A letter from Debra Clements-Simmons on the Black Lives Matter sign (April 2018)

Dear UCE Family,

I am writing in regards to the Black Lives Matter sign that we will be voting on in May.  Let me begin by just saying how much this sign has meant to my wife and I.  Since its installation, it has been a constant reminder to me of why I chose to become a member of this community.  There are a myriad of reasons why the sign is so important but l will mention just a couple.

First, it makes me proud because it tells all who pass by that UCE understands.  It lets passersby know that this church gets that there are still very real issues in this country (world?) for people of color regarding the justice system, stereotypes, equal pay,  law  enforcement relations, civil rights, employment (and on and  on).  This understanding is a big deal.  I feel as if I spend a lot of time trying to explain to people simply how these issues still present themselves to us in our day to day lives.  My wife and I have more than once been mistaken for maids when lodging at a very nice hotel.  Not sure what maids wear flip flops and a swimsuit cover up but I have stopped trying to figure it out.  I just assume that my brown face seems out of place in a five star hotel – unless of course I am the maid.  However, I do not have to explain these issues or problems to my church community.  UCE understands -so much so that they put up a sign announcing it to the world.  The sign does not just say Black Lives Matter; it says so much more.

My wife and I once joined the gathering to stand by the sign on a Sunday after church.  An African American couple initially drove by with the wife enthusiastically hanging out of the window and her husband honking in support.  The next thing we knew – they had parked and come to join us.  They said they could not just drive by and that they wanted to stand with us.  They seemed amazed that this group of (truth be told) mostly Caucasian People thought that Black Lives Matter.  They even asked “What church is this”?  It was just wonderful and I will never forget it.  This is the message that the Black Lives Matter sign is sending, even when no one is gathered near it after church on Sunday.

The sign also makes me proud because it took courage to put it up in the first place.  When so many cannot even begin to understand the slogan and get stuck asking “Doesn’t my life matter too?”.  It is refreshing to me to know that I belong to a community that knew that when the sign went up some in the community may not only be unhappy but could very well vandalize the sign or church for that matter.  Only pure love and courage could put the sign up anyway.

Thirdly, the sign is so important because like any sign it announces loud and clear what is happening inside of the building that it is in front of.  Any good sign has one job and that is to inform in a short and concise manner what’s inside (a school, hamburgers for sale, open or closed for business, a church, etc.).  Our Black Lives Matter Sign shouts that significant work is taking place inside of our church’s four walls.  Why else would one put up a sign like that – unless it was to announce to the world that this is what we are about?  In its simplicity, the sign tells the world about the wonderful and essential work that UCE has been doing and I am certain will continue to do.  I personally NEVER get tired of telling people that MY CHURCH had Dr. King speak at it.  People literally run from me when I start bragging.  Never mind that I was not even born when he visited UCE.

Thank you for allowing me to tell you my feelings about the Black Lives Matter Sign.  To me, it is a thing of great pride and beauty.  I smile a big, fat, stupid grin every single time I drive by it.  It was relevant when we put it up almost three years ago and it is still relevant.  It is my sincere hope that the members of UCE will vote that it remain.

My best,

Debra Clements-Simmons