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6 BOCNEWS.comMAY 2016 A Discussion On RacismAll over America talk about racism continues while the need for work on the self-preservation of black communities has never been greater. And Denver is no different. Denver Seminary held a rally on April 14 called Confronting Our Ongoing Racist Legacy A Challenge in Christian Faith. After just two weeks of being president of Denver Seminary back in 2009 Mark Young admitted the tension existed between the seminary and black community. Young addressed this in his speech during the rally and how unfortunate it was that some tension still remained between the seminary and black com- munity. He went on to address those past tragedies of 2014 and 2015 that spiraled out of control and loss of young black lives at the hands of white police officers. Not to mention the massacre at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston SC where a white man mur- dered the people of God simply because they were black. In his introduction speech during the rally event Young outlined several points regarding societys racial tendencies as well as his own personal igno- rance about racism. Seeing racism as more of a multidimensional social reality than an individual prejudice has helped alleviate my tendency to see it as someone elses problem and thus ignore it. He continued Because Whites have more power in all of the significant social institutions in the U.S. society we benefit from a racialized society and fail to recognize that fact. Many of us in the white communities are uncom- fortable talking about race and racism because it challenges our detachment from racial issues. Most of Whites are unwilling to admit that we have chosen to live segregated lives in the places we reside work play worship and send our kids to school.We seldom if ever would admit that the choice to live segregated lives may come from deeply buried desires to live apart from blacks. And lastly he pointed out Because we do not see ourselves as part of the problem of racism and we do not recognize how pervasive and destructive its ongoing presence is to our society we do not readily engage in actions that prophetically rebuke racial inequality and racist behavior. President Young went on to reflect about racism and led a heartfelt prayer which included asking Have mercy on me Lord Forgive me Lord and Empower me Lord. Over the years Young never thought of himself as a racist but had to come to a better understanding of racism going on in the country and his participa- tion in it. Trayvon Martins murder was a significant factor in my life. It seemed profoundly unjust and moti- vated by race. Michael Brown and others changed the way I began thinking on whats happening in our country. My white friends had their narrative on it and my African American friends had a different nar- rative said Young who grew up in Appalachia West Virginia where there were no black people. My whole life I thought of racism as an individual thing. I am ashamed I spent my entire adult life igno- rant of the realities of history and the present. He also shared a story with the Body of Christ News on how his close African American friends allowed their son to come stay with him temporar- ily. The young man was waiting to find housing on campus while attending Denver Seminary. Young lives in the Lakewood area outside Denver. He said the young man decided to take a walk down the street and the next thing he knew a police cruiser pulled up and stopped him. The young man was sim- ply walking down the street talking on his cell phone. He said he was shocked and appalled. Denver Seminary we realize hasnt been all we should be in supporting the African American churches speaking out against racism and injustice. But what I want to say now to the community is I know longer will be silent or indifferent. I want us as a community to be engaged and compassionate Dr. Crawford Loritts from Atlanta Ga was the guest speaker. Loritts said the solution to racism is fairly easy. Its not that we dont know what to do but having the will to do it. The solution is getting back to why we were created and our personal relationship with Christ. God created the church to be the visible model as an alternative to the chaos and isolation that is within our culture and society. Also this month at a recent NAACP meeting many gathered to share their views on race relations and working together. Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz has been trying to build his police department on being more commu- nity focused and driven. When you are dealing with any community that has had a long history of issues between them and police whether its in our own city or across the country people bring their history and knowledge with them he said. Here in Aurora we are fortu- nate to have a lot of folks within the black commu- nity who want to work with us and proactively come to us. People recognize all the tensions going on across the country at the same time they recognize they need the police department and want to live in a safe environment. But they also want police officers to know where they are coming from. While Aurora has a majority minority diverse pop- ulation the Aurora Police Department is made up of 85 percent white males. Metz is actively working on recruiting more officers of color and plans to hire 80 new officers within the next year. Those interest can go to Aurorapolicejobs. com website for more information on applying. Metz said his department is taking a more nontra- ditional approach on reaching out to the community. We are getting our officers out of their cars and visiting folks in their businesses schools and churches. Our officers have been doing some phe- nomenal stuff in the community in helping people and going that extra mile. The officers are willing to show themselves more personably to the commu- nity and that they are not just cops but husbands wives fathers mothers. Minister Gerald Muhammad with the Nation of Islam shared his own view of what is going on in the country and racism that continues to exist. Like the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said the race problem has never went away. They just tried to put a bandage on it. As the black man is rising the black man is want- ing more of what this country is supposedly offering others who come to this country for freedom jus- tice and equality. They want a piece of the American pie but the black man cant even get a piece. Muhammad went on to say that President Obama was selected and not elected. He feels the countrys first African American president has done nothing for black people. He also addressed the Black Lives Matter Movement and how more young people are starting to push the issue injustices and unfair treatment by police com- ing into their communities. Back in the day it was the KKK now they are the men in blue uniforms all over America. They roll through our communities like an overseer on a plan- tation Muhammad said. However Muhammad said there is some good being done by white Christian leaders like Dennis Leonard who came back to Denver and rebuilt his church and ministry that has a large black following. He took his money and reinvested back into the community by buying property to have temporary low income housing to house our people. Now he is back in the city. He is doing something with the word that he claims he was called to deliver and trying to feed the sheep. Because we do not see ourselves as part of the problem of racism and we do not recognize how pervasive and destructive its ongoing presence is to our society we do not readily engage in actions that prophetically rebuke racial inequality and racist behavior. CURRENT AFFAIRS