Why America IS Going to Hell
We May Already Be There
Note: The following opinion is my own and does not represent any institution: nonprofit or profit, government, or academic institution
One of Martin Luther King Jr’s final sermons was entitled, “Why America May Go To Hell.” Using the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Or Dives comes from the Latin word for rich) King argues that the rich man is sent to hell not because he is rich, but because he refuses to “see the poor.” King explains,
Dives went to Hell because he passed by Lazarus every day, but he never really saw him. Dives went to Hell because he allowed Lazarus to become invisible. Dives went to Hell because he allowed the means by which he lived to outdistance the ends for which he lived.1
King argues that America faces a similar fate if the United States refuses to use it’s wealth to benefit the poor. King, also continues to condemn racism.2 King also uses the sermon to encourage the strikers in Memphis to continue their resistance. This is an important and often overlooked sermon. Probably because, rather than the cheery and loving quotes from King that many people like to cherry pick and weaponize against people of color, this sermon straight out calls white supremacy and greed for what it is: demonic.
And I come by here to say that America, too, is going to hell if she doesn’t use her wealth. If America does not use her vast resources of wealth to end poverty and make it possible for all of God’s children to have the basic necessities of life, she, too, will go to hell.
Over 50 years later, America’s trajectory towards hell continues unabated. In fact, we may already be in hell. Now let me say a quick word, because the phrase, ‘America is going to hell” has been used by certain religious figures to condemn trans people, queer people, interracial relationships, and women’s autonomy. Some pastors argue that catastrophic natural disasters are evidence of divine punishment. That theological idea is horrific and I unequivocally reject it. Moreover, the notion of hell that is often espoused by these figures is one of literal, eternal damnation , a notion I also reject. I understand why the phrase, “America is going to hell” is off putting.
My understanding of hell3 is one of painful purification. If there is a literal hell, and that’s a major if, it is not be eternal and it’s purpose is redemptive not retributive. But hell doesn’t need to be limited to the after life. Hell can be a description of life today in the here and now. War is hell. Authoritarianism is hell. Hell can be something we humans create here on earth.
You cannot tell me that the world envisioned by the top 1 percent and white Christian Nationalists would not be hell for the majority of people, including the majority of their supporters. See the majority of their supporters, suffer under the delusional belief that somehow authoritarian forces don’t view them with disgust and gleefully wait to exploit and harm them, as soon as their supporters give them what they want: money and power. Many of their supporters don’t necessarily look like Elon Musk or a wealthy politician Many are individuals struggling with rapid changes in a world that views individuals as disposable and that treats the average worker as nothing more than a cog in the system. The average supporter recognizes something is wrong with the current system, however, they fail to see how the “solution” proposed by White Christian Nationalists and the ultra wealthy only accelerates America’s descent into hell.
Additionally, the supporters that are better off: the Elon Musks of the world, the wealthy politicians, don’t recognize that they too are living dangerously close to hell. Here’s the thing about the pursuit of power: it eventually devours all those who seek it. As history has shown in case after case, sometimes the ones who are at the top of a dictatorship and authoritarian regime, soon find themselves on the bottom. One wrong word, one rule broken, and suddenly they are stripped of their position of power, their money, and in some cases their lives.
When I say “America is going to hell” I do not say it with glee, as if I am somehow separate from the country’s fate. Unfortunately a sinking ship takes all of those who are in it down, whether they individually “deserve it or not.” That’s the thing with human imposed damnation, it envelopes everyone in its path. I do not view hell as some literal divine punishment that is imposed on us for some superficial reason such as not accepting theological ideas that to be frank, Jesus probably didn’t endorse because they didn’t exist during his lifetime.
But rather I believe in a hell willfully chosen. Hell is not a punishment but the reality of accepting a system built on exploitation and oppression. If it is a punishment, it is one of natural consequences, like for instance when I decide to place my hand on the flame of candle and I get burned. You may wonder, “Naiomi why would you do that? You know better than to put your hand on an open flame.” Yes, and we as a nation should know better then to support fascism and authoritarian and unfettered economic greed. And yet many, even those who do not benefit from those evil ideologies still support them.
