The Crux Weekly: ICE Impersonators on Campus, Student Resistance to Nazis, and Jelani Cobb & Hasan Minhaj on Journalism
Plus: Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the Scam of School Vouchers and a song I love.
Friends! The intersection of politics, education and our call to follow Jesus has been busy since we launched in January. “Shouts of Joy” by Harvest reminds me of what is promised by God: :
I put my tears in the soil, now I’m reaping shouts of joy.
Sorrow turns into a harvest, mourning turns into a song.
You’ve always been faithful. You’ve always been good.
My heart is so grateful. There’s nobody like you.
It is a short song but I hope its words echo in your heart this week!
Here are 5 things we believe are worth your time:
SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER
Happy Black History Month! I want to encourage you to read the Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. It was written in 1963 and is a profound defense of nonviolent protest against racial injustice wholly rooted in the teachings of Jesus. In the letter, King responds to criticisms from eight white clergymen who labeled his activities as "unwise and untimely." King articulates several key points including but not limited to how followers of Jesus should engage Just vs. Unjust Laws, immediate and non-violent action, and the emotional reality of disappointment in those who claim to follow Christ but hold racist, prejudiced and hateful beliefs. King is a model for our times and we would do well to hold fast to the Jesus He professed so strongly in today’s turbulence and instability.
STATISTICS
White Rose: Student Non-Violent Resistance in Nazi Germany
The White Rose was a non-violent resistance group formed in Munich, Germany, during the summer of 1942. Comprised of University of Munich students Hans Scholl, Alexander Schmorell, Christoph Probst, Willi Graf, and Hans's sister, Sophie Scholl. They united to oppose Nazi ideology and actions because of their faith in Christ. The White Rose's actions marked a significant, though isolated, instance of student-led resistance within Nazi Germany. Their legacy endures as a testament to moral courage and the impact of non-violent protest against oppressive regimes. All of them ultimately were beheaded after being caught. Their story is a reminder of the cause of Christ, the creative non-violent impact activism can have, and the cost of our discipleship. May it be inspiration for a new movement of Christ-following students to seek and know Our Good God and love our neighbors well.
STORIES
The Scam of School Choice and Voucher Scams
If you don’t already follow Texas Representative James Talarico on Instagram, then you should. He is a devout Christian committed to following Jesus and wrestling with his faith while working in the systems of our society. And last week, he made a short video focused on the scam of school choice. Much like the segregation academies that popped up across the country after attempts by the United States to racially integrate school, this is another lever being pulled to keep resources flowing towards wealthier people and neighborhoods and away from poorer ones. The hoarding of opportunities and resources as Talarico argues unjust, unChristian and should be resisted at every level – especially in education.
The Dean of Columbia’s Journalism School Sits down with Hasan Minhaj
Comedian Hasan Minhaj sat down with Jelani Cobb, the Dean of Columbia’s School of Journalism for an honest, insightful and in depth interview on the state of our country’s media diet, confusing channels of distribution, and ethics of it all. There are students across the country sitting in classrooms learning how to write, make videos, and produce content that could bring people together, tear us apart, radicalize through rabbit holes or distract us for days on end. Who and how we teach and learn from one another in and around media is an exceptionally important conversation to be having. May God help us to wise, kind and open.
How Are We Attending to Immigrant Students Under Trump?
We must attend to our neighbors was written by a veteran social worker embedded in the lives of immigrant kids in schools. And they provide very practical ways life has changed in their community and how we can be involved in positive change in response. The fear held by so many because of the Trump Administration is not unfounded. Trump opened Guantanamo Bay and people made in the image of God who are undocumented in the United States are on their way there. Children are frightened, teachers are confused and communities on edge because folks are impersonating ICE officers on campuses, indigenous people are being profiled and detained, and workers harassed while trying to provide for their families.
May God bless you as you seek to love and serve Him at the nexus of faith, education and politics. He is faithful!
– jonathan