A path toward racial justice and equity cannot avoid a confrontation of economic injustice.
I first heard of Damon Lynch as the pastor who corrected John McKnight’s characterization of our communities as being not just “half-empty” as but also “half-full.” Lynch argued that he and his church community had come to learn that, when grounded in awareness of each others’ gifts and the richness of relationship, we not only “half full” — but rather, “Our cups runneth over.”
Lynch is a visionary faith leader, activist and community innovator deeply rooted in his community’s life. He has persistently joined people and joined with people to gain concrete strides toward social justice and collective thriving in his hometown of Cincinnati.
It is from these decades of committed effort and learning that that “Becoming Joshua” has emerged. A publication designed to be easily circulated, it was published with the goal of further stoking the existing movement toward changing systemic inequity.
In the opening chapter, Lynch explains: “Because of the work of a twentieth century crop of courageous individuals such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael), that work is now complete. Joshua is the one we need now. Joshua became the leader of the Israelites following the death of Moses. He is the one who led his people into the Promised Land, following God’s command to take the land as their own. Joshua is the man who challenges us to possess the land, to possess the promises. We African Americans need to step into the Joshua narrative where there are opportunities to build wealth, to build sustainability for our Black community and to rebuild our Black families.”
Becoming Joshua invites all readers to enter into profound reflection and relationship with ownership, possibility, and the healing and courage needed to pursue both.
The entire book can be viewed here.
Going Further
- Truth and Redistribution (Hamilton & Zewde)
- When Renters Can Own Equity (Nonko)
- Ownership in a World That Works for All (Korten, McKnight, Block)
