In 1935, the NAACP began working to end segregation in public schools. But it was not until 1954—19 years later, that the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation violated the 14th amendment of the Constitution. The ruling came in that historic Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka Kansas decision. It would take a second ruling in 1955 to jumpstart some states to obey the court order. That long wait for justice helps to illustrate the point Jesus made to His disciples about persistence in prayer. We read in Luke 18 about a widow who kept pestering a judge to grant her justice in a dispute with an enemy. After finally granting her request, Jesus said to his disciples, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Jesus’ point is this: God’s delay in answering our prayer for justice is not His disinterest; it’s our faithfulness to stay the course in praying and working.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
