Talkin' About Race and Diversity
As a follow-up to Soong-Chan Rah's talk at collegelife talk on October 29, we'd like to know more of your thoughts on issues of race and diversity.
posted by UMin at 7:24 PM
... continuing the conversation
posted by UMin at 7:24 PM
118 Comments:
hey everyone-
thisis brian from UMIN. just wanted to say thanks for visiting the UMIN blog. i hope you leave a message and help us continue the discussion that we started at collegelife. we hope this is a vehicle for authenticity, honesty, and grace as we strive to become a racially reconciled community at npu, and for the kingdom of god. so...?
brian
has anyone read those books that the speaker mentioned?
the only one i've read is divided by faith. it was really good, and i've refered a few people to it. i remember it being a bit dense, so be prepared. but it's great stuff.
did anyone catch the author of the author for "liberated by the spirit?"
i felt kind of weird at tonights service. i thought it was good, but i felt uncomfortable. race is such a sensitive issue. i wanted to say something during the open mic thing, but felt like i would be bragging or something. did anyone else feel like that?
one of the things no one mentioned tonight was racism towards middle easterners. i don't know about you, but i definitely more racism, at least in my own mind, towads ppl from the middle east. sometimes i feel like the goverment makes it way worse with how we're handling all this alquada stuff too. i'm the first to admit i at least think twice when i'm on a plane with someone who is middle eastern. -ac
that made me think of something. a few weeks ago, i was at a wedding in columbus, oh. i didn't know many people, so i met this guy who was a cop. pretty nice guy. soon, i realized that the only people of color there were me and an one indian guy (at least he looked like he was of indian decent). seemed like a nice guy, just dancing with his friend. and then the cop comes up to me, points to the indian guy, and says,"who invited alqueda?" i was pretty stunned. i'm sure jokes like that are okay in rural ohio, but can you imagine making a joke like that in albany park? wow...
i heard of this middle eastern guy in albany park, who wasn't a us citizen (i think he has a green card), and he's married to a US citizen and has a kid. he's been arrested and faces deportation b/c his name matches someone on the US's terror list. not sure of all the details, but is he's innocent, that really sucks. it's just wrong.
did you know that barack obama is the only african american in the us senate? you'd think we'd be further along that that by now. how is that for systemic injustice.
These are all real and valid issues, but I was struck last night that the deep sin of the church today is NOT racism, it is division, over anything. WE WILL NOT move past the issue of race untill be become "Christian" period. We are not 'white christians' or 'black christians' we are christians. Likewise we are not 'rich christians' and 'poor christians', 'young christians' or 'old christians', 'traditonal christians' or 'contemparay christians'. Untill the church WAKES UP to this fact we will NEVER reconcile. Being a christian is not about being black or being white, not about latino or arab, not about it is about being Christ. And, untill we look at the creation standing next to us and say 'brother' or 'sister' instead of 'black' or 'white' we are missing the Body life. Is race an issue? yes. But is it the biggest issue? no. It is a symptom of the much larger disease of division that has swept the Body.
I was also disturbed by the use of the term guilty to describe 'white christians' responseability to minorities. I am truly fed up with thsi attitude because it perpetuates the notion that christianity is about being 'good enough' Body life is about so much more then this. If we are merely to repay that which we are guilty for, we are doing nothing Christian. If I steal 2 dollers from you, I am guilty, and I owe you two dollers. If I give you back 2 dollers there is nothing christian about that, there is nothing sacrificial. Christians are called to life sacrificaly. If 'white christians' are truly guilty today as a whole, then there is very little of Christ in our resposne to racial reconciliation. However, when I look at a Brother and say, how can I be Christ to you? That is a VERY different question. I am no longer asking, how do I repay my debt to you, I am now begining, if I ask that question honnestly, to live as Christ lived, sacrificialy. Oh Lord Jesus that we might stop looking at guilt and justice and start looking at Love.
When you approach the issue of racial reconciliation, are you approaching it out of a desire for justice? are you attempting to right the wrongs of ages past? Are you doing it because you feel guilty? those are all well and good for a worldly life. But you are called higher. If your desire for racial reconciliation stems from ANYTHING other then a LOVE for the body of Christ and a desire to see that Body united, you are not living Christ. Let us stop for a moment and remember the reason for reconciliation is not, as a friend put it "because our ancestors screwed theirs over and to smooth our own guilt" but rather "because they are an individual, a person, a Son or Daughter of Christ" and because we are all members of one body. May the spirit of the Lord move upon this campus in a way that causes us to seek TRUE unity among ourselves as we follow Christ Jesus.
i'm curious as to what you think the difference is between love and justice. you seem to think that "love is "christian" and justice is "wordly," or maybe i'm getting you wrong.
have you ever read isaiah 58? i'm intersted in your thoughts on it.
fascinating conversation here - i hope it continues.
in response to the post from anonymous two posts up i would suggest the book 'divided by faith' that was recommended last night. there is a tendency among white christians (especially evangelicals) to individualize the race issue and to call one another to something 'higher' than just black and white. unfortunately, that is part of the trappings of white privilege.
when we ask people of color to 'just be christian' what we are saying is in essence 'be like us', because let's face it, race isn't an issue for white people in this country, and so as long as other people make such a big deal out of it then we're never going to get anywhere. right?
it is this kind of well-intentioned christian's preoccupation with individualism that can so easily blind the rest of us to the pervasive injustice that is racial inequality.
part of what we need to do is not learn more about these issues of race and justice, but to unlearn what so many of us have grown up thinking/believing as normative - as was so well articulated by evan kolding's remarks last night.
may we each have the grace and patience to take a turn walking in one another's shoes on this one.
Paul,
I respectfully disagree. When we say "Just be christian" or "Just live Christ" we ARE NOT saying "be like us" we are saying be like Christ. This is a call to EVERYONE. It is not to say that american white thought is white. But fellowship comes before reconciliation. Not the other way around. First we must set aside our differences and become united as the body of Christ. This works on a level much deeper than the race issue. What I am saying is that we need to look at the Body life as our highest call. Do I care about racial reconciliation? Yes. Why do I care about racial reconciliation? Because it is divideing the Body.
hey anonymous (though i wish i knew your name, since there are afew other anonymouses. what should we call you?)-
anyways, what ethnicity are you? i think it's important to factor that in. if i've learned anything, it's that we're all a product of our upbringings and are influenced by our cultures and ethnicities more than we know. i'd be interested if you polled a racially mixed group about your opinion to see what they'd think. b/c i'm not caucasian, and a follower of christ and part of the "body" and i think you have a few things to learn.
good point(s). i think what's difficult is that to simply issue a call to 'be like christ' is more subjective than objective. it's influenced by race, ethnicity, gender, economics, nationality, geography... so when the call is to be like one person, or one thing, you have to ask the question, who's interpretation of that one thing are you calling us to? being like christ is not the same at north park as it is in east asia, or south america, or northern europe. so then what does a call to christ really mean if it doesn't mean to be like my interpretation of being christ-like.
great thoughts. keep them all coming.
i've been having discussions all day with students, faculty and staff about collegelife last night.
a question for caucasians on our campus... do you ever feel stuck in the "guilty" state? i wish we had spent more time unpacking that last night. what is that like, and how do you move past that? is there a "right" time to move past that?
brian
I've always thought the Body of Christ was to be the example for the world. It appears to be the other way around. I do agree that racial reconciliation is important, but I also agree that we do have bigger fish to fry. For example, we have speakers saying God is not democratic or republican, yet they do believe that He is Covenant. God is not the God of the Covenant Church or the Episcopalians, Lutherans, Anglicans, Pentecostals or Apostolic. He said I am that I am. We are divided based on our religious background and we are divided based on race. How do we reconcile that in the church? Did God ever intend for "The Body" to be this divided? How can a "Body" this divided reconcile about anything, let alone race? We really aren't the body because we aren't connected. It's kind of like the question the chicken or the egg? Which came first? Where do we begin? And how do we become the example for the world?
by "covenant" are you saying that we have speakers that say that god is a part of the covenant church? uh... i'm not sure i agree. and i think that god is the god of the covenant, just as he is the god of catholics, christians, and others. he's the god of blacks, whites, yellows, reds, browns, all of us. if you're saying that god wants us to drop all of those distinctions, then i think you need to reread your bible (rev. 7.9).
i think you're right that the church is divided. and i think the point that soong chan was making is that we're probably most divided on racial lines. and until we make the effort to dialogue and be in community with one another, we're never going to get there. in reality, most of us do not have people in our closest of friends that are different than us. maybe we do on a superficial level, but most of us don't have anything deeper than that. that's why it was so cool to hear from those girls last night. they're actually living together. lets be honest, how many of us are actually willing to live with a person of another race? maybe we'd say we would, but obviously most of us on campus aren't. sawyer court isn't even diverse, and it's supposed to be. who are your closest friends?
does anyone know when that sankofa meeting is? paul, i like your quote about walking in each others shoes. how esle do you think we can do that besides sankofa?
Sometimes people just aren't given the chance to be exposed to racial diversity...and that's okay. So many people at North Park grew up in a community that was not racially diverse. Therefore they don't necessarily understand how to go about dealing with racial diversity. But God intended for them to grow up in that context. And you know what? They chose to be here, probably knowing about the focus on racial diversity. That's definitely a start. A lot of people who go here ARE seeking some sort of racial reconciliation just for choosing a place like this to get an education at.
As for the speaker's comment about how many white people have had a minority in an authority position over them, I think it's unfair to generalize like that. Just look at the professors that teach at this university. So many are not even from America let alone the racial diversity. Three of my five teachers this semester are not caucasian, two of those being from another country. This is the wrong crowd to be talking to about that. Again, students here chose to be here knowing about the racial diversity, a lot of them coming from societies with little racial diversity. People are seeking out racial reconciliation.
It's not about pointing a finger and saying you must do this and you must do that to be a racially aware person...and you probably haven't. I feel like the message was a little too focused on this. I didn't receive any clear direction on how to 'reconcile' this issue. I just felt more frustrated about the generalizations and separations.
i'm still hammering out the details for the sankofa meeting, but i'm hoping for thursday night at 7:00. if it's not this thursday night then it'll be next tuesday night at 7. check the umin website for more info.
i think soong-chan laid out a couple clear suggestions on how to move towards reconciling, from finding a mentor of another ethnicity, to suggesting some great books, to volunteering in after hours, or checking out more info about sankofa.
i think a lot of division comes from fear - a fear of the unknown. all the steps mentioned above are designed to help to make the unknown a little more familiar and break down some of that fear. i think that's a pretty good place to start.
thanks for sharing everyone-
austin, i am sorry that you are so tired, and i have heard from many other students of color that they are emotionally exhausted too. it makes me think back to what soong-chan said about caucasians being able to "end the discussion" when they're tired, when students of color can't end it b/c it is such a central part to their lives. that shows me how important it is that we're making sure that our thoughts and opinions are being formed and shaped by people with different experiences, and aren't people who are just like us.
anonymous- i think it's great that you are in classes with some profs from other countries. i was speaking with a few caucasian students yesterday who were saying that in their majors, all of their profs are caucasian, and all of their classmates are caucasian. it's definitely interesting to see how fields of study can even be vehicles for division on some level or another. anyways, i brough that up to say, that i think it'd be great to check out what your foreign profs think about the idea of racial reconciliation in the church and on our campus. not being from the US, i bet they'd have some really interesting thoughts. would you be up for asking them? we'd love to hear what they say.
i think our fellowship is pretty shallow most of the time, but it feels especially shallow on racial lines. we might talk a lot about racial stuff, and on the outside we say we care about it. but i think austin is right about us not really doing anything about it. why is it that all the white kids generally do life together, and all the black kids generally life together? i know those are generalizations, and that these issues are more than black and white. but i think they are pretty true
soong-chan, have you heard of "how the garcia girls lost their accents?" it's a book about the latino experience in america. also, esmeralda santiago is an author that is really popular among profs at npu. i haven't read either book, but i've heard they are very good.
i was talking to some students yesterday who describe north park as a mile wide, but an inch deep when it comes to issues of diversity. we talk about it, we say it's good and that we want it, but when it comes to really allowing our lives to be racially reconciled, we don't do much, so i think a lot of our students (especially students of color) resonate with that last comment.
I resonate with some of what was said. I also felt like 2 minutes after the message was not enough time to process and be ready to discuss.
