How We Got Here, And Our Path Forward

Greetings Changemakers,

In 1967, at a time when our nation was yet again experiencing angst over a diminished commitment to justice and equity and in the midst of his ongoing protests against the Vietnam War, Dr. King penned what would be his final book: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

As we look out at our nation today, aiding and abetting the destruction and dehumanization of the Palestinian people abroad and discouraging the pursuit of justice, diversity, and equity here at home, we see a moment that mirrors King's; we see more chaos than community. 

I find myself asking, "How did we get here?" How are we still here? And how do we keep getting here?"

As many people do when seeking solace outside the limited imagination of the status quo, I turn to the words of James Baldwin in his quintessential text, The Fire Next Time.

Baldwin speaks of the true cost of freedom and how our spiritual state will always impact our political reality. He writes:

"...We Americans, of whatever color, do not dare examine it and are far from having made it a reality. There are too many things we do not wish to know about ourselves. People are not, for example, terribly anxious to be equal (equal, after all, to what and to whom?), but they love the idea of being superior…It can be objected that I am speaking of political freedom in spiritual terms, but the political institutions of any nation are always menaced and are ultimately controlled by the spiritual state of that nation."

Brother Baldwin draws an essential connection between examination and liberation. This nation will never escape the eternal return of the "here" I mentioned above until we collectively develop the moral courage to confront and change our inner values. When we finally place our shared humanity before the love of superiority, our politics will change, and our choice of leaders will reflect that essential transformation.

I am convinced that we must always make our voices heard at the ballot box, from the federal level down to the most local of offices. But as important as that is, we must remember this is not the only opportunity we have to shape our society and display our values. We do so when we speak up for those who are unjustly silenced; when we decide to uplift our brothers, sisters, and siblings instead of rejecting their pleas; when we choose to invest in, instead of extracting from, our communities; when we choose to seek understanding and belonging instead of excluding and marginalizing.

But what does that mean for our nation? For our country, once again caught in the grip of a troubling, anxiety-inducing election cycle?

We must not give in to fear. 

Let us vote not out of panic and confusion but instead cast our ballot on Tuesday based on our values and our moral conviction; let us embrace our own internal clarity about the best way to shape our nation based on our shared vision for a shared future. Let us also take that same sense of purpose and spiritual serenity beyond the polling place, into our communities, and into the spaces where people need it the most. 

Because whatever happens on Tuesday, IofC USA will continue to bring communities together, embrace radical acceptance, and pursue the kind of change that Baldwin challenged us to pursue through examination, discussion, and action. 

With that in mind, IofC USA invites you to become a part of our work to move from cycles of dehumanization to circles of shared humanity. Join us for our upcoming Circle UP (Understanding Perspectives) Reading Community. For our second installment, we are welcoming residents to read the book Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America by Juan Gonzales, followed by a group discussion on December 3. Please contact us to get a copy of the book and join the circle for a thoughtful conversation as an alternative to the dehumanizing rhetoric circling this election season.

I began this email by referencing national angst, first in 1967, and again in 2024. And while there is certainly plenty to feel apprehensive about, I continue to find comfort in our work and our mission; in our clarity of purpose and our belief in one another; and the beloved community we have been blessed to cultivate with each of you. These things are made to endure. 

I hope you, too, can find comfort in that. 

Grace and Peace,

Allan-Charles Chipman