Racism, then and now

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the US. One of the things that makes me proud to work at the Century is the magazine’s relationship with King. He wrote a piece in 1960, for the magazine’s long-running How My Mind Has Changed series, about his theological journey to nonviolence. Three years later, CC was the first national outlet to publish King’s brilliant and powerful “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Of course we have not yet realized King’s dream. Racism persists in our politics, as Peter Marty notes in his new essay on the rhetoric of dog whistles. It also persists in our views and uses of nature: columnist Melissa Florer-Bixler praises Harlem Renaissance writers’ perspectives over against those of many White nature writers.

Plus more great new content below, including a unique new video chat. Bible scholar Lisa Wolfe talks with actor and director Rodney Brazil about his one-man show based on Ecclesiastes (which she wrote about last year for the magazine).

Email me: How have you engaged with the work of Dr. King?

Jon Mathieu
[email protected]

False prophets and their dog whistles

“With what appears to be deep personal satisfaction, Donald Trump regularly sprinkles dehumanizing and hate-filled lines into his speeches, only to pivot quickly away from accepting responsibility for any harm they encourage.”

Nature is not an escape

“The nature writing of the Harlem Renaissance holds together the dualities of environmental terror and homecoming.”

Jon sits in as Lisa Wolfe chats with actor and director Rodney Brazil about his one-man show based on Ecclesiastes.

In the Lectionary for January 21 (Epiphany 3B)

The gospels don’t depict John as much of an organization builder.

Caught up in the sweep of history

“I think the lesson that Óscar Romero holds for all of us is this: to live out the promise of your life as it’s been given, to participate fully in this time, to turn that life toward justice or peace or the lessening of suffering.”

by Alejandra Oliva

My double vision

“Focusing on the spiritual becomes problematic if we ignore the material. Living in perpetual divine heights ignores the other eye.”

by Rachel Hoskins