I can't stand when people tell me to "just focus on the fact that we're all Christian." If it were that easy, the problem wouldv'e been fixed decades ago. Just because I'm a Christian and someone else is, doesn't give them authority to overlook anything else that comes along with me, my history, my family heritage, etc. God made people different - ON PURPOSE!!! Jesus didn't tell the Jews and Gentiles to stop calling themselves what they were and just say "Christian". Too many people use that as a cop-out without even knowing what it means. Recognizing, or even celebrating difference isn't a sin, because if Christ wanted us to be the same, we would be. The problem arises when people judge others and make stupid presumptions based on these differences. It starts with the attitude. If you are yourself among all people, at all times, and don't place your worth above others. That's a good start.
It's hard to reconcile when the issue that caused divsion and problems in the first place--racial difference--continues to be focused on. Of course it would be ridiculous to put aside completely the fact that one is white or one is black and so on. But why do we focus on that so much? Doesn't reconciliation in any situation come when you look past the cause of the problem?
When someone sins against you, you can't truly reconcile with that person until you put aside their sin and your pride and love them for who God made them to be. When someone is a different race than you, you can't truly reconcile with that person until you put aside that difference and forget about what race you are and what race they are and simply love. I'm not comparing sin to race, but I am comparing sin and racial prejudice. Just like sin cannot be reconciled unless you move past the sin, racial issues cannot be reconciled unless you move past the race.
i think you're on to something, but i'd add that you can't move beyond sin unless you fully understand the depth of what it is you're doing, why it's wrong, and who is affected. if i kill someone, while god forgives me, many christians would say my part in reconciling with god is to repent, to recognize the depth of my sin and fully understand how it has hurt people.
in the same way, reconciliation b/w races will come when we fully understand the depth of the sin. and i think many students of color would say that white students are trying to move to the being forgiven stage without really understanding the depth of what it is that is causing the racial division.
anonymous, do you have minorities that are shaping your views, or are they just views you've come up with mostly on your own?
that's really interesting that b obama is the only black senator. i think says a lot about who is in power.
just out of curiosity, what do african americans think of oprah? (not that there is one answer, but i do want to hear from african americans on this one...)
Oprah-
I like Oprah. She can be repetitive like most talk show hosts but I like her. As a black entertainer, I would say most black people are proud of Oprah. She's intelligent, rich, and has incredible influence. One of the greatest black women in history for that reason. She's the ONLY black woman that can change minds, but change lifestyles, and sometimes hearts. Condeleeza Rice however--UNCLE TOM, Puppet; only there to make the conservative, racist white men that run the country feel like they're not so racist for appointing her to her position. This is what a great deal of the black community feel about her...
I agree with Austin 100%. T-I-R-E-D! It's not just black people, but Asian students, hispanic students, middle eastern students...PEOPLE of Color.And whoever said that White Christians/White People are wanting to immediately be forgiven; WONDERFUL observation. It saddens me that the world can openly talk about race and try to change, but christians rarely do. The church is extrememly segregated( Soon Chang talked about it). During the civil rights movement there was little if no help from white churchs; probably because the pastors and deacons were all KKK members. Or because the WHITES in the church were SCARED! This is what is said even today. I'm scared, I feel uncomfortable, God loves and everyone hates white people...GET OVER YOURSELF. If you think God loves you so much ask Him to help you with this; better yet take a leap of faith and step out there. Also, the white students use this: "JESUS FORGIVENESS" as a scapegoat. It's like: WELL JESUS FORGIVES ALL AND WE"RE ALL CHRISTIAN SO THAT should BE ENOUGH TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.....NOOOO! Rubbish!It's true, Jesus loves all. Jesus agknowledges our differences and loves our differences. And we are called to be Christlike, but how many of us really are seeking to be like God? It's difficult because we are all human beings; we all sin daily. I don't know, I just feel that the examples I gave are easier said and rarely done.
History-
The history we are taught in the U.S. of A is one sided and full of half truths. Everyone(for the most part), including people of color except the brief history given to us. Columbus "discovered" America; Columbus was great...if you don't believe this is was we're brainwashed with--how many cities and towns honor this rapist/murderor/racist? Too many to count. But I guarantee 98% of America is not aware that there was an African Presence in America that is pre-columbian. Finally, it was recognized that the Native People's of America were slaughtered/halocausted, however you want to put and they given little retribution for this; Nothing could repay the atrocities brought on by Native peoples. Not long ago that Japanese Americans were put in CCamps. Not long that bathrooms and fountains read: Black only or White only.
It sickens me when young people, especially young chirstian people say: Why don't you guys get over it...or Jesus...love humility we're all equal in His eyes. Which is true, but am I equal in Your eyes. There is an overwhelming amount of institutional racism that is ingrained in American society; and so many are blind to it. Or when told about it is blatantly ignored. If you're American; there is some sort of predjudice instilled in you whether you know it or not. That goes for EVERYONE! Right now, I'm not doing a connection with Jesus really, because that would be easy; we could stop the convo right now(which is what usually happens). I could, but I wanna cause controversy. I want the so-called Christian students of this campus to be REAL. To talk about this and go beyond. I mean, feeling more uncomfortable than you did Sunday night. If you are willingly to feel uncomfortable, thats the first big step; I applaud you. Some people will be ready to be uncomfortable and work with God on this issue; when you are ready we'll(people of color will be waiting for you like we always have). For those of you who don't want to feel uncomfortable anymore and you're done with convo; the saddest thing today is an ignorant young person! Ususally when we are called to do something by God, we are uncomfortable...but we usually get past it; why should this be any different? The first step is having this uncomrtable dialogue...I'm an open person. I'm ready what ever you have to say. I will not hold your predjuices against you; I have heard it all before. Myself(and the people of color on this campus) are willingly to listen to you. Our arms are always open, always...OPEN YOUR MINDS...be uncomfortable; it won't last long.
Sorry it's so long....it's a bunch of thoughts.
SANKOFA INTEREST MEETING
· Thursday night, November 2
· 7:00pm
· Sohlberg B4
· See some pics from past trips, hear stories from past participants, get more info on this year's trip, ask questions
· There will also be an opportunity to follow-up some of the conversation from this blog in person.
To the various anonymous writers out there (some of which I don not agree with), I say, listening is better than talking. Instead of trying to justify your point, listen to the tiredness that Austin and Tremaine are talking about. We are tired. I am so tired. I hate getting out of bed everyday to come to a “Christian” school where there are white students and professors that look through me (all my professors are usually white, I don’t know what classes other people are taking, but white men teach me everyday). I am tired of people that look me in that face and say, “The Civil Rights Movement is over, shut up already.”
You get tired when your mother-in-law calls you a nigger, and your own family talks about hating Mexicans. But this is my life experience and I am so damn tired. To prevent any confusion, I am both black and white (FYI: not an easy life). And my mother-in-law is old school, Cicero-raised Italian. And, next to white Mississippians; people don’t get much more racist than that. My mother is white. And despite the fact that she married a black man, she is racist too. And it makes me cry when she says things like, “I don’t want a Mexican taking my job” (she is a teacher and they are bringing bilingual non-certified teachers into her school and many white certified teachers teachers have lost their jobs- very controversial). When she says that, I think, “Mom, I look Mexican. Most people assume that I am Mexican. So with that attitude, you are oppressing your own damn daughter.” And I am tired.
I do not want to have children because I do not want them to be subjected to the same things that are trying to destroy me everyday. Those are the things I think. I don’t know of any white people who are afraid to have children because of their race. This is my life. Everyday folks- this is life for me everyday.
My brother recently moved to middle-of-no-where Indiana, and he hates it. His fiancé is white, and he (like me) looks like a Mexican guy. A waitress at a restaurant wouldn’t give them their check. So my brother went to the manager and asked for the check. They only gave him the check for his order and drink, and not his fiancé’s meal and drink. His fiancé had to ask the manager to put their food on the same bill, and they looked at her like she was crazy for letting a Mexican man pay for her food. Mind you- THEY SAT IN THE SAME BOOTHE AND ATE AND TALKED (and probably exchanged a loving smooch during their meal) TOGETHER FOR AN HOUR, and they couldn’t get their food on the same bill. I told my brother, “I’m not gonna come visit you anytime soon.”
And to address the comments about Middle Eastern Americans: I cannot stand the ignorance of my fellow Americans about this. My husband’s grandma hates when we get on planes because she thinks that, “The Arabs will shoot us down.” And I think to myself, “I am never going to let my children stay with you unsupervised.” My brother actually had someone call him an Arab terrorist (in the same small town in Indiana where only white people live). First of all, that being Arab is an insult is terrible, and second- that someone mistook him for appearing to be from the Middle East amazes me, and that my brother felt fear- knowing that he could be the victim of a hate crime.
This is my life as a non-white looking American. This is his life. Reconcile that.
If everyone followed Jesus passionately and saw His creation through His eyes, wouldn't the world be different? The issue here is not the color of our skin, it's the condition of our hearts...
When our hearts are rightly aligned with God, then our desire is to be rightly aligned with all people, even to the point of embracing differences and loving people for who God made them to be...
i thought some really similar things about the indian guy who was called "alqaeda" by the cop. i've always though thtere were a lot of similarties b/w ohio and indiana.
i wonder how the indian guy would have responded and felt. i wonder what he REALLY would have felt if he was middle eastern.
chapel was really good today. how often do we get to hear about the middle east from a woman from Jordan in the context of worshipping God?
hey "love is so beautiful..."
what race are you?
what if we're so in "love" that we're blind to reality? what if we use words like "love others" and accidently (or intentionally) keep ourselves from seeing our sins? what does it mean to "love one another" when it comes to loving accross racial lines? does it mean to see each other apart from their race?
Regretably, I was not at collegelife on Sunday night, but I listened to Soong Chan's message online and have talked about it with several students. Indeed, I discussed collegelife with two white students who expressed that they hated how it seemed 'aimed at making whites feel uncomfortable.' Uncomfortable?!? Uncomfortable?!? I ask these students to give thanks that their greatest discomfort is confined to one evening. Many students feel uncomfortable their entire day, entire week, entire career at North Park - and in much of the U.S. - simply because they are not white.
our love aint all that-I believe that love IS reality...God made the earth and everything in it. He is ultimate reality and the Bible says that God is love. Therefore at the deepest levels of creation as God intended, there must be love.
Secondly, I John 3:16 says "We know what love is because Christ gave His life for us. We should give our lives for our brothers."
anonymous- I am white, and I love you so much that I would give my life for you because Christ has touched my life in a mighty, powerful, and revolutionary way.
The Holy Spirit guides me every day, and convicts me of all my sins, I confess them and because of Christ I stand forgiven. There is now, therefore, no condemnation in Christ. I embrace differences and feel that they are vital in moving forward in the church.
one of the intersting things that soong chan pointed out is that not all sin is individual and personal. much of it is systemic, and is often invisible. racism in america is very much systemic. if we don't have eyes to see it, it means we'll never be aware of it and will let it going on dividing out society.
your love, and the love of everyone who claims to follow jesus needs to be big enough to want to erase systemic sins (assuming you're aware of them), and not just personal ones.
i'm touched that you want to die for me, i think it'd be great if you found a student of color who, like rock, tramaine, and austin, feels down right tired of being in a white world, and asked them how you could "die" for them and give your life up for them. would you do that? if you would, i think that's the start to true racial reconciliation.
STOP BEING FAKE! WHAT's LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT!!!!! You're not Jesus and you know very well that you rarely speak to the one or two minority students in your class. You pass them in ARA and on the bridge everyday and look right through them as if they are one of the trees sticking out of the chicago river. You don't REALLY want to know me, through Jesus or any other form. Because if YOU really believed in what you were proclaiming is the vision of Christ, You would have something different to say than "Oh, but one of my best friends is . .. . " "Well, why don't we just focus on moving on?" IGNORANCE!
We can all move on, when you stop lying. Just know that you can proclaim all the Radical Jesus love you want. But when someone hands you your cross, i.e asks you to put up or shut up, all you can say is "Let's move on, Calm down, We can't move on unless we stop talking about it so much"
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH A PERSON'S BRAIN THAT THEY THINK THAT A PROBLEM CAN ACTUALLY BE SOLVED BY IGNORING IT! STUPID!
This hurts people of color so much, because without realizing it, you are asking us to meet you where you are. Well, we've been forced to do that crap since the foundation of America, AND WE ARE SICK OF IT! When will someone really do what Jesus did and meet the problem where it is, instead of waiting for it to die down enough so that you can retain comfort or avoid guilt!
How would you feel if I told you that wanting people to validate the fact that you are part Irish, German, Scandanavian, italian, Greek, Swedish, Polish, Austrailian etc. was useless. That Jesus doesn't really care about that part of you? "just be a Christian, that is what's REALLy important"
ARE YOU STARTING TO GET HOW STUPID THAT SOUNDS!????
