To help end hunger connect with Bread for the World: http://www.bread.org

On the third day of my Pastor’s Protest Fast I found myself staring at dozens of flattened out, deflated black football hides stitched together to make a haunting quilt that hangs on the white wall of the museum. Standing in the art gallery at Newfields in Indianapolis, I listened to the brilliant Kelli Morgan, Associate Curator of American Art (she’s the first Black woman in the country to fill this role) describe how Indiana has its own unique history of white supremacy and racism given the historic role of the KKK in Indiana and the lynchings.

The exhibit features the work of Samuel Levi Jones “Left of Center.” His art addresses how injustice pervades systems of education, criminal justice, healthcare, and the American historical narrative, the stories we tell our children about American history.

As I think about hunger and food insecurity in America through this historic lens, I wonder about how segregated neighborhoods and food deserts are part of this historic narrative of racism and oppression.

Kelli said that our highway 65 in Indianapolis runs strategically through the poorest neighborhoods, often disrupting Black communities. It makes me wonder: How might White supremacy create food insecurity? How might classism create food insecurity and what about the double whammy of both in America?

If we are serious about ending hunger and food insecurity in America, then our strategies must include dismantling White supremacy and classism.

To learn more connect with the 1619 Project curriculum http://pulitzercenter.org/lesson-plan-grouping/1619-project-curriculum and Bread for the World:  https://bread.org/

My child asked me at dinner, “Mom, why aren’t you eating?” I sat in my usual spot at our round family dinner table while my family ate their dinner. My plate remained empty while theirs was filled with some favorite comfort foods: macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers and tater tots. Our evening meal time is important to us for connection, check-ins and chuckles about our day.

Tonight’s question was a big one with a simple answer: I’m not eating because children are not eating. And that is not okay. I am protesting policies that neglect our hungry children. Because they are OUR children.

After this explanation our child sat quietly, thinking. He said, “I just hope it doesn’t make you crabby.” We chuckled and then I said, “I’m not feeling crabby. I am feeling grateful. I am grateful that you don’t have to go hungry. But it is wrong that other children do.”

For dessert tonight my family enjoyed brownies. They smelled delicious and my son playfully placed one right under my nose, saying, “smell!” I did. It smelled divine.

Day two of my protest fast highlights for me my own privilege. Today I can afford to walk into any grocery store or restaurant and buy anything I want. Today, I can eat when I want, what I want, where I want and as much as I want. This wasn’t always the case.

Not only did I experience poverty as a child, including food insecurity, I also experienced it briefly as a new, young pastor. Not having enough money to buy your hungry baby food is the WORST feeling in the world. It happened to me when the church’s paycheck came a few days late. There was no money in the bank to pay for groceries. I felt humiliated, ashamed, embarrassed, and angry. I had a job, I just didn’t get paid.

Hunger is an injustice. It’s dehumanizing to make people beg for food. Why can’t we feed America’s children? In America, no one should have to tell their hungry child that there is nothing to eat.

My Pastor’s Protest Fast will end on Thursday, August 22 in the afternoon at the Fair Shot for All Children event at First United Methodists in Noblesville, Indiana. I’ll join with others to break the fast and to advocate, joining our collective power to ask our elected officials to make ending child hunger a priority in Indiana.

Join me if you can, or get involved where you live to end hunger. Pray and take action so that all children, OUR children will grow up strong, healthy, and loved.

To learn more connect with Bread for the World: https://bread.org/