Progress through Understanding Peter G. Martin
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the killing of george floyd on May 25, 2020, will be regarded for years to come as a seminal moment in American history that sparked a long-awaited reckoning on racial justice in the 21st century United States. As much as that moment and the recent killings of other unarmed African Americans have come to define the times in which we are living, racial injustice has been a part of the American landscape for hundreds of years. As U.S. society has made uneven progress toward racial equality, so too has our very human Catholic Church seen its share of prophetic visionaries as well as those who have undermined efforts to recognize the human dignity of all people. With this issue of C21 Resources, we explore the relationship of Catholicism in America with questions of race. As Catholics, we have a rich history of social teaching to draw from as we contemplate these issues. Through the selections you find in this magazine, we hope to prompt introspection, spark conversation, and inspire social action. The frank views of some of the authors we have selected can be painful to hear and per2
c21 resources | spring/summer 2021
haps difficult for some readers to reconcile with their own life experiences. However, we feel strongly that the first steps toward progress are listening, dialogue, and greater understanding. This is not the first time that Boston College or the Church in the 21st Century Center has broached these subjects. The U.S. Catholic Church also has made various efforts to address racism in society and the Church. But we would like this magazine to contribute to a new and sustained discussion about the ways in which Catholics and fellow citizens can be agents of healing and hope. We have organized this issue along the following lines:
PERSPECTIVES This section offers some historical context for an examination of the Church and race. How did we get here as a Church and society? We hope that the contemporary and historical pieces we have selected will lead readers to investigate more deeply on their own the topics that are raised.