They all mean one thing in America - WHITE.
so what's the answer then? I'll do whatever it takes...just let me know...
part 2 --- i absolutely would do whatever it took to let rock, tramaine, and austin, know I care for them, and if that meant laying my life down for them, then so be it, because my life doesn't even belong to me...it belongs to my Savior, and His will be done.
All of these anonymous people yelling at me don't know me, but the only reason I'm talking about this is because I care...if I didn't care, like somone suggested, I would try to solve the problem by ignoring it...
...let everyone know a tangible way to help the problem...don't JUST talk...every individual, black, white, red, yellow, EVERYONE needs to take action to step up and do what is right...all sides together in peace and grace doing what needs to be done to make things right. What can we do together to solve the problem? Somebody name it...what is it?
I think we can start by deciding to be something different. There are very practical ways to do this - For instance have something to say when someone you know or love says something racist. Don't let them get away with it. Love them enough to want them to be something more. Ask questions like why are black americans about 13% of the national population but upwards of 75% of the prison population? Could there be something more to the fact that one side of town is almost all minority and it just so happens that the worst schools, hospitals, and qualities of life exist there? What are educational "zoning" laws really preventing? I believe that you are truly headed down the right path. just keep asking those questions! God will give you an answer, even if it is one that will be hard to accept.
I promise I am not trying to secretly promote certain student organizations, but those are great places to start! The names that define them are not there to segregate. It just means that that particular organization focuses on issues in that community as it relates to North Park. And this is because sadly, our administration won't if people are not around to speak up about it. You be one of those people.
I am grateful that you want answers. Don't let that passion die down. It may seem like people are yelling at you, but when you have to experience an ugly thing everyday, or you have to look at your 5-year old neice and explain to her what the other child in her class meant when he called her "nigger" or "spic" or "chink" it builds and builds. And I guess, when someone actually does want to hear about it that doesn't have to experience it, things just come flying out.
A RESPONSE TO WHITE GUILT:
Please do not feel like you are being personally attacked. That is what a blog is for, in many ways it can be better than face-to-face interaction. You don't have to worry about mean looks, tears, or anything that might distract you from getting the words out. Take advantage of this!
But someone please explain what the guilt is like. People of color really would like to know. I used to be one of those people who got pissed when someone white would apologize to me about racial history or issues - I see some value in it as I am continuing to grow. What makes you feel bad though? What is it exactly?
I remember last year, I wanted to know why some of the white guys always ran around campus at night throwing frisbees to themselves. Finally I just introduced myself to Tyler Clark one night and joined them. It was a lot of fun. My frisbee skills were terrible, it landed in the river at least three times. I'l admit I was so embarrassed when other black people would walk by. I could just imagine them saying "look at that idiot trying to be white. Next thing, he'll be running around barefoot."
We ended up talking about why we thought more black guys here didn't do this. That is is just one example of pushing past the guilt or fear. I wanted to find out something so I met them where they were. I felt stupid for asking, but Tyler was cool about everything. I remember he said, " I wish more of you guys [black guys] played with us. You all have such good ups." I remember laughing cause I thought of a friend back home who was black, but so out of shape, he couldn't jump over a crack in the sidewalk if he wanted too.
The point I am trying to make is that we [people of color] have questions too. We have institutionalized biases that we want to discuss, but we need you to validate where we are coming from also. We didn't throw away the fact that he was white and I was black, we made it a part of the experience. If you are really willing to meet a problem head on, sometimes you just have to dive in. Even if you are afraid that you might say something stupid. The worst that could happen is that you'll get an angry answer, but you'll still get an answer - and that north park, just might be worth risk if we are to attack this problem for real, for real.
Those are some good words you guys, and I appreciate what you have to say...it's better than the complaining and bickering that preceeded from other people...
I'm sorry that historical events happened, and they REALLY suck...I'm embarassed at what some stupid people did but because I wasn't born yet, I could do anything about it. I don't feel the guilt, I feel bad that those things happened and I feel bad that there are still effects of those things today, but I can't change the past... I CAN and intend to, however shape the future by the power of God...that's why I'm with you all on this...
It's totally cool...everybody has questions, so let's just talk about them...nothing gets done when people get pissed and think that they need to heap guilt on a certain people group in order to get something done..that doesn't work. Let's talk through it, we're all people, and hopefully we all love Jesus and who says that that's not enough to get us through?!?
Because the Jesus that I know has unlimited power, love, restoration and reconciaiation just waiting for His people to receive. And if you're really longing to be with that Jesus, then His love has EVERYTHING to do with it....love wipes away racism...
If you want to talk about something, introduce yourself to someone and start a relationship...it's not that hard, I do it all the time! So just start doing it!! And I'm right with you the whole way...
when i talk to students about white guilt, it's not just because something happened in the past that they weren't around to stop. it's almost always rooted in that they begin to see how caucasians at an advantage today because of their skin color. it's because they have opportunities that come from being in a higher socioeconomic class (obviously, not all white ppl are rich, not all black ppl poor) or b/c they don't get stereotyped into categories that many of us lump people into. i believe it is b/c that reality is something they feel they can't change and they feel guilty. am i right? can anyone add anything to that?
love is still so beautiful- i'm glad to hear you'd be willing to lay down your life for ppl of color who feel so very burdened by being a minority in a white institution. im interested how you're going to live that out. thoughts?
hope you all can make it to the meeting tomorrow at 7 in sohlberg. what if each person committed to bringing a friend?
not to ruin your moment, but i'd really be careful what you call "bickering" and "complaining." as if that's any better than ignorant overspiritualization...
i think all christians in the US need to read divided by faith. i read it. it was really helpful.
yeah, yeah, yeah, love is reality. but our human love is far from reality. this side of heaven, everything we do is polluted by sin, even our attempts to "love" others. until we admit that, we're not going to get very far in trying to follow jesus. that's why so many people don't get far in racial reconciliation.
minority students- how do you think white people truly move past the "guilt" stage? i'm white and stuck in it.
that's interesting that you say you're willing to die for ppl of color. are you willing to LIVE for them too?
from what i know, racial reconciliation all starts with listening and shutting up. the good news is that more of us white kids at npu are starting to get that.
I don't think the guilt is something you can just get rid of. I once told a group of people that guilt is fine, I may not understand it, but it's not my place to tell someone who I am trying to reconcile with how to feel. But, you must remember that progress begins when we step out anyway, not leaving behind -but in spite of whatever may be holding us back. It's like trying to live a fruitful life - no one starts the journey fixed. You can't expect to begin this thing with every one of the hang ups (feelings, goals, plans, comprehension, fear, etc.) taken care of. That's what the whole journey is about. That's what makes this task work!
ABOUT WHITE GUILT: First, everything that Austin said is very good, and essential. Re-read that to get a good feel for what she is talking about.
Second: I once worked for a drug and alcohol rehab center. Talk about guilt- these men were in a twelve step program and part of that is repentance and seeking forgiveness for those that they had sinned against. For most of the men in the center- they had many SERIOUS offenses. They had neglected and abused their children and wives, they had stolen, and many of the guys had spent time in jail for the things they did; things that make me afraid. But in order to change their lives and get clean, they had to function in a constant state of grace. And I loved the guys I worked with. I was so proud of them for getting their acts together.
And so for white people with guilt, know that you are needed for the fight and step out of your gilt for a moment. Austin, Tremaine, and I and our children and families, need you to fight beside us. We need you to confront racist comments. We need you to ask questions about the criminal justice system (like the brilliant one mentioned about how 75% of prisoners are black). The Civil Rights Movement was assisted by WHITE COLLEGE STUDENTS- well, well, well, that’s what you are. Because blacks and other minorities- women too, had such a little voice, they relied on the whites to give their movement some help. White students volunteered because they wanted a change, too. If you feel guilty, but you get involved, I will see you as a friend. Whenever a white person listens to me about my struggle and believes me, it is like fresh air. You won’t be rejected, I promise.
White students at North Park- I cannot reach all the white people on this campus, I am one person. But ten different white people committed to change- could challenge this campus to ask questions and get educated about the experience of minorities and the systemic injustices they face. Your personal circle of friends and family know you and love you. So they are going to listen to you and hopefully give you a chance when you have an opinion about injustice in American society. So if you read some of the books listed and also do some of your own educating, you will be a force of truth to be reckoned with.
Has any white person wondered why the History that they learned tends not to include in depth people like, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, Cesar Chavez, and other unrecognized truth tellers? Why aren’t we educated about how African American women were raped in slavery, Blacks were red lined in the city of Chicago, why no one ever talks about all the lynching that happened to Blacks, and why Mayor Dailey destroyed Cabrini Green? Why isn’t anyone asking about where all the Native Americans are and why there are so few of them? Why isn’t anyone demanding that the government apologize for the genocide that it committed upon Native Americans upon the Trail of Tears? How come no one knows that half of America was purchased from Mexico, and Mexicans have every right to be here that we do- if not more of a right? Is anyone willing to ask their history professors these questions. Is anyone willing to do extra research to make themselves experts in true American history. Why aren’t these things taught? This is a good start for anyone who is clueless as for what they can do to confront systemic injustice. Look up the word hegemony, and think about what that means in American history.
I'm not ignorant. Don't judge. I think you missed the part when I said I'd do whatever it takes...that means listening, dying, living, all of the above...
I'm a friend to everybody, except for the devil and his punks, and i know that this world is polluted by sin, but does that mean that we aren't even able to love like Christ? If that's the case, then we have different views on love and I'm afraid that God is being put in a box!!!! I believe that because of Christ's work on the cross and the power of His Holy Spirit here on earth, that it's actually possible for His people to love unconditionally...
That's exactly what I intend to do...and that's being a friend and walking with people through everything, working against injustice and for peace.
I wrote this last year as a private xanga entry after a trip on the green line. it's long, I know. And it's honest and raw. It shook me and it's a real response, full of ignorance and the clear signs of a freshman in a new world.
March 30, 2006
king drive
I got on the el today with the sole desire to spend time alone in the crowd with a book. i was reading "the irresistible revolution" which I again borrowed from a friend. I took the brown line to the loop then got on the green at Adams to go south. The first green line that came was going to east/63rd so I got on and sat down. I was the only white person on the entire car which was probably 3/4 full. I read as we pushed farther and farther south. I kept going till I was one of only a few people on the train. I stopped reading and looked around outside. Empty lots filled with trash, towering housing projects, desolate corners with no real development, just barren "wasteland". I decided to get off and turn around because it was getting kind of late. I got off at King Dr. (second to last stop on the line) in hopes that I could just get off and walk across a bridge to the other side of the platform to get on the train. Nope, I had to go down the stairs and cross the streets and pay for another entrance and walk back up the stairs to go home.
Just looking down from the platform was intriguing. Groups of people were standing on the corners shouting and talking and dribbling basketballs. There were groups on all four corners. It was 8:30 on a chilly (45 degrees and windy) wednesday night yet people were out all over king dr.. I was the only white kid. And I was scared. And I thought to myself, I am a racist.
"I am a racist"
All I had to do was walk 200 feet across a corner and up some stairs but I was scared. I felt like every eye was on me. I thought of the scene in crash when sandra bullock grabs her husband's arm as the black guys walk by.
I walked down the stairs, across the street (careful to avoid eye contact and careful to walk far from people), then up the other stairs deep in thought. I was in a completely alien world to me. it was a different culture that I had never seen and my suburban white kid instincts said I should be afraid. Perhaps I did have reason to be afraid. It might not have been a good neighborhood, I was alone, I was tense, I was unsure of myself. But that's no proof that I need be afraid, just loose possibilities. I don't even know if it really was a bad neighborhood. Apparently if you throw me into an environment where I feel very out of place, put some kids on a couple corners, have guys dressed like stereotypical gangsters, then make me walk across a street and I'm ready to piss my pants.
I'm comfortable with black people if I'm in the majority. Maybe I love black guys easily when I've got a safety net of white guys right at my side. I thought I was over this but I'm far from it.
Maybe most white people are eager to allow minorities to have equal rights and equality but they don't want to live with them. Chicago is so segregated and partitioned off. My little north side experience is a bubble just as the suburbs were. Wrigleyville is hardly an accurate representation of this city. Maybe white people are afraid to live amongst a diverse community because they feel threatened, or, more accurately, they feel their traditions and 'culture' is threatened. We're all for racial equality in a legal sense, but maybe we're still afraid of holding hands and understanding each other.
We want to be cleansed from the guilt of having the name 'oppressor' written on our foreheads so we strive for legal equality (in name at least, which makes sense because name is all that really matters when trying to save face...). While we want our names clean, we don't want community, we don't want to hold hands and cry and laugh and embrace our neighbors of different race. That would require breaking down preconceived notions of race and suspicions that lie deep within us all, or me at least. We don't really want community amongst races, we see ourselves too differently.
