Isaiah 58:6
Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of injustice…

“Leopard and its Cub,” Reflection by Chol Majok

The Dinka Tribe has a saying: “a leopard’s cub is a leopard in the making.” Sudan became an independent country from the British in 1956. It was not long before South Sudanese and other marginalized groups within Sudan had another taste of the oppressive rule as the members of the Arab majority rose to power. At this point, the leopard cub was indeed a leopard. Under the Arab’s rule, South Sudanese were treated as second class to Arabs, leading to many decades of war between the South and the northern Islamic government.

South Sudan became a country in 2011; thus, a leopard cub became a leopard again. Those who were fighting and working with the northern Sudanese government are now leading South Sudan. Economic, political, and social injustices continue as the epitomes of the newest country, South Sudan. Fellow Episcopalians, when does the dilemma of a cub becoming a leopard stop? What is our duty as the Episcopal community in cutting the leopard cycle from becoming the animal it is? The unfortunate part of this narrative is that we Americans are not immune to the Dinkas’ leopard.

Although the love of Christ through his blood has redeemed us from all sins, inequities are still prevalent and intrusive. In other words, the leopard continues producing cubs day and night around the world, especially amid Christians. The bad news is this Dinka leopard is everywhere. The good news is that as followers of Jesus Christ, we have the armor (blood) and spear (love) to protect and fight the leopard.

Questions for reflection:

  • How do we end the leopard cycle for South Sudanese people and all their comrades who have become immigrants and refugees?
  • What can we do in this new Era as Episcopalians to support those seeking justice here in America and elsewhere?

May the Lord and his infinite mercy help you fight the leopard all around. I pray to God for justice, peace, and unity to prevail where injustices bury them. Amen.

***
Chol Majok is a proud Episcopalian and a former refugee from South Sudan. Chol is a Councilor (Legislator) in the city of Syracuse, New York. He is also involved in Workforce Development, where he directs a program serving the inner-city population looking for work. Chol is married to his lovely wife for ten years, and they have five beautiful Episcopalians.


Learn more about today’s author

In November 2019, Chol became the first former refugee to be elected to office in Syracuse, New York. In an article about his election, Chol said,

“For me, for many of us here in Syracuse … we refugees have lived in foreign lands almost all our lives. We really never had a stable place we could call home. It’s so important to all of them, to see one of our own people accomplish this,” Majok said. “This is more than just me. The symbolism is very important.”