Episode Seven: “SOUTHERNER URGES EQUALITY FOR NEGRO." Luke 6 17-26

On January 31, 1915, the New York Times printed “SOUTHERNER URGES EQUALITY FOR NEGRO.” Dr. Charles Hillman Brough was advocating for equal footing amongst the races. But soon after slowly ascending from the plain of equality with Black fellow Arkansans, he found himself looking down on them from the familiar perch of White Supremacy.  He could not value his poor Black neighbors because he defined his identity in a way that was diametrically opposed to them. This week’s Scripture reading in Luke 6 17-26 presents us Jesus: a prophet opposed to measuring people in terms of profit. The Lord was able to lead his proposition with a primary place of the Poor because he numbered himself among them.