The popular black guy is the one that dons a suit and snags a job in the loop and moves into a white man neighborhood at the first chance he gets.
What's the other kind of black man? Is he the one I saw tonight on the corner? Society may say that the culture on king dr. is one of poverty and is the thing that you flee. But we can't devalue the culture of king drive, we can't devalue the jargon, the family life, the rap music. We can't write it off and say it's the thing that we should run from. What if I'm afraid to live on king drive because I feel like I am societally not supposed to have anything to do with that culture. A white guy is looked down on for rapping, for wearing puffy coats, for wearing roca wear or fubu. But nobody is going to make fun of a black guy for donning the suit in the name of progress. Progress into what? white man's culture? Have we systematically set up the superiority of white america in the public psyche? Have we societally made it so that the only good is to adapt to the white man and abandon the black?
I talk a lot about wanting to live in 'solidarity' with the lowest of the low and 'doing life' with the people jesus would have lived amongst. Do I really know what that means and do I really believe that I'm capable of being immersed in complete change and discomfort for the sake of an ideal/belief that life consists in being next to people that are forgotten and downtrodden?
I think an important question is: what is the goal of racial reconciliation? It's a very sexy and desirable phrase to throw around, but elusive to define. What does the racially reconcilled world look like? Maybe that's too difficult. What's a racially reconcilled North Park look like?
To LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL:
I don't mean to be rude, but I believe in being honest. Your name alone implies that you have something to prove. Love is beautiful and I'll be glad when it's not refused sometimes just because i'm black. I need to let you know something - I experience racism everyday - EVERYDAY of my life. Because of this, I can tell pretty quickly when someone is being a little fake. I don't mean that your sincerity or love for Christ, or rules for Christian living are fake or even crazy. I agree with you. Now with that said, Love is beautiful but racism and people who refuse to recognize it are not. The word ignorant doesn't really mean stupid. It comes from the word "ignore." This is exactly what you are doing. You have a real chance to converse here about practical things, but you keep running back to biblical generalization. The same things that slave masters did to justify an inhumane system. Sometimes we have to "come down from the pulpit." By that I mean, that you seem to be stuck on such a vertical relationship, and you're forgetting that in spite of the Holy spirit, Jesus' death on the cross, and biblical scripture - racism is here. Instead of saying how you really feel, you're trying to convince everyone how you think and it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself that because you love Jesus so much, that you are clear of wrong - that if you tell someone of color you will die for them, you doing the "Christian thing." We don't need you to remind us that Christ is love and we should love one another, if we didn't believe that - this conversation wouldn't be happening. We also don't need exaggarated proclamations of your love for us. That's the whole point, you don't know me! You don't! You're not blameless like Christ, so how is dying for me going to help and you don't even know what I need you to live for. What I need is for you to be even more honest and stop holding whatever it is inside you. I'm spiritual too, and I can discern when someone is bound by something. What are you "not" telling us. We're putting everything on the table here, and we need you to do the same. If you hold even the slightest thing back - that just means that you really don't love tremaine, rock, and austin enough to "work" to achieve that vision of Christ-like love. I grew up in the church, tell me something I don't know - about you. - would it help if I went first?
sure
I haven't ignored the issue. I engage in relationships with people of other ethnicities, not because I want "token friends" but because I genuinely care about them and their lives. I want to know people of all races, for real, and I'll tell everyone how I feel to try and bring peace to this situation. What more are you asking of ME? I just feel worn out from this blog and like I can't do enough...it seems like you're telling me nothing I can do is ever good enough for you...I'm trying to live out Christ's love in action everyday...I am, for real, and that's just not good enough for you...
That's it! Tell everyone! Work so that peace can be brought to the situation! Approach others in your family, your circle of friends, camp, church, work, everywhere! Get so tired and worn that you will no longer accept another comment, strange look, or empty glance from people you go to about this issue - only accept an answer and don't let them off the hook.
I hear you and I apologize if it sounds like I am coming down on you or creating some standard for you to live up to. Don't do this to show ME that you care. I can tell you do. I honestly don't doubt for a second that you are someone who has put themselves here to learn, and to say "I am here with you because you are part of me through Christ."
You asked me what I wanted from you. I want you to do more than have friends of a different ethnicity. I want you to take the way you're feeling and continue putting it into action because as long as you keep searching, you'll find out more and more. God is going to put people, and opportunities in your life so that you can live this thing to the fullest. Some of them will be scary, some may cost you the fellowship of friends and loved ones. Continue to be courageous and don't let weariness deter you. You are indeed on the right track. But please don't approach the problems with the mindset that we are against you, or even that we think You represent the problem. We know you do not. You are part of the majority, which gives you power to reach people and places that we probably couldn't. That's why we are desperate for you to identify with where we're coming from, because once you understand (which you seem to be headed in the right direction.) you'll want the same thing, not because WE want it and you think we deserve it, but because PEOPLE shouldn't have to fight each other for it.
I am curious as to how students of color felt last year during black history month, when the exhibit was featured in Carlson. The one with all the blue-eyed, blond-haired depictions of Jesus. Wouldn't you think that at a school where diversity is supposed to be a concern, that there would've at least been one painting that depicted him as a man of color? Maybe even something closer to a depiction - i don't know - like the one in the actual bible!
Here's an example of how even minorities have been institutionalized. I was watching the new Wanda Sykes comedy special, and she commented on things that I laughed at because they were so true:
The first thing I think if I see a black man running down the street is, man, what did he do.
If I am watching the news and they say someone robbed a store, I say to myself, Dang, don't let it be one of us! You're just making the rest of us look bad!
Anonymous right after my last comment---------
thank you! haha, that's so good to hear! I will keep going; I will. I am with you...
peace.
I would just like to know...what is the "white experience?" I read a lot about it on this blog, but define it for me. People can observe and come to their own conclusions about what white people think and experience, but how is that anymore valid than people observing and making their own conclusions about black people, Asian people, Hispanic people? Really. Think about that.
Austin, in regards to this issue, a part of the white experience is having the luxury to deny the fact that all those things happen.
And in regards to your question, Austin...
I really enjoyed college life, I could feel the tension in the room as some strong words were spoken and I loved it.
And to be honest, I was surprised to hear a lot of my friends taking issue with the sermon the next day.
It's hard to hear white people saying that there are bigger issues facing Christians. The fact that I'm white makes me inherently unable to judge on issues of importance in regards to race. I haven't felt your pain enough. I haven't cried by your side. I haven't rejoiced with you and celebrated who you are as you celebrate who I am. And it's hard to experience people that don't even see what's missing...
I'm not sure if that makes sense. Please correct me where I'm wrong, i'm sure its in there.
peace
hey, white suburban kid, you are like fresh air to me. you have a long way to go. but you are getting there and like austin said, you give me hope that my kids will live in a world with some white people that know the truth. thank you so much for your honesty. I cannot say how great that is. you are so close to something amazing. please keep participating in this blog, keep talking and being honest about the way you feel. In the meantime- try reading. "The Souls of Black Folk" is fantastic, and "Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria: and other conversations about race." those books are really good for getting a feel for the minority, and especially the black experience. bravo- suburban white kid.
i would like to see "love is so beautiful" be honest, too.
I am touched by this blog. You guys have no idea how excited it is to run back to my apartment between practice, class, and wake up early in the morning just to get back to this blog and read about how more people are beginning to care about this issue.
Praise God.
Austin thank you for your honesty and insight. I don't believe there is one white experience. Some white people grow up in a place of no diversity and never had to think about racial issues. Other white people grow up in very diverse places and are aware of racial issues. There is no single white experience. I can give some of my personal experiences of being white, though.
To me, being white means not realizing you have your own experience separate from colored people until being told by colored people that you do...maybe that's the result of living in a white culture. I still haven't fully understood that yet.
To me, being white means learning about slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and the Civil Rights movement, but thinking "I'm glad we're past that stage. We've made progress."
To me, being white means seeing things like Affirmative Action and thinking even more that efforts are being made for racial reconciliation. Then there's the issue of discrimination against white people.
To me, being white means learning that all people are equal, whether black, white, yellow, red, whatever. We are all people. And that is the lesson taught concerning the Civil Rights Movement. That's what white people learned and continue to pass down. That is why white people can't grip the fact that colored people want to retain their separation as a colored person. We were taught that color doesn't matter. That's how we've been taught to deal with racial issues.
To me, being white means I hear racial comments and think "Wow. I can't believe a person can think like that. But I don't know what to do." It's the same as seeing a homeless person on the street and walking right by. We see injustice and we don't want it to be there, but we just don't know what to do about it. We've all done it. We all know how that feels. That's what it's like to be white in the face of racial injustice.
To me, being white means looking at other places in the world and seeing the racial injustices taking place there--genocides, wars, Apartheid in South Africa until 1994--not long ago, and other huge problems, and again thinking, "Man. I'm glad that stuff isn't happening here, in America. I'm glad we're past that stuff."
To me, being white means feeling bad about being a race I had no more control over being than someone else being colored. I'm associated with a stereotype of a race with millions of people that I don't even understand or see as true all the time.
To me, being white means when I hear things like "If you go to another country to be a missionary and haven't had a mentor of another race, you are a colonizer," I feel like it's directed toward the white race and separates us from all other races. I feel like it's the white people...and then everyone else. I feel like it's associating me with a race a generation or more ago that enforced their views on others. I feel like it's putting college students like me into a box assuming we're just like those "white people" before us. I feel like comments like that under estimates the power of God's love--can't someone being a missionary in another country without having ever had a mentor of another race mean that they're seeking racial reconciliation and not simply attempting to impose their American views?????
To me, being white means that I don't see the systematic racism that is spoken of. I see colored people in successful positions, just as white people. And I see white people not so good situations too, not just colored people. Being white, I just don't see it all the time.
To me, being white means hearing hearing comments like "You were uncomfortable, upset with the issue of race at College Life?! Get over yourself. That's how I feel everyday. Now you know what's it's like." And then I think, "Is that the start of racial reconciliation? Is that what it's about? Making other people go through the feelings of pain too? Is that how there's forgiveness? Is that it? Really?"
To me, being white means not knowing at all what is wanted for racial reconciliation.
Keep in mind, that this is my white experience. It's not everyone's, but I'm sure other white people have at least a few similar experiences. I don't say this out of pride. I say these things to get out there what a white person is really honestly feeling in the midst of all this. Is it really what colored people thought? Did you know it all already? Or are there some new perspectives this gave? Does it make anymore sense why white people are so hesitant in all of this? These are honest answers. I hope they can help.
I was made uncomfortable by the comment about being a "colonizer" too. But unfortunately, the answer is no. Think about it really hard,if everything we know about Christ was taught to us by people who look like us and have very similar world views, who were raised with all of the same priveledges. Then, we go on a mission trip, and the people don't look like us, don't think like us, and have entirely different worldviews, is it really fair to paint for them the same understanding of Christianity as we have? Can the contexts under which you have lived out Christianty all your life fully be applied to theirs? No way! Not without them first denying parts of who they are so that they can think, act, and live like you do and therefore have the same Christian understanding as you do. And that is what I think the speaker was saying to us because it is just like some people have already mentioned, we can't ask someone to just be Christian. There is no universal type of Christian we are all different, so before we spread the Gospel we have to understand at least some (I say "some" because unless you are a part of the community, you can't fully identify no matter how hard you want to)of the other person's way of life, spiritual beliefs,personal values. You aren't there to change their thinking, you're just their to enhance it with the knowledge of Christ.
Basically, we can only teach what we know and if most or all of what we know comes from one kind of source, i.e. other white people, then what else can we possibly share but more white thought. I really don't think the speaker was condeming our white thoughts, but rather saying that they are not enough for the work of a missionary, whose job is to be able to reach ALL kinds of people. That is why the answer to your question sadly is - no.
rock- don't judge me and think that i'm racist just because i'm white. You keep speaking down to me like I'm not on your side...but I am...
Let's not get defensive. Love is beautiful, No one has asserted that you are racist because you are white. Rock said, "i would like to see "love is so beautiful" be honest, too." That is not calling you racist, you know if you are or aren't because you know what you have been taught and what you have chosen to believe. It wouldv'e been better to post a question asking if that is what rock meant by addressing you rather than making an accusation because when one person gets defensive everyone becomes defensive and that is not good for the conversation.
So rock, were you in fact implying that love is so beautiful is a racist because he/she is white?
anonymous at 9:11 p.m.---
i'm not getting defensive. I was just telling rock how I felt. It's frustrating when I'm trying to work through things and talk it out and I get accused of not being honest. that's all, but it's not going to stop me from living a revolutionary life because I desire peace, justice and love for ALL, and no one can take that away...
