“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated.
We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Christmas Eve sermon, 1967 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta
Members of Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light believe that these beautiful words, spoken 53 years ago by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., simply and eloquently portray the truth about our community of life on Earth. We believe the social and Earth sciences that teach us about the critical importance of maintaining diversity… of plants, animals, and people. We understand that diversity of beliefs, cultures, traditions, and histories strengthen and enrich us as we live together on this beautiful, miraculous planet.
Living peaceably together requires that we act boldly and swiftly to stop the destruction of Earth. Global warming will not affect us all equally; rather, it will bring particular hardships to minority communities. Living peaceably together requires that we act boldly and swiftly to equalize access to healthcare and education and jobs and housing. For too long Black people, indigenous people, and other people of color have been systematically held down.
We acknowledge and condemn the centuries of abhorrent, demoralizing, and often murderous activities that have been levied upon people of color. As people of faith, we vow to act upon our principles of faith on behalf of our brothers and sisters. Therefore, we resolve to:
- speak truth to power about the persistent discrimination against minority people;
- engage in peaceful civil action to show solidarity with others who also support minority equality and rights;
- participate in community activities that are intended to bring people together regardless of race;
- consciously support minority-owned businesses;
- actively welcome people of color to join our organization and our activities;
- educate ourselves about systemic racism and white privilege;
- vote our belief that Black Lives Matter.
