AP engages pastors, parishoners about racism in US

[Amelia]

AP engages pastors, parishoners about racism in US

By SHELIA BYRD

Associated Press Writer

24 May, 2008

Jesse McGee points to trophies he won in local marathons. He mentions his work with youth and volunteer school programs. He praises his church's efforts to deliver scripture lessons to inmates.

For more than an hour, the 84-year-old church deacon, who is black, chats about his life, largely ignoring the subject at hand: racism.

It isn't until his wife, Warine, sheepishly shares that their son's wife is white that McGee offers a confession: He had been uncomfortable with the union for nearly 30 years - until his Bible study class offered enlightenment.

His story represents a snapshot of how America's racial landscape is navigated daily, often with religion as guidance.

The issue of race drew sharp focus as Barack Obama's contentious split with his longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, played out in a national glare. In response, the United Church of Christ and National Council of Churches USA called on 10,000 ministers to initiate a "sacred conversation on race."

"The realities of race have not been addressed adequately," says the Rev. John Thomas, president of the UCC. "Racism continues to demean and diminish human lives in this country."

To listen in on that conversation, Associated Press reporters across the nation engaged pastors and parishioners about their individual experiences with racism.

They talked with a choir soprano whose faith fueled her defiance of racist laws, and with members of an all-white congregation that took the risky move of hiring a black pastor. They interviewed ministers who act as a conduit between the alienated and those who would judge them.

They found personal stories, like McGee's, where religion can soothe a painfully sensitive dialogue and help summon mutual respect.

The conversation, which grew loud and rancorous around the Wright episode, started long before and continues afterward, but in softer tones that show the faithful want to be constructive, want to make progress, want their voices heard. Listen.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/P...mp;SECTION=HOME

[Tallmark]

Most of the racism comes from the blacks. You become what you focus on. The false black leaders like Jackson, Sharpton, NAACP, and the Congressional Black Caucus have been telling blacks that whites have caused their problems. They in turn became haters breeding more haters. White people need to stand up. The problem with the blacks is the lack of moral character (not all) not racism. 70% of black babies born out of wedlock, and 1.5 million black babies aborted every year.

[Dr. Shane]

When I started dating a Mexican I was told by one member of the church that I didn't need a "spic" (a racially derogatory term)for a girlfriend - even though she was an Adventist. Later, when dating my wife (she is Salvadoran) I was told by a different church member that the only way I would see Jesus in the eyes of my wife is if she was white.

I helped start a Hispanic church in rural Minnesota. The closest Spanish-speaking pastor had to drive two hours to preach. We were officially part of an Anglo church. Our members were listed on the Anglo church's books and our tithe was funneled through the Anglo church's treasury. The Anglo church's pastor would come and preach once a month at our church and use a translator. I wrote to the Conference and requested that the next pastor to be hired for our district be a bilingual pastor. The Conference president answered my letter by saying that a congregation needs to be able to relate to the pastor culturally and because of that the mostly white district needed to continue with a white pastor. When I moved to Texas I joined a Hispanic church but the mostly white church near by had a bilingual, American-born, Hispanic pastor. The mostly white church I now attend has a bilingual Brazilian pastor. Both of these prove the Minnesota Conference president to have been wrong and influenced by racism.

[lazarus]

I see in your profile that you are an entertainer. I think you should share your brand of comedy in one of the clubs in New York city. It would be an eye opening adventure!