Racial reconciliation won't happen until we make a true and honest attempt at real relationships. For that to happen both people have to step out of their comfort zones and make a real attempt at relating to the other. There is so much potential in this generation to break down barriers, but we are chained down by our anger, our guilt, and our pride to take the next step. If you want change then people need to stop blaming and making accusations against each other. If you want change then start small and let it ripple into something big. I like what one person wrote, I think it was Austin, about not staying silent when they hear or see the prejudices in our society. Talking is good, but action is better. Amazing things happen in a relationship when people don't ignore their differences, but celebrate them together and allow them to change you. I think that’s what I think will solve all of this, forming personal true relationships with one another. I am white by the way. I think everything that has happened is wrong and awful. I wish it didn't happen. I honestly don't know how to stop it, but I will stand with you against it. I will get into hard conversations that leave me in tears that people think the way they think. I will debate with my closest friend and boldly tell them they are wrong and hurtful in their attitudes and actions. I will get to know you, your struggles and where you come from, and hopefully in turn you will get to know me and my struggles. This takes a lot of apologies, forgiveness, grace and patience.
Love is Beautiful, please, do not mistake my comments as accusing you of being racist. I was simply asking you to be raw and honest. I love Jesus and cling to his red words, I know that you love hime too as he is in all that you say. I know that he has forgiven both of us. Despite all that, what is in your heart about this issue of race? What is in your mind besides dying for all of us. I thought what you said about dying for us was great, don't get me wrong. But, like Austin said, will youlive for me? Will you live for my kids and my husband? Will you live for Austin and her kids and her husband? I think that you, honestly, would. But there is so much sacrifice in living for us. So much. It's my turn to be honest, I'll go first. If I were white (100% rather), there is a good chance that I would not want to bother myself with all this reconciliation. Because this is a hard life of be ostricized by your peers. So that is me being real. I see why white people- who function in a state of privilidge would rather stay comfy and where they are. It must be pretty dang nice to not have to deal with it everyday. But that was not the hand I was dealt, and not the life I am going to live. Will you live it too? Or will you only say fluffy things about Jesus and think that that is enough?
this is one of my favorite quotes:
"It is easy to die for Christ. It is hard to live for Him. Dying takes only an hour or two, but to live for Christ means to die daily." -sadhu sundar singh
Die with me as I try to convince my mom that white priviledge exists. Die the death that I die. Not the death that you would rather have.
Oh- and I am not perfect. And I am not free of the racial conditionaing that society has done to me through public school education. I have to fight those thoughts everyday and critically think about situations- so that I, myself, disassemble the racism that lives in my own mind.
First I guess I can address "Confused":
Like someone said before me, I don't believe most white people notice their place in society. For example, people of color get the statement: "but you guys have a culture. Stop talking about white culture. White Americans don't have a culture. We have nothing." If I have ever heard anything more ignorant than this! LOL. The reason why White Americans do not believe they have a culture is because: WHITE AMERICANS ARE THE CULTURE. The majority of the population of course. I bring this example up because I believe this is what Soon Chan was eluding to when he made the about the COLONIZING= White American Missionaries. He was trying to get you to see how society has not even given you the chance to recognize other cultures. Or be sounded, taught by them rathe. And as a result, most white american christians have only one view of Jesus; they bring their own cultural baggage and mix it with evangelizing/missionary work. Guess what? That equals colonizing. Now I'm not saying that a black American or an Asian American for example wouldn't bring some baggage also, but WE ARE THE OTHER CULTURE! It is more likely for a person of color to understand other cultures and be willingly to put their's aside because we've been doing it for years; trying to fit in with white America. My whole life I've been taught by mostly white American men. And so have most White american students. The problem with that is that, white americans have mentors and teachers that look just like them, usually. Which builds, subconsciously or consciously, the idea that it is just and right for you TO have mentors that look like you. Thats why so many white students were offended by the statement about Colonizing. But it is so true if people could look deeper into history and see beyond the surface of the word. No matter what your intentions are when going on missions trips, and they may be true and as Christ-like as can be but for everyone who will travel to another country or neighborhood, they should have a mentor that is of a different race or culture. And I don't mean Swedish to Irish! LOL. Soon Chan was saying, and I'm giving it broader interpretation: at the least, AT THE LEAST, if you don't meet with people from the actual country in which you will be doing missions, white christian american students should seek to have a mentoring relationship with someone of a different race or culture. AT THE LEAST!! But what he wasn't saying was: DON'T GO ON MISSIONS. If thats what you got from that; OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR THINKING...GET AWAY FROM THE SURFACE!
Rock:
I think "Love is so Beautiful", just maybe sincere. What so many white christian students like LISB don't understand, who is probably sincere, is that SO MANY white students have said the same thing and their words were as hollow as an empty house.(that was lame) But you get what I'm saying? Most white students who say what LISB says leave the conversation with just the words and no action. It's sad. And what LISB has to realize is that not everyone really understands the weight of saying: "Jesus loves us and skin color shouldn't matter. I love you no matter what and I will fight for you, I will die for." Most just say that and don't want to discuss anymore. They'll ended at that which really gives the signal to people of color: "I really don't love you enough to continue the conversation. I'm tired of talking about diversity and I don't care enough to continue the conversation, which means I'm not gonna take any action for you." Do you understand LISB? Rock?
P.S.
Confused, if were to call me colored to my face...!!!! I'd be struggling to stay saved. And could nearly get some swift profanity yelled at you from any other PER-SON of CO-LOR! The reason calling us colores is extremely UNACCEPTABLE, is because of the history behind it. Do you remember reading about the bathrooms and the fountains...yeah, you might wanna watch that. And if like so many that want to justify the use of the word with the NAACP. In the historical context in which the NAACP was started, this was the correct word to use. NEVER AGAIN USE THIS WORD. Thank you...God Bless you!
Rock, thanks for the book suggestions. I've read the Du Bois book but it was a long time ago. I shall look into the other. I have much to learn.
Austin, thanks for the challenges. Would you care to have a cup of coffee sometime (actually, I hate coffee, but the point is that it would be nice to actually meet and talk)?
On the topic of missions:
Why is it we can be so friendly and accepting of inner city kids we tutor or people we meet on mission trips, yet we cannot interact with people different with us right here on NP's campus? Think about it.
Gretchen you are absolutely right. What people don't realize is that those cute LITTLE kids will one day grow up tp be our age, some of them may come to North Park, but wherever they go, they will do the same thing minority students are doing now - get up in people's faces and ask "why am I treated so badly so differently?"
Tramaine, I got ya...i get it now...
rock, i am with you...you know i'm taking action, and i'm with you through it all...i think it's a HUGE issue, and that's why i continue to talk through everything...I will join with you in specifically tackling this issue in ours lives and especially in the church...we MUST see peace. I want to be that voice with you to all races, but you know i'm not afraid to speak up to white people even if they think i'm dumb or get offended or even make fun of me...come on, believe me! i have a big mouth for a reason... this has been and will be good, i love you all! for real, thank you!!!
"CONFUSED"-
On the P.S. portion, try reading it in the most sarcastic way you can. Cuz, I was being sarcastic, but ofcourse you can't hear my sarcastic tone...right. At least the first 3 sentences are sarcastic. And the line where I say: yeah, you might wanna watch that.
But most people have a problem with the word: colored and not the phrase: people of color.
Anyway, I hope you understand. Peace.
I don't even know what to say. I'm frustrated. I really am confused. I know I'm wrong. I know I misunderstand. But I also know that my thoughts along with other white people's thoughts are real to us...even if they're wrong. We need help changing that. We all need to understand each other a little better in all this, even if the other person's view is not real to us. I'm still trying to figure all this out. I know there's injustice, and I don't want it to be that way. But right now, I'm just at a loss as to where to go or what to do.
I see now that there are significant differences in experience.
I realize there are inequalities still going on, but I still don't see to what extent. Not saying they're not there, but I just don't see it.
I don't necessarily believe affirmative action is taking away jobs from white people...but I know people who do. I didn't say that out of pride. I understand it's a step being made in an attempt to reconcile. Is that what people are looking for?
I realize that we're not equal in society today, but I still don't see how continuing to keep such distinctions between white and black and other races can gain equality. My white mind has been conformed to believing we're all equal. There's no difference in who we are as human beings. We're all God's people. Whether that's a lie or not, it's what I've been taught and hence what I've tried to believe. I'm just putting that out there so people know what they're working with when they have a white person's perspective. If it needs to be changed, I'm open to that. But this is where I start. Where do you start? Where does God fit into this talk of equality?
I am ready to stand up for people of color when something wrong is said. I have in my family already even. It's frustrating for me too. I don't know what to say to convince people of the racial injustices they're portraying just by their words and thoughts. What do I say?
I do realize that there are more racial injustices here than I thought before, and I do feel bad, but past that I don't know what to do. How do I, as a white person, stand up for black people, Asian people, Hispanic people in the way that is right for them? I feel like I know less now than I did before about who they are. I don't know what is right to do.
My personal belief in mission is simply showing the love of God...meeting people where they are, serving their needs, helping them with what they need, serving under people who really do know the culture and realize how to interact with it. I do believe in learning about the culture you're going into. But to me, missions is not necessarily about preaching and ministering in the way of bringing in our Christianity. To me, mission work is about loving people where they are and helping them in the name of Jesus. Letting God do the rest is the key. We only plant seeds. God sows them. That's where I was coming from in saying I don't think mission work is colonizing if you don't have a mentor of another race. That may be someone's first opportunity to interact with another race. That doesn't mean they're not open to that culture. That doesn't mean they're less capable of simply showing God's love, the core of mission work. They can still learn without imposing their culture on the people they're helping. Isn't God's love the same in all cultures? If it's not that's a whole different issue we need to tackle. If that's the case, we don't have truth. And that's not trying to over-spiritualize things. That's real.
I'm open to seeing systematic racism. I don't know how I'll react honestly. Like I said, I still don't see so much of what's going on, but that's why I keep coming back to this blog. I want something to be done. I want some sort of resolution. Like I said, I'm tired and frustrated with this topic already. I know so many of you have felt like this forever. I could just stop thinking about it, but to be honest it's consumed my thoughts too much this week just to walk away from it. I can't say I'll just let all my previous thoughts go, but I'm willing to be open. I want to be. If I need to be changed, help me.
I have cried with friends over their issues in life. I've never interacted with someone of another race in a way that I've cried with them over racism. I've interacted with people of other races before and just haven't gotten there, real friends. That doesn't mean they don't feel that in life, but because of that, I haven't cried with them.
I want to do something, I just don't know what. I don't know how far I'd go. I can't grasp the depth of it yet. But how many hear Judy's message tonight at College Life? Without transforming our thought, our actions and behavior isn't really true. Whether people think it's over-spiritualizing or not, to put on the mind of Christ in all of this is key. That's the truth. This issue, this injustice, this racism is a worldly thing. We can't overcome it with worldly perspectives. Maybe that won't solve everything here and now, but if we look to what is ahead and try to achieve that to some degree where we are, great things can be done. I believe that. I'm tired of trying to reason it myself. I'm ready to give my thoughts about this up to God. Even if that means giving up a part of myself and my personal identity in this world. Aren't you?
And I didn't realize "colored" was an offensive term. I'm sorry. These are the sorts of things that white people just aren't sure about. Maybe that's some of the hesitance in doing something, saying something. We don't know if it's our place if we don't even know how to address people of another race. Just a side thought.....We all need to help each other with things like that.
