Justified by Her Children: Deeds of Courage Confronting a Tradition of Racism

In May of 1958, Virginia newspapers were reporting that the Christ Church, Martinsville, Virginia congregational leadership had declared that their bishop’s plan to integrate the summer youth camp “is both illegal and ill-advised” and that they would oppose any “intermingling of the races.” Amid this controversy, a quiet revolution stirred among that congregation’s young people, uplifted by their youthful, energetic priest, The Reverend Philip Gresham. When these brave young people stood with their bishop in favor of an integrated youth camp their opinion was derided as youthful naïveté. It was suggested that they focus on their studies and leave such problems to the adults. Rather than discouraging them, their church leadership’s humiliating dismissal inspired them to devise a more tangible expression of their position. They would acquire and present a gift, a “peace offering”, as a token of their solidarity with their bishop.

Racism will not be finally eradicated by one large divisive victory. The wall of racism will be undone brick by brick by the brave deeds of little known men, women, and young people doing the right thing. Justified by Her Children: Small Deeds of Courage Confronting a Tradition of Racism reminds us that evil often masquerades as the accepted way of doing things – and that confronting evil is often seen as opposing the good order of society. Justified by Her Children is written in the hope that readers will gain a better understanding of “how it was,” and from that understanding, know better how to deal with “how it is” today.

In easy to read, clear and concise terms, Justified navigates the tradition of racism from the Virginia colonial enslavers to the Massive Resistance of Virginia segregationist of the 1950s. Justified by Her Children is ultimately a story of grace and forgiveness, but not before it wends its way through the trial and execution of the African American “Martinsville Seven,” past the whispers about the sexual orientation of the young, single priest, and a congregation in conflict over letting its white children eat a box supper with black children at a church mission event to benefit hungry brown children. Unless and until you understand “how it was” when racism was legally and culturally accepted then you will not understand how it is that white privilege still exists or why Black Lives Matter.