LACK OF RELIGIOUS WITNESS ON THE DCF PLANTATION ALLOWS INJUSTICE TO CONTINUE

The religion called Christianity is full of historical figures proclaiming belief in tenets of a supreme deity. There are stories in the Old Testament and New Testament describing how believers in God stood for their beliefs even if it meant they would die or suffer. However, on the DCF Plantation there are employees professing to believe in God, but allow injustice toward their peers, by management rooted in the beliefs of white supremacy.

A case in point are events that unfolded at Connecticut Juvenile Training School with employees of color trying to address issues of racism. Five employees ( 2 women & 3 men ] called the DCF Plantation 5, launched a class action lawsuit in 2010 against CJTS and Department of Children & Families management. When the brave employees tried soliciting help from peers no one wanted to be part of the lawsuit. What is even more revealing is the fact that Christians at CJTS remained silent –at least about the overt & covert racial animus toward people of color. Christians were vocal in the hallways of CJTS during school time, talking about a “risen savior named Jesus.” There were quotations from the New Testament Bible flowing freely from the lips of so called Christians at various times / days. No one however claiming Jesus as Lord or Savior bothered to comment about disproportionate numbers of disciplinary measures aimed at employees of color. Yet on Sunday throughout Greater Hartford these same Christians would go to church and sing “what a mighty God we serve.” At these safe environments within church walls CJTS Christians would stand and “testify” about the glory of God, the virgin birth of Jesus, and how many people repented of sins due to street witnessing.

After all the shouting, dancing, falling on the floor during church service-nobody called attention to grave injustices going on daily at CJTS /DCF Plantation. The silence of Christians while others fought for justice is indeed puzzling. If you follow the teaching of Jesus it stands to reason you will witness when it is safe or when it is unsafe. But closer examination of Christians on the DCF Plantation highlight how far removed these lukewarm believers are from those glorious teachings of a man named Jesus- who actually tried to do something about correcting inequality, greedy tax collectors, bias toward women, and people in positions of power [ Romans ] that abused it.

In conclusion it must be noted that years later there are still struggles over racial animus on the DCF Plantation and Christians are still silent.




First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me

---------Martin Niemoller