Rising Above the Cacophony
In my research on Thomas Merton, I have come across a number of references to jazz music. While I appreciate the genre, I am quite far from being an aficionado. A longtime fan of Mary Lou Williams, I was pleased to learn that Merton also shared an appreciation of her musical genius. Then, there was a reference to John Coltrane's Ascension. The Catholic me was quite intrigued by both the title and Merton's fascination with the piece. I promptly went online and ordered the CD.
The first time, I listened for less than five minutes as the cacophony of musical instruments reminded me of being in a club in my younger years. Remember when the music was so loud that it was like noise making it difficult to have a conversation? With my second attempt, I was pulled into the experience of hearing the sounds of individual instruments ascend amidst the perceived chaos. It was quite fascinating.
As I type, I am listening to this work of Coltrane for the third time. It is having a different impact on me tonight as our nation continues to grapple with its history of white supremacy. So many have seen the unjust murder of George Floyd by a law enforcement officer and are united in recognizing it as another form of a public lynching. In the midst of a pandemic, people are protesting not only this senseless death but also the defective system of the nation that claims to be a beacon of liberty. In each of the fifty states and in other nations, people are outraged over the legacy that contaminates the present. They know this was not an isolated incident as Mr. Floyd's name has been added to a long list including Emmitt Till, James Chaney, Andrew Goodwin, Michael Schwerner, Viola Liuzzo, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Philando Castille, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Williams, the 4,000 souls remembered at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, and countless others, many known only to God.
Even with a seemingly universally united chorus, there is a cacophony of dissenting voices of those who refuse to acknowledge about the reality of racism in the lived experiences of Black, indigenous, and people of color. They are a perilous distraction as they dilute the impact of white body supremacy by falsely stating that everyone is capable of being racist. This is simply untrue. I as an African-American can be prejudiced or biased against a person who identifies as white, but the historic development of systems and structures that sought to exclude me have weighted the scales in such a manner that I cannot be racist against a white person. Whether in a pulpit, a classroom, or a board room, these voices impede the work that is required to honestly advance the cause of justice.
It is important for activists and allies to know these voices are present, and to discern when and if to engage them. Meanwhile, may the noble truth of our convictions empower us to ascend above the cacophony until it is replaced with the harmony of peace through the justice we demand.