America, as a nation, has decided that wealth matters over people. The very exploitation that Martin Luther condemned decades of go, continues unabated. The militarism that King warned us has only increased. The War on Terror lead to the justification of torture, to the deaths of millions, and it still isn’t over. The declaration of the end of the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq did not signal the end of the War of Terror since it continues through proxy wars, and through the US military aid. Not to mention the many missions and operations that we as a nation know nothing about. And I can only imagine what King would say about the “border crisis” that is leading to undocumented and documented immigrants and refugees being sent to detention centers that really are nothing more than torture chambers.
And of course, the very police brutality King condemned continues. The only difference is that police departments will post a Martin Luther quote on their social media while then going out and terrorizing Black and brown people. One thing I find funny-not in a haha sense but in a “are you serious sense” is that in prior years, the FBI would post Martin Luther King Jr quotes on their social media. The FBI. You know the one that tried to blackmail King into killing himself. The same FBI that made nonviolent activists lives a living hell and that continues, by the way to target nonviolent activists. Legal segregation is a thing of the past (well for now…I wouldn’t be surprised if it is brought back under this administration) but de facto segregation is still going strong. Black and brown kids are still regulated to the worst schools, white flight continues to occur as the increased presence of Black and brown people in a given area is viewed as leading to violence and poverty. (Instead of running away they could advocate for true economic justice).
Additionally, other groups whom King did not discuss are facing the brunt of state violence. The LGBTQ+ community continues to be the target of hateful rhetoric and legislation limiting their rights. Disabled people, who are often forgotten by both advocates and government entities alike, who already struggle to afford the necessary medical care, will see whatever government safety net they have be cruelly taken away under the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
If I tried to list all the groups both nationally and globally on the receiving end of the United States’ violence, direct or indirect, this would turn into a multi-book series. This violence and oppression will only increase as we continue to hurl towards fascism. Because nothing says we honor our veterans and military members than stomping on the constitution, using them to fight and die in unjust wars, and deploying them against their fellow citizens. (sarcasm)
It seems that I can hear the God of the universe saying, “Even though you have done all of that, I was hungry and you fed me not, I was naked and you clothed me not. The children of my sons and daughters were in need of economic security and you didn’t provide it for them. And so you cannot enter the kingdom of greatness.” This may well be the indictment on America. And that same voice says in Memphis to the mayor, to the power structure, “If you do it unto the least of these of my children you do it unto me.”
The notion that heaven and hell are entities for the afterlife, has created a situation where those in power not only exploit the majority of the population, but they claim such exploitation is God-ordained and that relief can only come in the afterlife. They also twist hell to be about saying a quick prayer before one dies just in case. But ask the mother who loses her son to police brutality, what hell looks like. Ask those who who couldn’t receive timely weather warnings because of cuts to the National Weather Service what hell looks like. Tell the unhoused whose very existence is increasingly being criminalized, what hell looks like.
The title of Martin Luther’s sermon: “Why America May be Going to Hell” implies that a decision can be made to avoid it. I am going to be blunt, I think that ship as sailed. We are barreling headfirst into hell. In fact, some of us are already in hell even though we absolutely do not want to be. However, once again I don’t believe hell is an eternal situation whether in the afterlife or in the here and now. Hell can be temporary. Yes getting out of hell will be difficult, especially since those in power, want to stay there (until they are impacted of course then they will suddenly backtrack.) However, we must remember that even in the deepest pits of hell, God is with us. On our own, the idea of stopping violence and oppression is a pipe dream. But I believe that God desires deeply for a better world and desperately wants to work with us to bring that world into fruition. Will it actually happen? Eh. Humans seem to really like oppressing others. But I believe a better world is possible. America is going to hell, but we don’t need to stay there.
Image: black background white “True Typeface” lettering. Text: A better world is possible. America is going to hell, but we don’t need to stay there.
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Block text are quotes from Martin Luther King’s Sermon, “Why America May Go To Hell”
Because, as many of us know, the United States economic system is often tied to white supremacy. Of course this doesn’t mean white people can’t be poor, and Black People, Latinos, Indigenous people etc can’t be rich. Rather it is an acnowledgement that the United State’s wealth was and continues to be built off the blood, sweat, and tears of Black, Latino, Indigenous people.
Which admittedly, is probably different Martin Luther King Jr’s understanding of hell.