A degree of separation is a measure of social distance between people that fall into the category of humanity with the first degree being the closest in the total of six degrees. That idea was first theorized in the 1920’s which went on to explain that each one of us is only six steps away from each other in that realm of humanity. In practical terms, looking at Charlottesville, Virginia, it is somewhat hard to imagine that only six degrees separates us but rather, it appears that a few more degrees of separation could easily be added shamefully.
However are circumstances are in mid life, we all came into this world the same way, innocent from prejudice, injustice, and hate. It is through unpromising exposure that kindness, hatred, and prejudices blossom and grow. In America today there are ninety different languages spoken and as a result, they are that added degree of separation….they are the seventh degree of separation.
We have witnessed monuments of a misguided past being removed from public grounds all across the Southern United States. Monuments are not always made of granite, or bronze or even steel. They can be an idea, a belief, a feeling or even an action. Those are the kind of monuments that are the most difficult to eliminate. It can be a local radio company, Childers Media, that only offers 2 programmatic hours out of 840 that targets African Americans with the Londell Smith show. It can be a national chain, Iheart Media, which offers only 2 hours of African American programming out of the 840 programmatic hour it offers this community each week when it airs Ruth Glover’s gospel show. The most public way of telling someone that they don’t count, that they are not seen, that you are unimportant is to operate in such a manner. I’m still waiting to see a row boat make it to shore with all the oarsman rowing in different directions. It should be obvious to everyone that some of the oars, in Lima, are pointing in different directions. Martin Luther King once made a statement that went something like this….I can not be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. People that feel as though they belong to a community are far less likely to hurt the image of that which they are a part of which is exactly why business needs to speak up as well. We invest in your business, we need you to invest in us as well which is exactly how and why Heather Heyer went to Charlottesville to fight unfairness and inequality. Long ago , American made a promise that all men were equal and that all men would have equal pursuit of happiness. A young lady lost her life last week desperately trying to eliminate those degrees of separation and if she can speak up there, you can speak up here in her honor. Love me the way that I love you which is relatively easy for me to say because if the role was reversed, I would be speaking on your behalf. Community prayers are nice for show but what I would like to see is people who live with their hearts and are willing to do what they can to eliminate just one more degree of separation. During the Holocaust, pastor Martin Niemoller wrote this…….“First they came for the socialist and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionist and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
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