This is the nature of systemic injustice. Everyone knows, but they each accept their given role in the shared lie.
I had an interesting Good Friday. I went to a predominantly black congregation. The music was inspiring. The preaching was even better. As she began, she made what seemed to be a paranthetical question. She asked, “How did the good thief on the cross know that Jesus was innocent?” It occurs to me that if a man who had been rotting in jail for weeks knew of Jesus’ innocence, then others did as well. The guards surely knew. The priests who arranged Jesus’ arrest knew. The soldiers who beat Jesus knew. It was common knowledge. Even Pontius Pilate knew. This is the nature of systemic injustice. Everyone knows, but they each accept their given role in the shared lie.
The preacher then went on to remind us that Jesus, like George Floyd, could say, “I can’t breathe.”
As we move into the post Easter season, let us be inspired to seek justice for all.