`CULTURAL WALK'
Church's youth symposium focuses on racial dialogue, healing
Oklahoma church's youth symposium focuses on racial dialogue, healing
The group of young teenagers of different races, schools and parts of the metro area sat together in quiet reflection.
Finally, one by one, they began to talk as they sat in the “Honesty Circle” after an outdoor group exercise meant to show them the ways they are similar and different.
“My biggest take away would be not to judge so quickly. You just can't be quick to judge,” said Jayvion Frazier, a student from Harding Charter Preparatory School.
Makayla Hammons, a Cristo Rey Catholic High School student, shared similar comments.
“It made me realize that not everyone is the same, but that doesn't mean we should treat each other differently,” she said.
The youth discussion was part of the recent “Removing Walls Together” Racial Healing Symposium at Wildewood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The church, led by the Rev. Dwayne Rodgers, held the event to bring young people from different part of the metro area together to discuss the topic of race healing and reconciliation.
Rodgers said his church members discussed ways to help youths come together for dialogue at a time when division is tearing at the fabric of America.
“We were honest about the things that were happening in our country, as well as in our community, and we wanted to learn more about what our kids are facing daily. We wanted to
to hear their voices and work toward building a bridge to better communications and understanding of different cultures,” he said.
“They are not excluded from seeing things that shape their experiences of life. Because of those things, it's imperative to hear their voices.”
Rodgers told the group they represent the present and future.
“Some of you are going to be at tables and doing things with people that you've never seen before. That's what makes building a bridge so unique. You are going to be doing things and working together to make things happen,” he said.
Opal Cade, a Wildewood member who works for the nonprofit group Possibilities Inc., emphasized Rodgers' words. She said the symposium activities were designed to build trust among the youths and to promote healthy dialogue.
“We truly believe that if you can get groups together to have authentic conversations, we can create sustainable change. Truly our youth are the ones who are going to create those changes,” she said.
Cade and other adult coordinators encouraged the youths to speak candidly about the issues they face in terms of race and overcoming racial barriers.
“Today, you are our teachers. You are our consultants. You are our ambassadors on how we can heal racial injustice,”
Nancy Hope Alexander, another church member, told the group.
`Love holding on'
During the “cultural walk” exercise, Cade and church member Marsha Herron had the youths hold hands and individually begin to walk forward or backward depending on her instructions. For example, the youths were asked to step forward if their biological parents were still together, if they knew the story of Emmitt Till, and if they believed they have the power to tear down racism. They were asked to step back for various reasons, including if they had considered themselves and their family to be better than others, if they had been denied a job because of their appearance and if they had a family member who was or had been incarcerated.
Kaitlyn Wadley, from Cristo Rey, tried to hold on to the hand of Southeast High School's Christian Garcia but reluctantly let go when their steps backward and forward made it too difficult to stay connected. Kaitlyn was
visibly distressed that they lost connection.
“I tried to hang on,” she told the group. “It made me think that if you know that someone is going through something, you need to reach out and show them love, the love of Jesus.”
Christian also talked about the cultural walk experience and losing the connection with Kaitlyn.
“It was really emotional because of the questions that were asked. It just showed me how different our lives have been,” he said.
Rodgers' wife, YeMaya, said she got misty-eyed when she saw how Kaitlyn and Christian tried to stay connected during the cultural walk exercise.
“It made me think that we have hope, watching them struggle to hold on to each other,” she said.
Along those lines, church member Henry Levingston told the group about serving in the U.S. Marines and how he became good friends with another Marine even though he was black and the other man was white at a time when people of different races
didn't necessarily mix. Levingston said he and his fellow Marine remain good friends and talk to each other on a regular basis.
He encouraged the youths to make unity a
priority.
“This can work when you stretch to hold on to each other,” Levingston said.
“That's love holding on.”