This morning I’m thinking about and praying for all our children of every race and nationality who are growing up during this turbulent time in our country and world and who are taking a stand for justice.

I am especially thinking about and praying for our children of color, and particularly our Black children who are so often targets, so often devalued, and our Black males even more so because of anti-Black racism which up to now has been relentless.

This morning I’m thinking about why that is so and whether it will ever end. When these recent murders of young Black men occurred, I felt the heavy weight of doubt that life for Blacks in this country and world will ever change, whether there will ever be full freedom, ever be a full sense of safety in all places and at all times, whether there will ever be the certainty of full acceptance, full inclusion.

As a Christian minister, I also felt the heavy weight of disappointment in organized religion for its lacking as a model of fighting for justice, for its lacking as a space where change is the norm.

This morning, I’m remembering the murders of many Hebrew baby boys in Christian scripture ordered by non-Hebrew men in power fearing the potential of those colored baby boys, the Hebrew males, destined for greatness. I’m thinking of the assaults by religious leaders—who did not want change—on Jesus, a man of color, who modeled the necessity of sacrifice and change.

But today I observe what others have also noted, namely that today’s protests are full of youth and the youth are people of all colors and the youth are protesting all over the world.

Our children have renewed my hope. I am praying for their united quest. Justice will prevail.