a model for all of us, whatever type of American we are. People are in pain for various reasons. Our country does not need another contribution to the George Floyd Challenge. No more contributing to the vicious cycle fueled by fear and otherizing. Enough is enough. In the Koran, God says that we were made “…into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another…the most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him...”[3] Dr. Cornel West argues that we live in a country with a high standard, one that is spiritually grounded in a strong system of morals[4]. I believe will lead us toward hearing and trying to understand the stories of others and help us become just with ourselves and others around us. As a chaplain, I am interested in spiritual healing. Hearing and understanding stories other than my own is a first step toward the spiritual healing we need in America.
[1] “Hadith - The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship - Sahih Muslim.” Hadith - The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship - Sahih Muslim - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم), Sunnah.com, www.sunnah.com/muslim/45/80
[2] TEDx Talks, December 8, 2017 Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies. | Daryl Davis | TEDxNaperville YouTube
[3] Koran, Translated by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem: 49:13 https://quran.com/49/13?translations=85[4] CNN Anderson 360, Cornel West May 29, 2020