I have lived through something that few people will ever have to remember - racial strife.
I taught public high school at Sparkman, Arkansas from 1976-1982. The 1982 school year began as any other in one way, and as no other in another way. A few days into school that August, two of my seventh grade students were tragically linked with murder - one the victim, the other the perpetrator. Details as to manner and motive were sparse - I’m not sure that anyone even today knows the complete story. I don’t. The two boys appeared to be the best of friends. The town appeared to be a harmonious community. The appearances were deceiving.
However, I do know this - the seemingly non-racial tragedy of murder became a community tragedy of racial strife. Two families scarred forever. The school was boycotted. Friendships were destroyed and/or damaged forever. Businesses closed, People moved away. The boycott ended, but the community never fully recovered.
This is the 50th anniversary of the racial strife at Little Rock and the 25th anniversary of the racial strife at Sparkman. Many people will remember and recall the events at Little Rock of 50 years ago. Few remember or recall the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. May we learn from the past or, as one philosopher so aptly put it: “Those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”
What did this pastor / school teacher learn from that personal experience of 25 years ago?
Simply this ... prejudice is an ugly thing. It’s not just a “white” thing or a “black” thing or a “brown” thing. It’s not just a “Caucasian” thing or an “African American thing” or a “Hispanic” thing. It’s an ugly thing. It is sin. The Bible tells us that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We must learn to live together not simply because it’s the American way or it’s the politically correct way, but because it is God’s Way. One famous preacher has said that the most segregated time in the United States is Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. I would like to think that we attend different churches not because we have to do so but because we choose to do so ... many of us prefer different styles and lengths of music, preaching, and worship - not just because of racial heritages but within cultural differences, too. The Savior that I worship was not a fair, blue eyed white Anglo Saxon but a swarthy, dark eyed Jewish rabbi. If I profess to love Him, I must also love all who are my brothers and sisters: “If a man says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20).
As you think of the events of 50 years ago at Little Rock, think of the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. And, pray not only that those sinful things will never happen in our community but that we, all of us, will do what we can to promote God’s love for all people.
At Thanksgiving, the community of England will gather for our annual Community Thanksgiving Service. Hopefully, we will gather as God’s people at one of God’s churches ... not at “this kind of church” or at “that kind of church” but at “His kind of church.” I hope to see you there.
This is just one pastor’s perspective.
Rick Hyde
First published in the "England Democrat" the week of September 24, 2007.
I taught public high school at Sparkman, Arkansas from 1976-1982. The 1982 school year began as any other in one way, and as no other in another way. A few days into school that August, two of my seventh grade students were tragically linked with murder - one the victim, the other the perpetrator. Details as to manner and motive were sparse - I’m not sure that anyone even today knows the complete story. I don’t. The two boys appeared to be the best of friends. The town appeared to be a harmonious community. The appearances were deceiving.
However, I do know this - the seemingly non-racial tragedy of murder became a community tragedy of racial strife. Two families scarred forever. The school was boycotted. Friendships were destroyed and/or damaged forever. Businesses closed, People moved away. The boycott ended, but the community never fully recovered.
This is the 50th anniversary of the racial strife at Little Rock and the 25th anniversary of the racial strife at Sparkman. Many people will remember and recall the events at Little Rock of 50 years ago. Few remember or recall the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. May we learn from the past or, as one philosopher so aptly put it: “Those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”
What did this pastor / school teacher learn from that personal experience of 25 years ago?
Simply this ... prejudice is an ugly thing. It’s not just a “white” thing or a “black” thing or a “brown” thing. It’s not just a “Caucasian” thing or an “African American thing” or a “Hispanic” thing. It’s an ugly thing. It is sin. The Bible tells us that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We must learn to live together not simply because it’s the American way or it’s the politically correct way, but because it is God’s Way. One famous preacher has said that the most segregated time in the United States is Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. I would like to think that we attend different churches not because we have to do so but because we choose to do so ... many of us prefer different styles and lengths of music, preaching, and worship - not just because of racial heritages but within cultural differences, too. The Savior that I worship was not a fair, blue eyed white Anglo Saxon but a swarthy, dark eyed Jewish rabbi. If I profess to love Him, I must also love all who are my brothers and sisters: “If a man says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20).
As you think of the events of 50 years ago at Little Rock, think of the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. And, pray not only that those sinful things will never happen in our community but that we, all of us, will do what we can to promote God’s love for all people.
At Thanksgiving, the community of England will gather for our annual Community Thanksgiving Service. Hopefully, we will gather as God’s people at one of God’s churches ... not at “this kind of church” or at “that kind of church” but at “His kind of church.” I hope to see you there.
This is just one pastor’s perspective.
Rick Hyde
First published in the "England Democrat" the week of September 24, 2007.
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