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After the Civil War ended and Reconstruction did not bring African Americans full rights, three paths toward equality emerged. Booker T. Washington urged Blacks to forget civil rights and use education and business to make progress. Marcus Garvey said White Americans would never accept Blacks, so we should all go back to Africa. W.E.B. Du Bois argued that going back to Africa would fail. He said education and business are fine, but since our slave labor helped to build America, we should pursue equality right here. Du Bois sounded like David when people urged him to flee away for safety. In Psalm 11, he wrote, “I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, ‘Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!… The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?’” Despite the difficulties, David encouraged himself by insisting, “The LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth… He hates those who love violence… For the righteous LORD loves justice.” So today, when it looks as if injustice is winning, we can remind ourselves that, in time, God will see that justice prevails. The wicked will get their due.
