Part of our mission statement says,
“We celebrate diversity.” Sometimes people feel that is the
hardest goal of all. We have a lot of some kinds of diversity in our
congregation—diversity of age, income, sexual orientation, belief,
temperament. But we don't have a lot of racial diversity. We live
in a very white state, though Portland itself is rich with multiple
colors, cultures and languages. What might it look like,
realistically, for us to celebrate racial diversity?
I believe we must go outside of our
own doors to do it. When folks are working to help African
immigrants get settled in a new home, that is one way. When folks
teach English to those who speak other languages, that is another
way. Today I want to call our attention to another vital thing we
can do: join and support the work of the Portland Branch, NAACP (The
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
The NAACP was founded in 1909 to
respond to the horrors of the lynching of African Americans. There
were early branches of the NAACP in Maine in response to an active
KKK presence in Maine in the 1920s. The current Portland Branch was
activated in 1964 by Gerald Talbot. The Portland Branch has always
been an interracial interfaith organization. The mission of the
NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic
equality of rights for all, and to eliminate racial hatred and racial
discrimination. It is our premier organization fighting for racial
equality, and has also been on the front lines against all forms of
discrimination.
In November, I was voted a member of
the Executive Committee of the Portland Branch, and will begin in
that role in January. I am looking forward to having a closer
involvement in its work, including sharing with you opportunities
that arise for participation. Check out the website for more information!