Hey Confused. I am glad that you keep coming back. Please, I really want you to keep coming back and just saying whatever is on your mind. Even if you ramble, I will read it, I promise. So keep thinking. Let it all cook in your body for awhile and feel free to spew it down here. And say whatever you want however you want. One advantage to this blog is that we cannot see you cannot see us, and so there is some safety in making mistakes. So you didn't know that a certain word is offensive- now you do. This is a good place to make those mistakes because someone will let you know if it's okay or not. And I will personally try not to get too offecded by it, so I do not respond in a way that feels like an attack. So- how does that sound? I give grace and you keep coming back to this blog? Deal?
wow, everyone... i need to go to sleep, but i've been reading the blog, and this stuff is so rich! i feel blessed when i read it because i think that we're all starting to leave some footprints, in our ways of thinking, in our faith, and hopefully in our lives.
confused- i agree with you that judy's message tonight should cause us to really reexamine our thoughts. i've talked to her a lot on this issue, and i know she's very passionate about that as well!
i have lots to say, but i should save it for later and hit the sack. but i do have one quick thing i feel the need to add to the conversation re- the famous soong chan "colonizer" quote. =)
most of you are in college, so my assumption (which may be wrong) is that most of you have not spent an extended amount of time living in a different culture (either domestically, or internationally, but i'm speaking mainly about living internationally.). i'm a few years out of my undergrad, so i've had some opportunities to live elsewhere. i spent two summers in china, and six months living in kenya. (not to mention growing up travelling to visit relatives in asia several times.) having spent a significant amount of time (significant is relative, my six months in kenya barely scratched the surface of knowing kenyan culture.) in another country, i have really seen the effects of "missionary colonization." esp. in kenya, a country that was politically colonized by the british, the marriage of religion and political dominance was so thick, and the evidence of british cultural ignorance and superiority, even in the church, was so pervasive, even 40 years after the colonization ended. westerners came in and (much in the same way the native american culture was wiped out) converted people, both to jesus, and to western ideals and philosophies. i had not seen how true it was that culture and religion were tied together until i spent 6 months in kenya. and i honestly think i barely scratched the surface.
so for those of you who are interested in "missions" (which btw, i really have a hard time with that word. for me- it brings back so much baggage of western paternalistic colonizers coming to kenya. so i understand a bit of what tramaine was saying about the word "coloreds.") i think it's a wonderful idea to seek mentors of different racial backgrounds. i think it would be really sad if npu sent teams to other countries who had a great time "evangelizing" (another word i actually really have a hard time with...) and enjoyed another culture, but were not there long enough to truly learn about the negative effects they may have on that culture. janelle does too, and that's why we've evolved that program to what it is now, global partnerships. i think that move is so great. nice job janelle.=)
so that's just a long way of saying that my experience tells me that once you've been in a culture long enough (esp. a culture that has actually been colonized) you see the value for having mentors of other races, and you see your deficiency when you haven't had those kinds of opportunities.
confused- i might be wrong, but i think it is a little simplistic to say that "missions" means going someplace to bring love to others. what i know is that generations of good-hearted missionaries tried that, and they brought many other things that they did not know were part of their "faith baggage." i once met some christians in the Congo who did not let women speak in church (they already had enough cultural rules against women, they didn't need a missionary to give them more!) and they all sang out of this one small hymnal, b/c a western missionary once told them that's what they were supposed to do...
confused- you hit the nail on the head when you say that we're coming from such different experiences. we really are, and I am learning that more and more as well. austin's experiences are so different than yours, which may also be different than the suburban white kids, or gretchens, etc. etc. confused, i think you're right when you thank god that we're not going through the same types of racial genocide as we see in sudan, and that you see how our country has made progress. we have indeed made prgress. And, i think it's also true that tramaine can say that she's seen how little progress we've made based on her experiences. we're coming from worlds that are very different. and to me, that is evidence that we still have a long way to go. a long way to find true unity that goes beyond the surface of giving each other high fives, or singing each other's songs in anderson chapel, or beyond going on sankofa together, or even this blog. we've got a ways before we really understand each others lives.
thoughts anyone???
thanks eveyone, i'm proud of you all for sticking in this discussion. time for bed!
brian
I have felt suspiciously absent from this blob. Some of my absence is my own wrestling with the issues of race and privilege and some is wrestling with my role as pastor. I must admit if I think too long about either I feel a bit uneasy and always insufficient to the task. And so as i add in just a few thoughts I would ask for grace and honest feedback.
What I have heard through the words written is a testimoney to the fact that this world is not as it should be. There are those, like myself who have been born into a race that inherently has privilege and there are those who by nature of the color of their skin have to fight moment by moment for the things I take for granted.
I can hear the defensiveness of white students who do not feel as though they have played and active role in the propagation of the power through race and I can also hear the pain of those students that say, "admit that you play a role in the promotion of race over another every time you remain silent."
Could it be that we need some new words? I heard a sermon once (so I can't claim this as my own inspired wisdom) about Psalm 32. The Psalm begins this way, Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
The preacher who taught that day said that in this passage there were three different Hebrew words used for sin. (I am not a Hebrew scholar as I only took the required 1 credit and so i am trusting the preachers work) he said there are three words used for sin. The first, which is translated as transgression can be defined as a defiant act. God draws a line and then you look him in the face and step over it, knowing full well what you are doing. This is sa defiant relational act.
The second word is sin. And he defined it in the same way it's defined in the greek...to miss the mark in your daily life...either through commission or omission, you do not measure up to the standards that are set.
The third word which is also translated as "sin", he said could be better understood as iniquity. His definition of iniquity was a "twisted tree". You've undoubtedly seen such a thing. A tree that has no grown straight because of the environment that surrounds it.
The Psalmist says, the transgressions are forgiven, the sins are covered and the iniquity is not counted against us....however the psalmist ends that section with....and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Is it possible that some of the conversation about race and privilege could be better understood if we had this kind of language in our discussions.
See, I am aware that there is a whole lot of iniquity in my life surrounding the issues of race and privilege. I was born white and have been given opportunity simply because of my race. In fact I have been given power over others simply because of my race and I know that that is not how God intended me to grow. I have not grown straight. And as the Psalmist says, "there should be no deceit in my spirit" about such things. I need to take an honest look at the iniquity in my life and confess it (say the same things God says about it). I should never try to cover up the "twisted tree" part of my life.
There are also times where I sin in the issues of race and privilege. Either my commission or omission, I do not measure up to the kindgom potential that God has placed before me. I am silent when i should speak. I take a rest when I need to stand with those who never get to rest. I vote for policies that bless me and hurt others. I make judgements in my mind about people I do not know and I ask people to come into my culture without ever knowing theirs. I sin every day.
The third word is transgression. I think for the most part I don't defiantly commit sins concerning race and privilege. I know God's dream for the kingdom and I don't willfully contradict it...i don't think.
I am wondering if we could use new language in talking about these issues. In reading the blog i thankfully find very few people who are daily committing transgressions. I know however that all of us sin, and that none of us have grown straight...and there should be no deceit about that.
Could we be honest about the fact that in issues of race that we have not grown in the way God intended, some of the forces that have shaped us are not 'our fault' and yet there should be no deceit about the fact that they have shaped us.
I offer this in view of process.
I'm not sure, but is it possible to talk about those things that are transgressions, those that are sins and those that are iniquity?
I imagine the effects of tresspasses, sin and iniquity all feel the same, none less painful than another. In that way the divisions are arbitrary. But perhaps in pursuit of a continued dialogue these words can help.
Humbly Pastor Judy
What great conversation this has been. We don't get to talk about racism and about our questions much at all. I sent this blog link to a friend of mine who is a voice for racial reconciliation at her church, but sometimes she feels like no one listens. She will be encouraged by the honesty and the truth being shared here.
confused-
i've heard many caucasian students, who are very eager to learn about race issues and be changed, say that they are scared to speak up in forums like this, or at collegelife, b/c they're afraid they may say the "wrong thing" and be deemed by others as racists. i'm glad that we have a chance here to get a lot of those things out in the open, "mess up" with each other, and correct each other graciously.
unfortunately, b/c so many caucasian students are afraid to say the wrong thing, they end up saying very little, and this dialogue often ends up being dominated by students of color who don't feel "heard" b/c caucasian students don't feel confident to respond, does that make sense? unfortunately, the exception is often the strong few who say stuff like "why do we have to keep talking about this all the time?" and i'm sure that is really frustrating when it's those caucasian students that students of color primarily hear from. students like gretchen and others are rare in my experience. most caucasian students that i know seem to be in the middle place where they want to learn and get involved but are hesitant to enter in the way some of you have. how do all of us encourage them? my hope is that blogs like this do just that.
gretchen, can you tell us about how you experience other caucasian students when they react to you as someone who does life with african american students and is committed to racial justice?
brian
Okay, I tried, but I couldn't resist the blog...
Austin:
What you said resonated so deep within me I swear you took a page out of my diary...
Tramaine:
Two words: I concur....
Everybody Else:
I would like to pose a series of initial questions...
It seems as though many of the Black students are feeling at a disadvantage, and that, I can truly understand. But I would like to ask "Us" this:
Who ever guaranteed us our freedom? Who told us that We were equal? Who disillusioned us with this notion of reconciliation at the hand of the satisfied masses?
From 1444 to 1865(7) we were considered barbaric, bestial, less than human by American society by law - - what makes us think that they have changed their minds? (Their in this case NOT being Whites, but the faceless institution that holds us captive today). We had to fight for freedom (13th amendment), citizenship (14th) and suffrage for men (15th). Oh it took an additional thirty-some odd years for women to acquire suffrage (19th).
Fighting against unfair imprisonment (chain gangs near the turn of the century - - which, by the way, is a fight we are STILL faced with; our men being 4x as likely to serve a sentence than earn a Bachelor's), fighting against the noose (another current struggle), and now we're fighting for the rights of beautiful brown babies to come. We must keep in mind that a law can keep us out of fields, but not out of mental imprisonment. It can give us hope but not equal representation. We used to be a people that understood that somewhere out there exists a Truth with a capital T and a God of Justice (though we worshipped in segregated churches sanctioned by human law).
All in all, there are yet struggles to be fought, laws to be passed and mental fetters to be broken. How dare we "compel" others to be just when our race is falling apart at the seams by way of sexism? How could we pervert the message of freedom by leaving it in the hands of others. We must understand that if the hungry leave the dissemination of food to the satisfied WE WILL STILL BE HUNGRY! Perhaps racial reconciliation is A virtue, but I guarantee you that it is not the Highest Virtue. I encourage my "sisters and brothers" to see past the steps that are illumined before us and contemplate attacking the institution that produces the:
Profiling
Exploitation
Lynching / Brutality
Sexism
Unequal Educational System
Racial Slurs
Miseducation of the Masses
Currently Segregated Communities
And most importantly, the separation of the White head from the Black feet of Christ. Though society has made one the head and the other the tail, we must remember that our God assigns no intrinsic value to any "people group (which, by the way, has no scientific basis)" over another and that we are all a part of the same body.
Rayshauna
I understand that some people want help recognizing systematic race problems. So here it is with love and grace. Keep in mind that I am a black male and I speak for my experience. Although there are probably hundreds of other black males right in this community with similar views. I do NOT speak for all of "us."
There are some people who may be on the verge of letting their desire for understanding turn into a transgression - a defiant act against God. God is the creator of the world, it is in no way separate from his kingdom. There is no us and them, white and "other." If you believe that EVERYTHING belongs to God, then you have to realize that we look differently and that is NOT a mistake. It hurts me very much when someone like Confused implies that this is a fact that doesn't matter to God. That is one of the things, that I think so many white people really need to take time to understand. Minorities who read their bible know that God holds his love, grace, and judgement from no man. But people do. This is a conversation about what PEOPLE do to each other and how to make that better. Therefore saying that we should be like Christ is true, but again is obvious. The fact is we are not - so let's get there. But actually differences DO matter to God also, the bible says he knew us by name before we ever entered into this world. That alone suggest that there is some significance in even the things we can't control. If differences didn't matter, we would both look the same. God wouldn't waste time making us different if that wasn't his intention. Again, recognizing natural differences is not a sin and does not put God in a box. You actually put him in a box when you begin to sort out what things matter to him based on your own beliefs, goals, passions. Every single thing about every single person matters to God - the good, the bad, the ugly, the sick, the perverted, the racism, the iniquties. People (myself included) automatically think that when someone like Pastor Peterson says we need to change our thinking, that it only applies to things that are obviously wrong or sin. Nope - it means everything - including our understanding of God and his agenda.
For those of you who need help realizing systematic racism. Here is a big one. Some people believe that affirmative action takes away jobs and educational opportunities from the people who "really" deserve them. The media makes it appear as if only black people support this portion of the civil rights act of 1964. I have even heard hispanic students say that black kids shouldn't complain so much because they get to go to school for free almost anyway.
1) So everyone black, white, aisian, whatever. What do you think it is?
2) Go to the federal governments website and read the actual law. That is Title IV of the Civil Rights Act and it it probably good to spend time reading the other stuff. Then search for the federal guidelines for businesses and secondary education instutions set by the government.
3) Now, you will see that is it NOT something that "allows" black kids or minorities to get into college. It simply says that the institution can't legally keep a person out based on race - yes - but also national origin, religious affiliation, handicapp, sex, etc. Horrible quotas are a teriible side effect of institutions who aren't taking genuine measures to build diverse communities.
In a classroom, some white students explained that they believed the law was just about quotas, and that there were some students here [at north park] who really didn't deserve it. IF that is true, WHERE ARE THEY? Someone show me all of "those people" who are failing but are secretly allowed to stay here. You know, the ones who do nothing - but get to stay anyway?
