Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted July 17, 2015 Members Posted July 17, 2015 This is an except from a sermon/article by author John Metta, who is Black and has relatives who are multi-racial. I found his thoughts most interesting and thought-provoking.... I don’t talk about race with White people because I have so often seen it go nowhere. When I was younger, I thought it was because all white people are racist. Recently, I’ve begun to understand that it’s more nuanced than that. To understand, you have to know that Black people think in terms of Black people. We don’t see a shooting of an innocent Black child in another state as something separate from us because we know viscerally that it could be our child, our parent, or us, that is shot. The shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston resonated with me because Walter Scott was portrayed in the media as a deadbeat and a criminal- but when you look at the facts about the actual man, he was nearly indistinguishable from my own father. Racism affects us directly because the fact that it happened at a geographically remote location or to another Black person is only a coincidence, an accident. It could just as easily happen to us- right here, right now. Black people think in terms of we because we live in a society where the social and political structures interact with us as Black people. White people do not think in terms of we. White people have the privilege to interact with the social and political structures of our society as individuals. You are “you,” I am “one of them.” Whites are often not directly affected by racial oppression even in their own community, so what does not affect them locally has little chance of affecting them regionally or nationally. They have no need, nor often any real desire, to think in terms of a group. They are supported by the system, and so are mostly unaffected by it. What they are affected by are attacks on their own character. To my aunt, the suggestion that “people in The North are racist” is an attack on her as a racist. She is unable to differentiate her participation within a racist system (upwardly mobile, not racially profiled, able to move to White suburbs, etc.) from an accusation that she, individually, is a racist. Without being able to make that differentiation, White people in general decide to vigorously defend their own personal non-racism, or point out that it doesn’t exist because they don’t see it. The result of this is an incessantly repeating argument where a Black person says “Racism still exists. It is real,” and a white person argues “You’re wrong, I’m not racist at all. I don’t even see any racism.” My aunt’s immediate response is not “that is wrong, we should do better.” No, her response is self-protection: “That’s not my fault, I didn’t do anything. You are wrong.” https://www.popularresistance.org/i-dont-discuss-racism-with-white-people/ JoeMo and phkrause 2 Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
GayatfootofCross Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) Yes the same could be said of my tribe also. People at the top of the social/cultural/status/sexuality/gender/racial/financial/etc cannot relate to the people at the bottom. that is another great reason why we are called not to judge. rudywoofs this is not to hijack the thread. I share what I relate to. I don't know what it is to be black. Let me share with you a story. I worked at a major huge truck stop for ten years,right off a 2 major arteries in CA as Maintenance. 2 to 5 thousand people coming thru our doors everyday. Mostly men. I'm so butch! well anyhoo.. I have a very strong middle eastern last name and sometimes our clientele take issue with it during the the 911 era... Oh boy! A white good ol boy trucker said to me.... " You dont look middleeastern! You look American " And then I said "I am American!" The eyes didn't get it. I am not sure if this story relates Looking white in America is close to living on top of the racial pyramid. Blessings rudywoofs! Edited July 17, 2015 by GayatfootofCross Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet
B/W Photodude Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 There is no way to answer the OP in opposition without being labeled a racist. I won't even try. However, AlphonzoRachel might: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eymqa5hF7Xg Liz 1 Quote >>>Texts in blue type are quotes<<< ***************************************************************************** And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. --Shakespeare from Hamlet ***************************************************************************** Bill Liversidge Seminars The Emergent Church and the Invasion of Spiritualism
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted July 17, 2015 Author Members Posted July 17, 2015 If you read the entire article, and then the comments below the article, you'll note that not all Black or White people agree with what John Metta wrote. phkrause 1 Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
B/W Photodude Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I think you could say that people naturally are selfish and even groups can be selfish with banding in groups to be against another group. This principle of banding together against others, IMHO, even extends into other areas of life from nations against nations down to cities against cities expressed in forms of sports teams warring against each other. You probably can see this in it's most visible form in the Yankees vs Red Sox. But those engaging in racism, which falls under the six commandment, will not see the kingdom of God. When Moses came down from the mountain with the 10 commandments, he had to cover his face with a cloth because the people had trouble looking at him due to the glory of God shining from him. When people are glorified at the second coming, they will see God as he is because they will be like him. This strongly suggests to me that the saved of God will shine brightly like an angel. And before those people, the wicked will not be able to approach. So, whether you are dark enough to appear blue or light enough to have blond hair with blue eyes, you will shine with the glory of God and if you are of the wicked, no matter your color, you would be on the ground face down in the presence of such a person. So, those who would be saved need to get over their color divides. And those who would be saved must get over slinging around charges of racism over pettiness. Quote >>>Texts in blue type are quotes<<< ***************************************************************************** And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. --Shakespeare from Hamlet ***************************************************************************** Bill Liversidge Seminars The Emergent Church and the Invasion of Spiritualism
JoeMo Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I liked the article. It opened up a thought that never entered my mind before - the difference between living in a "racist" society and personally being a racist. I have frequently defended my "non-racism" the way the guy in the article did. I may think twice about doing that in the future. rudywoofs (Pam), phkrause and lazarus 3 Quote
Moderators lazarus Posted July 17, 2015 Moderators Posted July 17, 2015 I have often found that church going, Christian white people are often harder to talk to than nominal or non believing whites. There's an air of arrogance and self righteousness with an inability to receive, without negative judgement, the experience of another. On the other hand there are many who even if they do not agree will engage and seek to understand. Gail, phkrause and JoeMo 3 Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.