I'm learning about racism in America. What I'm learning is that I know far less than I thought I did.
I thought that having an African-American President solved some things.
I thought that the younger generation was solving all this stuff.
I thought that I knew what the problems were.
I thought that I could categorize all the problems into different groups (economic issues, color/race issues, societal issues, etc.).
I thought it was just a black/white issue.
I thought that because I never grew up with blatant racism that it was disappearing faster than it is.
I thought that the church was more integrated than it is.
I don't know as much as I wish I did.
To be honest, this article is pre-mature, so I'm going to get a lot of heat from it out of my ignorance. I'll try to stay on the surface because I hate to walk into a debate unarmed. But if I wait to talk about it until I'm fully informed, we won't talk. I apologize in advance for not being more informed.
Here's what I see. There's a divide in our nation between people who shouldn't have a divide. It's not so much that we don't have common needs and design, it's that we tend to have different perspectives and world-views (ideas on how the world works). We certainly have different experiences. The problem with the differences is that we are assuming a lot across the lines.
A Prime example: I assume that everyone should view the police the way that I do. They don't. In fact, our nation has seen time and time again how far apart we are on this. So, who's right? Or is that the wrong question? Have you ever been in a conversation and argued about something that wasn't the real issue? the whole time there is something underneath all the comments being said and the argument is about something far deeper than anyone is willing to comment on? Or, have you been in an argument and everyone is coming at it from deeply held convictions that aren't shared?
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't understand Ferguson. That's embarrassing to say and I have to swallow my pride on this, but I didn't. I watched people I love get torn apart, and I sat there, totally confused. What I think happened was that Ferguson was the tip of the iceberg, which was a mountain under the water. Behind every 'fact' was a story. Behind every assumption was a divide. Behind every comment was a novel. I was woefully out of the loop.
I really, really want to understand.
In fact, I'm on a slow mission to understand (slow, because it's a complex problem). I'm reading books right now to understand one part of this issue (primarily the black/white issue).
I feel like every time I talk with my African-American loved ones they are starting the conversation way down the line and I'm already lost from the get go. They understand things and take things for granted that I'm supposed to know. I never have the full amount of time to ask them to back up and re-start from the beginning. I'm afraid that I'll either insult them, irritate them or it will take too long to get to the main points and we don't have the time.
But I refuse to give up. I am committed to finding out the whole story. I'm committed to helping make a difference in this area. Although I need to start with the black/white issue, there are tremendous issues with the Latino population (especially in California). There are tremendous issues with the Asian population (which by the way is there any group lumped together in one title with more variation than "Asian"? Latinos have it bad when Mexicans and Peruvians are both called 'Hispanic' but goodness gracious, Koreans, Chinese and Malaysians are all called Asians. Good grief!).
I don't think that there will be enough change until the dominant group (in this case white/Caucasian's have the numbers AND the power) starts to lead the change. 2014 US census reported white at 62.1%; Hispanic/Latino 17.4% and African American 13.2%.
I want to be one of those guys. I want to understand fully so that I can communicate it clearly to the one group that needs to know most (the dominant group who can make significant changes). I want to embrace the issues so that I can internalize them and then articulate them in language that white people understand.
Yes, I realize that using terms like 'white folks' and 'black folks' are not PC. Sorry about that. I'm just trying to get to the heart of it without taking an hour to think of another creative way to explain difference.
Simply put, some African Americans are living different experiences than some white families. That means that we will have different perspectives on issues and situations. How can we close the gap between experiences, without losing the beautiful distinctiveness which God created, in order to share lives more deeply and create healing and equity? That's what I want to find out and help lead.
Jesus went out of His way to hammer home the idea of Oneness. The Holy Spirit is bent on unity. The Father designed distinction and even in Revelation's heaven scenes there are distinct tribes and nations that John sees, but that incredible diversity never means a lack of unity. In fact the connection WITH difference is what is so stunning. We need to be educated so that we can care about what each other care about so we can solve problems together.
I'll close this now (or it's never going to happen).
I want more change in this area. I want to help lead that change. So, I'm going to back to "school."