4) So for those who have been opposing affirmative action, ask yourself this question. If it is abolished, how will that effect minorities - yes - but also my mom, my sisters, my aunts, my handicapped friends and family members, and my friends of different religions, and the elderly people I know. What/where will they now NOT be allowed to do/go/work?
A friend of mine has a sister-in-law named Neeko (pronounced just like you see it). And she applied for a job and got it. She had done her interview for another organization and was hired to do administrative things in an office setting. The company she worked for never saw her before her first day of work. When she got there on her first day, ready to work, she introduced herself. Her boss, looked at her and said, "We thought that you were going to be one of our minority hires." She didn't work there for very long. They basically looked at having anyone that was a minority (or beyond a certain age) as a burden to the company, and they only hired minorities and people over 40 because they had to. She was glad that she was young and white. But she hated working in that environment knowing their hiring practices. Many people worked there that didn't know how the compnay handled their business.
A friend of mine has a sister-in-law named Neeko (pronounced just like you see it). And she applied for a job and got it. She had done her interview for another organization and was hired to do administrative things in an office setting. The company she worked for never saw her before her first day of work. When she got there on her first day, ready to work, she introduced herself. Her boss, looked at her and said, "We thought that you were going to be one of our minority hires." She didn't work there for very long. They basically looked at having anyone that was a minority (or beyond a certain age) as a burden to the company, and they only hired minorities and people over 40 because they had to. She was glad that she was young and white. But she hated working in that environment knowing their hiring practices. Many people worked there that didn't know how the compnay handled their business.
Brian, I thought you'd never ask :)
My experience at NP has been an interesting one. I am from a mid-upper class, all white neighborhood. I grew up Covenant. The first friend I made at NP was African American. We quickly discovered that we had the same heart despite our different life experiences, and have been best friends ever since.
Because the majority of my friends were not white, I became “that girl who hangs out with Black people.” Not that this offended me, but I was taken aback by the tangibility of rejection because of race. For the first time in my life, I believed that racism still exists. Because I felt it.
For awhile, I went through a period of anger at my own race. I was angry because I didn’t understand why these people looked just like my family and friends from back home – yet they didn’t want anything to do with me or my friends. But as I grew more confident in myself and in my relationship with Jesus, I was able to let this anger go. It’s funny because when people get to know me, like for real get to know me, they are so surprised. People wonder how I, a suburban white kid, was accepted into a culture other than my own without transforming into a female Eminem. But this is where we are wrong. You don’t have to change who you are to be accepted by people who are different from you.
Now that the issues of race and justice are such “hot topics” on campus, I have made a lot more white friends…maybe because we have learned that it is okay, maybe even Christlike, to have friends that don’t look like us. But my fear is that once we graduate, this progress we have made will become a memory and not a part of our every day lives. Don’t let this happen; bear the crosses of others. Yes, we need to transform our minds, but unless we have people in our lives to change our thinking, I don’t think this is possible.
It’s easy to think that speaking of these issues is the closest we’ll ever get– and lets be real, we don’t even have to reveal our identities on this thing. But I believe that we all have a lot more to offer than our opinions on the issue, and although it is so important to hash these things out, I hope that we can learn to live for and with each other. If you have felt offended or targeted by anything on this blog, understand that the reason that people are putting time into things like this is because they WANT you to get it…they WANT you to become a part of their lives.
I have learned that it is possible to become a minority among Caucasian people...The question is, are you ready to give up your life of privilege? Are you willing to stand up to your families and friends who don’t understand?
Just PLEAASE…don’t give up. Because if we do, who will pick up the torch? Like Jim Wallis said in chapel, “WE are the one’s we’ve been waiting for.”
I know this is a late entry, considering the fact that I should be talking about the message that Pastor Judy spoke on two days ago. However, this whole racial issue from last week has been bothering me a lot and I can't seem to get away from it. I was born as a white American. That is something that I live with. I had no say or choice in the matter whatsoever. I realize that "white people" today, as in the past, have priveledges, etc. just because of our skin color. I know that there is racial injustice, and that this should be fixed, especially in the church. But at the same time that diversity needs to be emphasized, and racial issues reconciled, we "white" students need to be affirmed in who we are as well. I should never have to feel guilty that I was born with white skin and that my ancestors come from Europe. Likewise, my friends on campus who were born Black, or speaking of nationality, Mexican, Japanese, Swedish, etc., should be proud of who God chose for them to be! So, while ethnic and racial diversity and reconciliation need to be emphasized, each one of us also needs to be affirmed by our leaders in who we are as individuals... Otherwise, we will never be able to function properly in the church life - where color, ethnicity, language, and culture no longer matter. Only Christ Jesus matters. The Love of Christ is to be our life. Let us build each other up in love and see past the color of our skin!
Late Coming anonymous, I wouldn't say that you are late at all, but right on time. I agree with you and what others have written: if God wanted us to look alike he wouldn't have spent so much time making us so different. And in that, I do believe, lies lots of God's glory. I also agree with you that there is so much danger in being ashamed of oneself, and I believe that the devil uses that shame we have to distract is and deter us from the life of abundance that Jesus wants for us. However, I must point out that part of white privilege is being affirmed about who you are as a European descendant all the time, everyday. This is reflected largely in history books and public school education. Within the accomplishments of euro-descended Americans are: all the presidents and most politicians, a slew of scientists (Pasteur, Crick, Watson, and so on), physicists, doctors, nurses, teachers, profs, religious figures, soldiers, inventors, actors and actresses, singers dancers, authors, etc. I had a whole class in HS dedicated to British literature, and most of the authors I read were all European until I began to read things on my own like, "Native Son." HS history classes as well as those taught here at NPU are full of the accomplishments of Europeans. Few books mention the awesome inventions of Africans. I can rattle off inventions of Euro-Americans, but due to my American Education, I know nothing about inventors that are not white. This should also be applied to people from China, Asia, the Middle East, Mexico, and Central America- where is their history of brilliant explorers and inventors? Where are all the things they have done that have changed our world? I should research it to find out, honestly.
Can you see how white privilege includes affirmation about who you are? Or have I missed the point?
There haven't been any comments for awhile so I wondered how people are doing. If people are discouraged or feel like they shouldn't have said something- I dunno. I just wanted to know what was up. Someone must have some thoughts they could share.
I hope that people are not feeling too hopeless or discouraged.
Everyone watch Oprah Thursday. I have heard it is supposed to be about race relations.
everyone-
did anyone catch the oprah yesterday? i didn't get a chance to watch it. someone fill us in, please!
brian
It has been a few days since anyone has posted anything new. I wonder what the silence means. I really try to avoid figuring out what the silence means because I do not want to put anyone in a box they do not belong in. But I know there is frustration, because I feel it myself. I know there is exhaustion, because I feel it myself. But what else is there. Why does it seem like the blog died?
I recently heard someone say, “America takes care of its poor.” I did not agree. A nation with a strong history of oppressing minorities, is not trying to do what’s best for those same minorities. I like to say that the social system likes to put band aides on gangrenous wounds, and thinks the job is done. I am truly tired of trying to explain to people that the system is ugly. American heroes that appear on American currency, such as Lincoln and Jefferson, did not want to see a country where blacks were on equal ground with whites, and where Native Americans could be around to bother white settlers. They did not want to see Mexican land remain in the hands of Mexicans. Yet those presidents are worshipped here. In the 15th century there were 900,000 Native Americans speaking 300 different languages. At the beginning of the 1900s there were only 250,000. Does anyone care what happened to them? The American Government opened their land to settlers, for farming, gold mining, and other ways to rape the natural resources of the land. These things were all done with legislation from the top. Natives were killed, pushed off their land, raped, and the government awarded people that did it. In present day Concord New Hampshire there is a statue there of a women who scalped and killed 10 Native Americans (of which 8 were women and children) and she is a town hero there. Her name was Hannah Dustin and she is revered. There are hundreds of thousands of families that originated from the settling of land that did not belong to them, and was obtained in ways that were far from moral. The government has never recognized this. I am not asking for an apology or for the land to be returned even. But they have not recognized these atrocities ever. There is this nationwide denial. A holocaust of silence.
As Saddam Hussein was recently sentenced to be hung, I wondered why the leaders of America’s past have never been convicted for the crimes they have committed against their own people. Hussein is only being charged with the murder of 128 people. But then I realized that Native Americans were not citizens until 1924, so technically, America did not kill its own; just the people that were here first. Blacks weren’t citizens until 1866, though they were here and enslaved. The 14th Amendment made all people born in the US official citizens. So, I suppose that any black killed before that, the US would not claim responsibility for. But after they were citizens- the US should be responsible for all those murdered and lynched. When will our nation’s leaders be proverbially hung? I like how America wants democracy for other nations, but the democracy we have here is a huge joke of sorts. Our society builds this huge flame and holds other nations’ feet to the fire. When will America get burned for the blood it has spilled? Isaiah 26: 21 says, “See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.” If we conceal it much longer, someone else will disclose it, and it will not be pretty on that day.
Dr. Simms once said that getting these truths recognized at a national level would be like trying to convince someone to commit suicide. Why is that?
Will anyone read this? Will anyone hear the cries of the dead? Will anyone hear us? Does anyone care anymore?
Whats happening ya'll? It is two weeks after the fact, and I got alot of work to do, but I needed to add something to this conversation. I will admit that as a Black Male I have experienced and fought within my soul the RAGE I feel over what has happened to my ancestors, over what has happened to my people. Rage. Yet I am learning that Love conquers all. Love is the most powerful spiritual weapon in the entire universe. The love of God towards me has taught me to not listen to the leaven of the Pharisees, but to seek His kingdom and receive His perpective. There is a message of justice that God is speaking, and we must have ears to hear what God will say. We cannot discover justice on our own: we must seek God's justice. God's perpective...........
I am seeking God's perpective, i.e. the Kingdom of God more and more because I am very much beyond irritated by the fact that I don't even know what tribe from Africa that my ancestors came from! I have to seek and search, know what I mean? I pissed off that King Tut of Ancient Egypt looks like ME, or my brother, or my cousin, or whatever, and yet consiously and sub-consiously we were taught the lie that A.Egypt wasn't a Black civilization.............It is a lie, and it distorts the true facts of history..........The facts of history is just one aspect. However, God sees what I don't see. So I trust the power of God's Love, the most powerful force in the universe. God's love for me tells me that we have OVERCOME the world.........
Words of Corey Red(Christian Rapper).......
"When the world trade fell we were all American,
But now American they see me as a threat again,
White ladies clutching their purse crossing the street,
Black ladies rolling their eyes sucking their teeth,
Black brothas holding glocks want to pop me down,
And of course the white man wants to lock me down,
But through Jehovah's Son I will overcome racism..............
Salaam(Peace)
rock-
thanks for that post- i'm hoping we can get to some of this tomorrow night.
I want to extend another invitation to everyone on this blog to come on wednesday night to our face to face gathering! we'll be in the sohlberg basement lounge at 8 pm.
it's been such a great dialogue, i'm really excited for us to take this to a more personal level. I you've been a regular poster on this blog, or even just a regular reader, or just someone who wants to learn and dialogue more about racial issues, then come!
This is a great opportunity, so bring those who can help us continue moving ahead...
thanks-
Brian
I just spent about 45 minutes catching up on this blog. I'm truly impressed by the amount of response that has taken place here. I'd say that this has really been "above par" as far as north park participation goes.
This is my fifth year at North Park and I'm graduating in December. That said, it is really hard for me to read a lot of the comments people posted about "simply loving more" "Being more like Christ" "division is a bigger problem than just race" and way back at the beginning of this blog some one said "fellowship comes before reconciliation, not the other way around". It is really hard for me to read these types of comments.
Yep, I'm a white male from the Suburbs of Seattle. In elementary my three best friends were black, Ukranian, and Simoan. But after they went to the "low income/ghetto" middle school and I went across town to the "normal" middle school, that was the last time I really saw or even hung out with them. It was so easy when I was little to just be friends with anyone and everyone. As long as you like to play games at recess all was good. But then our cultures, our societies, our worlds here in America have been built and manufactured in such a way that division is unavoidable.
I saw some one wrote about how most people come to North Park knowing their focus on diversity and so just by coming here they are making a step towards reconciliation. I strongly disagree with that statement. I would say that nearly 50-60 percent of my white friends here came here for one of three reasons. 1)Their parents went here. 2)It is a covenant college so they have heard about it at church their whole life. or 3) they went to one of the Covenant Bible Colleges. Heck, I came here simply because I wanted to live in a big city and learn how to be a youth pastor. I had no intentions on becoming well versed in issues of racial justice and reconciliation or even caring about such topics.
