Bring Back Our Girls : Why We Can’t Be Silent

For the Mothers of the 276 girls abducted in Nigeria

#BringBackOurGirls

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Bring Back Our Girls

I’m struggling with allowing my 11 year old daughter to travel alone in New York City.

That would be Ila, my tween girl. My lovely Lilli Bee. My mighty princess. I trust her to travel alone. I do. She’s capable and savvy. At her age I’d already clocked in my share of hours on the downtown Brooklyn bus. I travelled with friends mostly, sometimes alone. But I did it and felt safe enough in my world…maybe blinded by the ignorance of youth…but I felt safe. My mother felt confident sending me out in a world that would protect me in her absence…value my life enough to cry foul if anyone intended harm. It’s the only way any mother sends her child out into the world.

I’m sure the mothers of the 276 girls abducted in Nigeria felt confident too. And if not confident, perhaps settled enough through a covering of prayer. The kind we whisper under our breaths. Its part of the mama mantra – part prayer , part breathing exercise. In, 2,3,4 Jesus out, 2,3,4. Pay attention next time… this prayer keeps your mama heart alive. It’s part of your DNA…birthed at conception. From womb to world, mamas pray for the safety of their children. The universal cry, of every mother, goes a little something like this… “Lord please keep my child safe”.

I believe the mothers of the abducted girls prayed. Attending school, aspiring an education was risky business in this part of the world. Hard to imagine right? But it makes me think of children crossing segregation lines in the south.  The not too long ago history of this country, when people of color had to risk their lives for the opportunity to attend school. Would you send your child to school under those circumstances? Change doesn’t happen without risk, without sometimes putting your life on the line.  Change doesn’t happen without bloodshed…ask Jesus.

Last week I attended the annual gala for my daughters’ skating team. It’s a dress your best, rock your red carpet finest kind of event in celebration of the girls accomplishments. This year we graduated 5 seniors. 5 young women of excellence. Each accepted to institutions of higher learning…ready to make their mark on the world. We heard speeches from girls as young as 6 years old…each taking the opportunity to be platformed in stride. These girls are vocal and vibrant. Each told her story, shared her years of experience with such poise. Surrounded by family and friends in a love-filled room. Wrapped tight, secure in a blanket of familial grace. The night, the room was thick with potential. You could feel it in the air. Thick and heavy like honey.

In a room like that I couldn’t help but think of the 276 girls who were abducted from their school in Nigeria on April 14, 2014. I couldn’t help thinking about their mothers. The families they represent. The catastrophic holes left in their communities by their absence. In that room I felt their absence.

But I felt their presence too. The girls walked the stage alongside my daughter and her friends. I felt them. In the pretty in pink smiles and laughter.  In the hot combed, braided and natural hair styles the girls wore, in every shade of black beauty represented. I felt them in the glory that is a young woman on the verge….of greatness…of a shopping trip, a load of laundry , a plane ride to Paris, a physics exam,  a rendezvous-vous with a lover, a young woman on the verge of whatever the next thing is based on her choice…her liberty…her freedom.

I felt them.

I felt the pride and pain of their mothers. I felt the glorious optimism of bright futures filled with families and careers. I felt the sacrifice of each mother as she prayed and prepared for her daughters departure from the nest. I felt their mothers tears.

Because every girl has to leave home. Someday.

We expect to send our children to school or practice under the authority of trusted teachers and leaders. We expect them to come home. We imagine we live in a world where each life is equally valued. And if something like this happened at my daughters school the alarm would have sounded. There would be no sleep in this nation if an abduction like this had taken place in a school of 276 American girls. International alerts would have hit every news channel. This story would be news worthy. Had it happened anywhere else in the world… it would have.

But the tired narrative told of needy Africa…and needy Africans helps to perpetuate the problem. Could it be that world wide, people have had enough of Africa’s needs. The kidnapping of these girls just another problem in this troublesome place? This pit of hell hole known as the cradle of civilization? I have to admit, I wonder.

And who wants to “go there” but sometimes you have to. It seems something about the color of these girls’ skin makes this story unrelatable to the typical American family, therefore not newsworthy.  That disgusts me. We’re already picking sides in this drama by only listing the names of the girls who are Christians.

Yes George Orwell…some people still seem to be more equal than others.

And by saying nothing we sanction it. We tell the world it’s ok. In our silence we give our blessing for this to happen again.

“Attacking and abducting young women simply for going to school is despicable and must never be tolerated,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, said in a statement. “The international community must make clear that all children deserve the chance to pursue an education without fear and that those responsible for these heinous crimes will be held accountable.”

I recognize this story has so many variables..so many paths one could wander down but this is the path I see from a Christian perspective and as a woman living in this world with brown skin. So I won’t give in. I won’t shut up. I won’t censor the truths about injustice and racism when things like this continue to happen. And you shouldn’t either. We’re commanded to tell the truth in love. But tell it we must. This is an attack on humanity. On every girl. On education. On opportunity. On freedom.

olushola aromokun – Lagos Sky

53 girls have escaped.
All hope is not lost….

my prayer…

Take me to the King
I don’t have much to bring
My heart is torn in pieces
It’s my offering
Take me to the King

Truth is I’m tired
Options are few
I’m trying to pray
But where are you?
I’m all churched out
Hurt and abused
I can’t fake
What’s left to do?

Truth is I’m weak
No strength to fly
No tears to cry
Even if I tried
But still my soul
Refuses to die
One touch will change my life

Take me to the King
I don’t have much to bring
My heart’s torn in pieces
It’s my offering

Lay me at the throne
Leave me there alone
To gaze upon Your glory
And sing to You this song
Please take me to the King – Tamela Mann

Bring back our girls.
Bring back our girls.
Bring back our girls.

photo : L.Epperson

…#bringbackourgirls

All hope is not lost….grant peace, set the captives free, show the way, undeserved grace and so much favor.  NO FEAR.  Amen.

And until they come home stay engaged. Click here for a link to a petition to sign and a “how-to” on drafting a letter to your elected official.

This post is an offering to the community at #TellHisStory…

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Lisha Epperson