By: Shannon Kelly
On February 10, the Black Student Association of the Seminary (BSAS) held their first in a series of Justice Labs slated for the month of February. The ongoing event is a series of talks and interactive labs revolving around the theme, “As It Is In Heaven.”
What is a “Justice Lab”? “The purpose [of Justice Labs] is to hear from various perspectives and through the discussion and synthesis to practically learn how to take up the work of justice in our various spheres,” explained Danielle Barnard, President of the BSAS. “Once we are educated about injustice, most of us don’t know what to do next. We ask ourselves, ‘How can I do something about it?’ The labs are truly supposed to be practical and give tools for discovering our ‘how’.”
The Justice Labs open with two talks from various speakers, followed by an open question and answer session with the audience. Seminary student Petrice Wideman and Chaplain Michael Polite were the speakers at the first event.
Wideman spoke on the issue of dehumanization, observing that humans tend to “dehumanize” or “reduce” someone who they perceive to be their enemy. While it is easy to criticize others for dehumanizing behavior and speech, Wideman challenged the audience to examine their own reactions of indignation toward individuals who openly dehumanize people. “It’s justifiable anger you can say,” she said. “There’s reason for the upset.” But, she continued, “I’ve been criticizing all these other people for what they have done, and in the privacy of my comfort zones, [I] have been perpetuating the very same attitudes that has brought us to where we are today in this country.” Wideman explained that when God created Adam and Eve in His own image, He saw Himself in them. Adam and Eve “screwed up.” God had every reason for justifiable anger. Yet He did not dehumanize His children. Instead, God chose to become one of them! “To see myself in the other, to see God in the other, goes hand in hand with the crisis that we deal with today,” Wideman continued, challenging her listeners to follow Jesus’s example.
Chaplain Michael Polite took the floor next, observing how parts of Adventist remnant theology can project discrimination. Polite likened the label of the “remnant” to being chosen for teams at recess games. Everyone wanted to be chosen first; everyone wanted to be a part of the “cool kids.” Yet there were always those chosen last, considered the least talented. He cautioned the audience about the dangers of the tone of exclusivity often surrounding remnant theology.
The audience then participated, asking their questions. How should we process what we hear in the news without dehumanizing anyone? Someone asked. Another admitted that it feels easier to dehumanize enemies, because humanizing them feels as if you are accepting their actions. How should they deal with that?
“I think this was a very good topic to talk about because certain people are treated as though they are less than humans,” said Mary Opuni Mensah (graduate student, Social Work). “We are humans and God created us equal in His image.”
“The speakers made good observations,” reflected Sean Kelly (Sophomore, undeclared). “Their perspectives influenced me, and were thought-provoking.”
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