How then have I become so damn wrapped up in this issue? How then have I started taking this conversation so personal, especially as a white male from the suburbs. I recognize that as a white American male, I am afforded the most opportunities and freedoms than any other race/gender in the world. Simply because of my demographic. Do I feel guilty about that. No, because I have recongized that fact. I know that I say my life and my opportunities a blessing is tounge-in-cheek because I know what these "blessings" costs thousands of others that don't look like me. (sorry, i digress)
I am so wrapped up in this issue because I know that I do not want to be nieve. I don't want to live my whole life sitting at a table, in a classroom, at a computer debating philosophies and theologies of change. I know I don't want to be another voice in the crowd shouting defenses for their families and communities, refusing that neither could ever be racist. I WANT TO GROW, I WANT TO LEARN, I WANT TO SIMPLY UNDERSTAND MORE SO THAT MAYBE SOME HOW, SOME DAY I CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN BRINGING HEALING TO A SICK, SICK WORLD.
I'll be honest, I have a ton to learn. I've been to Africa and seen injustices there. I've been to Appalachia and seen injustices there. I watched Spike Lee's Katrina Documentary and seen mindblowing injustices there. Right now I'm taking a class at the seminary called Sankofa: Chicago Experience. I've read Divided By Faith. I've read God of the Oppressed. I've read Court Room 302 (good book to learn about the injustices of Cook County judicial system) I've been down to Cabrini Green (or what's left of it) I've talked to people from the south side. In every experience, in every conversation, I am honest with who I am, where I'm from, and the very real possiblity that this world is not all that I perceive it to be. Everyone knows the saying "it takes a village to raise a child". Well it's true. I was raise by a village called American Privilage. So I had influences outside of my parents, outside of my church, and inside of both that made me who I am. All systems are flawed so as soon as I believe that any part of me or my history is perfect or untouchable...i hinder growth, healing, justice and the work of God in my life and the life of others.
It's been a long journey and I will be completely honest with you, I have soooo much farther to go. Right now all I have to my credit are a few books, a few trips to the south side, many tough yet intentional race converations with African American seminary students, and a deep love for hip-hop, R&B, and blues (attempt at lightening the mood). So basically right now it's all head knowledge. It's a great place to start but what good does it do me, or any one else, if I just keep it to myself. From here I need to make intentional decisions to go out and be like my brother who asked to throw the frisbee with those crazy white guys (I'm definitely one of those crazy white guys) and do start making the uncomfortable parts of this life (racial justice and reconciliation isn't just a new fad or just a cause, it's a life style.)more normal. I will never be black. I will never be followed around in stores at the mall. I will never be pulled over by a cop just for dressing the way I dress or for looking like 96% of the black males in Cook County Prison. But with a sincere and humble heart before God, and my brothers and sisters of color I know that I can slowly begin to understand what it's like to be them which in turn helps me understand how to stop reproducing, supporting and creating personal and public systems/behaviors of racism.
That is awesome Evan. Anytime you have a question or want some back up, give me a shout. Even if you graduate from the seminary and go off somewhere and you just need some encouragement or you want to vent, I'm here. - MS
If you are tired, remember that YOU have been placed in YOUR family, at YOUR job, and in YOUR circles because God wants YOU to make the difference. If you don't who will? REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AND REMEMBER WHO YOU BELONG TO. Your circumstances are not a mistake.
YOU are the only one who can reach your family and friends. No matter how they react, they will at least LISTEN FIRST. Remember that the first reaction is not always the last reaction or the reaction that counts.
If you would like to have a face-to-face conversation, Q&A, venting session, or whatever - maybe you just want a new friend, call me x7937.
I was talking to an African American seminary student the other day about entertainment differences b/w cultures, and we were talking about how often times we all watch such different tv shows/ listen to such different music/ read such different magazines and books. She was saying how she and her African American friends don’t get into, specifically, grey’s anatomy. I’m wondering what thoughts you all have on that, esp. students of color. what do you think of grey's anatomy? what do you think of how entertainment is in so many ways, culturally divided?
Brian
thanks to everyone who came to the gathering last night. sorry to those of you who wanted to be there but couldn't make it b/c of classes/work/etc.
we had a great discussion, and want to continue to talk about how we can not keep this as just a dialogue, but a chance to really evaluate our lives, form relationships, and change our ways of life to be intentionally racially righteous. thoughts?
i'm especially interested in what matt said about how there are often very few caucasian students at campus events for groups like MESA, BSA, LASO, and our other cultural organizations. why do you all think that is and how can we change that?
Brian
I don't know why more white students don't show up to these events - wait yes I do. It's because, like someone said earlier, they don't have to. They live their lives here at northpark and are affirmed by a majority white faculty, staff, and administration. The main student association is majority white, and they control all of the money, so why would they waste their time participating in other cultural events. It is a waste of time to them. A lot of white students might say, well, I just don't have the time. But they make time for everything else they WANT to do. A lot of them are just fine being able to say they have friends of a different ethnicity. That is the whole point, they choose not to acknowledge us. Maybe if all the minority students stopped showing up to Spring event and homecoming, they would see what it feels like to have people say to you, by way of action (or I should say lack of action), that what you have to offer to OUR community doesn't matter.
Yes! We're tolerated, but not accepted. We have to come to the comfort zome of white students to get them to engage. If they don't understand it - it's not worth it. If it doesn't celebrate them or affirm them - it's not worth paying attention to. And that is the poison behind american society. White students are so used to being affirmed by everyone and everything around them (especially at North Park.), that when an organization or worse, a Soon-Chin Raa says something like, "You're missing something. Your perspective isn't whole." They are too offended to realize the truth in the statement, just like the Pharisees in the book Matthew. I wonder how many white students would have been offended if someone white had told them the same thing?
. . . I think this is why some white students who try to simplify racism by saying "Look past it. God loves everyone. That's what matters" can't understand why it sometimes upsets a person of color. I person can proclaim to believe anything they want to, but when thier actions show otherwise, one has to accept the actions over the words. When white people, the same white people who say things like, "i'm not going to Spoken word (or whatever the event or organization may be), that's for THOSE people, not me. Why would I go to something like that?" try to hide behind scripture - scripture they aren't even living out, It is the same as saying - "Yes, Jesus loves you and I love you. But I don't want to see you, I don't want to talk or even say hello to you. I don't want to be where YOU are."
Oh, but let it be a mission trip to Africa. Let someone say to them, we are going to serve them, or help them - you'll have them beating down the door to be the next Mr. or Mrs. Carlson. It amazes me how many white students I know who come back from mission trips trying to explain to me how wonderful the culture was. The same culture is right in their faces and being expressed at all the events that they keep ignoring. They don't even need to raise money or fly for 12 hours to fulfill that kind of need. Because all we want is your time. You have seen me around for as long as you have been at North Park, but someone anonymous person in another country grabs your attention. When am I going to grab your attention? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO MAKE MY NEEDS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO YOU? Do I have to be physically brutalized or starve myself for you to realize that I matter also?
An illustration of society: imagine piece of beautiful grassy land, maybe that goes on for acres and acres. There are lakes, ponds, trees, fertile lands- it is all very beautiful. Occasionally, however, there are these deep holes that vary in depth and width, and they are dark and muddy inside. Some have water in them, and some do not. Society has placed into these holes anyone that it does not want to compete with. This placement puts them at a disadvantage to work the fertile land or use its resources to succeed in the beautiful world. Society often purposely placed those people in the holes. For some people those holes were miles deep, and filled with water so that they would drown and die. This system prevented minorities from competing with the whites, and white success was never questioned. Our society still looks like this. Many of the holes have been covered with cement though, as to disguise their presence. People born today just think that they have always been cement patches and do not question why they are there. Older generations look upon the cement patches bitterly, knowing what the slabs represent. These holes in the ground still exist though. And whites, and even others, will look down and say pull yourself out, but the people in the muddy walled holes have no tangible way to ever get themselves out no matter how hard they grab at the mud. Society will make the mud walls muddier and slipperier, and maybe even make the holes deeper. The government may throw them ropes, but as the ropes are tied to nothing at the surface, the ropes do no good. Some have gotten out of the holes with the help of many others, but it is difficult and uncommon. White privilege is being born into a family that has not had a history of being condemned to live in one of society’s wet and muddy holes.
Racial righteousness looks like people at the top saying, I see you down there and I will live my life to change this. I will bring others here to see this and convince them that these holes in society still exist that prevent you from living life. It says, I validate your experience and I will use the resources that society has delt me to not only stop this process of holing people up, but to make sure that systems will be put in place to prevent new holes from being created. It says, I am willing to get muddy and dirty as I see and experience the world from your vantage point, and I do not care who sees me with you. It says, I will never forget the holes and I will never stop until they are gone or I die- whichever comes first.
Okay, maybe I'm slow, but I just heard about what Kramer said at a comedy club last week. I must say, I'm really disappointed because I love Seinfeld, but I think this is a great example of how destructive our thoughts can be. If you haven't watched this yet, be prepared...it's very disturbing.
the outburst:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgmCBKPHnSY
the apology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ889qbGjWE
Something interesting to notice: in the apology, "I'm not a racist, that's what's so insane about this..." THOUGHTS?
I USED to love Seinfeld too, now I don't want to watch it, knowing that the person i'm supporting wouldn't mind watching my swing from a tree by a rope.
What could possess a person, and what has possessed so many people, to have such hateful thoughts? After reading some of the comments people left on the website, I couldn't believe that there were so many people defending him. It's scary to think that there are so many Americans who still think this way.
Just thinking that before we can stare into the Nations Jesus needs to become the mirror to which we seek our reflection and so many issues will be resolved. The commandments are listed so intentionally. First, God...Second, your neighbor as YOURSELF (check it out! You must know how to love yourself before your neighbor and to learn yourself you must acknowledge God with all that you are.) Come on church I believe God for the great work that is already in process. Let's tune in and witness it first hand!
May we be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Father, thank you for being so readily available. THank you that it is us who need to slow down and tune in. Forigve the business that so easily hinders your kingdom work. Lord, you have such great dreams and thank you that when we lay our down it isn't out of giving them up and not dreaming at all, it's to let you increase it and do it so that the nations will know your Name. May it be so. Oh Father, that you would take the dreams of our hearts and further them, further define who we are in you. Be balance, be wisdom, be the center. Forgive the relentless fear in our hearts. Forgive our human Theology that limits You. Forgive the idea that you being the center doesn't mean that we will not exist at all, that we won't be able to be ourselve, or choose what to do, or dream, or be... Thank you that you long to share this life with us, be a part of our decisions.
Thank you for Perfectly Loving me and unveiling that I don't have to be Captain of my own ship in the torment of this ever raging sea....that the winds and waves don't define where I'm going or where I've come but You, the one who is ever holding me, ever steering with me, guiding me through the storm. I don't get you, I can't understand your heart. I won't ever, it's too wonderful. I don't know what I really do know about you. I know you love me and that I'm yours. That is the only foundation I can stand on. Help me choose out of my heart of hearts the rest without needing to frantically put everything into place. I can't do life as an expert, captain, an island controling my world. Forgive my ways and I know that there is no other time than this. I know that I can choose in this moment to let go and never hold it over my own head, that I can choose differently now. I don't choose you to survive Jesus. I choose you to fully live, to fully love, to fully dream, to fully call on your Name, to fully trust you loving me as you see fit, to fully embrace your grace, to fully celebrate, to fully commit.
Thank you.
After reading just about every post on here, I have one question. Is it wrong to be a middle class caucasion in America these days? It just seems like many places are trying to add diversity, but in the process are actually pushing caucasion's away. I believe we need diversity, I mean the world is a really diverse place. Everyone should be equal and have equal opportunities. So we need to attack the problems that prevent institutions from being equal. However, we must not push caucasions out either, they are also a part of the diversity of the world (a fact that seems to be lost at times). Don't forget, I had nothing to do with the past, but I want to be a part of the solution in the present. So let's not get the mind set that "white" Americans are evil, ignorant, and racist. Also, let's not forget that caucasions, believe it or not, have problems in life as well. I don't live by stereotypes and neither should anyone else.
Oh and I don't believe I should feel guilty for what is going on. I can want to do something about it or feel sad, but I don't believe that because I am white, that I should feel guilt. It makes me mad to think that people think I should feel responsible for things of this nature. Also rock wrote: "If you feel guilty, but you get involved, I will see you as a friend." My question is, will you accept me as a friend if I don't feel guilt? I don't have a problem being friends with other races, so why do some individuals have problems with being a white guys friend? If it is because you see racism by white people and assume I will be like all the other white people. Then aren't you generalizing and stereotyping and isn't that what we are trying to get away from?
Post a Comment
<< Home