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Sankofa Journeys Focus on Racial Righteousness
CHICAGO, IL (March 8, 2001) - "Hindsight is 20-20 vision" might be one secular way of explaining the term Sankofa - a West African expression meaning "looking backward to move forward." Clearer vision often comes from thoughtful reflection, offering an opportunity to learn from past mistakes as life moves forward.
That is one way of looking at the Sankofa journeys offered by Outreach Ministries of the Evangelical Covenant Church. These 72-hour cross-racial trips to Georgia and Alabama include stops at several sites that played significant roles in the civil rights movement over the years. The trips offer the opportunity for people of color and white participants to engage in meaningful dialogue as one means of gaining a better understanding of the sensitive issues associated with civil rights concerns.
"In terms of racial righteousness, we must look backward to move forward," said Jim Lundeen, the Sankofa coordinator. Lundeen says the Sankofa journey is designed to increase individual awareness, understanding and sensitivity of:
- the past struggles, victories, defeats and continuing racist oppression of people of color
- how far we have come
- how far we have to go
The Sankofa experience includes two nights on a luxury bus and one night in a comfortable motel. The bus ride between destination points is designed to facilitate discussion, view and discuss videos and process the sights and the sounds of the experience.
Visits include the Civil Rights Museum and Kelly Ingram Park, where monuments have been erected in memory of the children who fought off dogs and water cannons. Other stops include the Southwest Georgia prison and jail project, the Martin Luther King Memorial in Atlanta and the 16th Street Baptist Church, where four small girls were murdered when a church was bombed. A highlight of some of the trips has been a visit with the parents of one of the murdered girls.
"Sankofa isn't fun," Lundeen says, perhaps as a means of grabbing one's attention and underscoring the serious purpose of the experience. "But, as they say, 'no pain, no gain.' Sankofa will help you feel and understand more of where we have been in our churches and in our nation. It should tell us where we should be. And, it may tell each participant what we can do together to get to where we ought to be.
"The resolution to the pain is going through the pain," Lundeen continued. "It hurt to hear African-Americans on the bus and on video express their frustration and anger with the snail's pace of white awareness of racist systems. Will the hurt bring about systemic change?" he asks. "If white participants feel guilty, for no other reason than sensing a little bit more of what they could or should do, but haven't done, let that become a motivation to think, say and so something when they return," Lundeen said.
What has been the impact on past participants? Following are some of the individual reactions:
- I began to consider the recurring negative emotions that are constants in my life as an African-American. Those feelings were locked in the prison of my own heart as I gazed at the diorama of Martin Luther King in a Birmingham jail cell in the Civil Rights Institute. Only Jesus has the keys to unlock those prisons.
- Viewing the videos on the bus - the History of the KKK, The Color of Fear and Rosewood - made an impact on me. Hearing a white man acknowledge and repent of the sins of his ancestors made the trip incredibly meaningful and worthwhile as an African-American man.
- One must be impressed with the courage of those Christians who faced fire hoses and snarling dogs for the sake of freedom. But, such a trip also reminds us that most white Christians remained silent and still others openly opposed those who cried out for freedom. It is vitally important that white Christians take to heart these lessons of history lest we repeat our own failings.
- In the 60s, I felt prompted by God to join in the civil rights marches. I didn't march and did not foresee the consequences of a bruised soul and downcast spirit for 40 years. Sankofa was a pilgrimage of healing and much more.
- The most moving encounter was our visit to the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta. I sat for a long time watching young African-Americans who stood there in silence. How wonderful to have such a place to reflect on the life of a man who changed the course of history.
"Words of deepest appreciation are in order for the faithful, patient friends of color who have dared to travel with Euro-Americans on Sankofa journeys," Lundeen said, "several going several times, helping white folks to verify facts and attitudes of racist oppression that continue unchanged and unchallenged. These friends tell us they get very tired - they're weary of teaching us slow, unwilling would-be learners the truths of racism," Lundeen continued. "They have not walked away, leaving us in our ignorance and paralysis. We thank them, though such words are not sufficient."
Additional Sankofa journeys are scheduled for the remainder of this year and into 2002: April 27-30; October 5-8; February 8-11, 2002; April 5-8, 2002; and October 11-14, 2002. The fare for Sankofa is $275 per person, which includes transportation from Chicago return, entry fees to various sites and one night of motel accommodations. The cost of meals is not included. Lundeen encouraged individuals who are unable to make the trip to consider a donation to provide the Sankofa experience for someone else who cannot afford the expense. Donations may be sent to the address below.
Pre-registration as early as possible is requested as attempts are made to create a balance among Euro-Americans and people of color. Each trip will accommodate up to 35 participants. Pre-registration may be accomplished by contacting Lundeen by telephone at 773-878-8200, extensions 5008 or 5850; by fax at 773-878-2617 (attention Sankofa); by email at jelundeen@covenantbenevolence.org; or by regular mail at Sankofa, Compassion Ministries, Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, 5145 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625. Please include name, address, day and evening telephone numbers, email address (if available), name of home church and the name of a cross-racial partner, if one has already been arranged. Make certain to indicate which date is preferred.
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