This week I’ve had a lot on my mind, even though I’ve been in nursing “boot camp”. I wanted to give you guys another juicy post, since you only get one once a week!
When do we unknowingly or unthinkingly support negative attitudes? I’ve been thinking about racism. Contrary to what some might say, racism persists in the US society. While racial violence may be more rare than it was sixty years ago, the attitude of “us vs. them” and racial superiority persist in each race. It’s ugly. I don’t like to admit it, but racism still exists. It shouldn’t.
The Civil War comes to my mind. Whether you believe it is about states rights or slavery is irrelevant. Saying that slavery was an acceptable institution or that most slaves were treated well is racist. Even *if* I believed that, (which I don’t), I would never say that in front of an African-American.
I’ll compare that to modern day sweatshops. Even if I think that sweatshop labor is exploitative, when I buy from a store that utilizes them, I am supporting that institution. If I don’t actively oppose it, I’m supporting it through omission. It’s the same with slavery. If I owned a slave back in the Old South, and even if I treated him or her nicely, I would be supporting an immoral institution. Our individual choices have a global impact, whether we like to believe it or not.
“What we need today is more awareness, a wider recognition of how the vast systems we are caught up in can do terrible things and how we can contribute to that evil without even being conscious of it. This is a disturbing idea. It means that the traditional debate about deeds and intentions needs to be rethought. ‘I didn’t really mean it,’ should no longer exonerate us so easily, nor should ‘I had no idea of what I was doing.’ In our century to be unaware is to be less than moral.”-Harvey Cox
Here is my rule of thumb: If I have a comment or a thought about a specific race that I wouldn’t express in front of a person from that race, then I need to excise it from my mind. It might be a “harmless” joke, but the thing about harmless jokes is that they reflect an inner acceptance of racial superiority.
I’m also a little uncomfortable when others overemphasize differences. Just because someone’s skin is a different color doesn’t mean that the person is incapable of understanding or accomplishing something outside of their culture. I think that it would be rude and presumptuous of me to assume that I can understand what a person of another race can do. I think it is equally rude and presumptuous for someone to assume that you can’t do or understand, especially since you can’t always determine someone’s race by their skin color.
Last week, someone asked my dad if he was Native American. Not only is that an inappropriate question (I’d compare it to inquiring about gender or orientation), but it is also not the most important thing in getting to know a person. I want to hear about their likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, and experiences. Race factors into that, but it does not dominate or center around that. The human condition is fundamentally the same. (In case you were wondering, he is Hispanic.)
Some may complain that our society will cave in by political correctness. When it comes to racism, I believe that any attitude that supports superiority is inherently hateful. We don’t have to simper meekly and forgo our opinions. It’s not a matter of being “correct” or not, but cultivating a speech and attitude of humility and kindness. It’s not natural, and it’s not easy. Those are not reasons to not try.
For those of you who like Bible verses, I found a few to accompany this post:
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”-John 7:24
“For God shows no partiality.”-Romans 2:11
“So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.”-Acts 10:34-35
“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” 1 John 2:9
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and were all made to drink of one Spirit.”-1 Corinthians 12:12-13
When have you experienced or observed racism? What did you think at the time? How did it affect you over the long-term?
Antigone's Clamor 
thank you for posting this.i love it.and i second your thoughts.and the Bible verses just kind of seals off the message that someone cannot even argue really.
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Thanks, Imperfectous! It’s funny how much is in there! Sometimes, I can’t even believe it.
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I agree with Imperfectous; you tied it off perfectly. 🙂
Great post, Leigh!
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Thanks, Timothy!!
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Unfortunately, here in NW Alabama, I overhear racial phrases, judgmental phrases, at church! Last Sunday, I simply skipped my Sunday School class following the South Carolina racial slurring episodes the day before. Also, I would just like to confess that I know need to work on not even THINKING about intellectual, artistic or physical fitness superiority in silently, instinctively comparing myself to others.
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That is insane!! I really can’t believe those attitudes still exist, and I am always shocked when I observe them.
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Very well put Leigh! It slips into our thoughts and we think that just because we do not voice the thought it is okay. We need to realize that to even entertain the thought is not right !
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Thanks, Ian!! Very true.
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Interesting topic, and one that could spur discussions in all directions. You wrote of racism in general (and even mentioned that it exists in the consciousness of all races), yet you seemed to emphasize racism toward African Americans (which is a label that offends a couple [not all] black people who I know. This, considering they are not “African”. That is an aside that is nothing against you, but only something that I found interesting to learn from them. Kind of like when I learned from a Mexican friend that he was put off by the politically correct title of “Hispanic”. His words were, I am from Mexico, thus I am proudly a Mexican), rather than racism across-the-board.
This will not be a politically correct statement (I’m not concerned with such nonsense; however, I understand that you may be), but as a Caucasian male I would consider my gender and race (together) to be the most overlooked victim of racial, as well as gender, slurs, and also racism and sexism in general.
There is, you see, no rule of political correctness which makes a slight of any sexist or racist remark against a white male.
I have been overlooked for a job because they had already hired too many white people and wanted to look racially diverse. I also have to put up with constant ridicule of white males from advertisements, tv shows, movies, books, and all other forms of media. As a white male it would be politically incorrect for me to state that I am proud to be such (something that is exclusive to white males).
Clearly I’m not seeking popularity here, but can’t we just be balanced? I believe that you agree with at least that much, and even seemed to call for it in this post.
Equal respect for all races and all genders. Clearly too much to ask, and that concerns me.
All this being said, I’m not making light of other forms of racism, nor am I complaining for myself. As always, I am simply, clumsily seeking balance.
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No, there’s nothing offensive about what you said. You are not elevating yourself above any other people group. You should feel safe enough to talk about discrimination of any kind, and it’s sad when that’s not the case.
Thank you for bringing that to light. I have seen every type of discrimination, and people need to be aware that it comes from all places to all places!
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By the way, I hope that you understand my intention with this comment. If you think it could seem disrespectful, or too easily misunderstood, please delete. I should not be heard at all rather than be heard wrong, and inadvertently incite troublesome comments on your blog.
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Very good rule of thumb, as you stated: “If I have a comment or a thought about a specific race that I wouldn’t express in front of a person from that race, then I need to excise it from my mind.”
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Thanks, Janet! I’m not good at it, but it certainly helps.
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Racism exists wherever someone regards a difference in another person’s appearance or behavior as “weird” compared to their own. Looking unfavorably on others who are different accesses the same part of the brain that Klan members use in hating African Americans, Nazis used in hating Jews, etc. I wrote a poem about this concept a while ago which you can see here: http://warriorpoetwisdom.com/2011/08/04/bigot/
Also, fascinating coincidence that you quoted John 7:24. I just wrote a poem that references that passage which will be posted shortly.
Thanks for such an informative, though-provoking post.
Peace & grace,
~Miro
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Excellent point, Miro! I loved your poem, too.
It is! I think the “judge not” verse is overused and out of context. There is such a thing as “righteous judgment”, but discretion has to be used.
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Love this post. To your great collection of verses, I would add 1 Samuel 16:7: “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Man really does look at outward things, and if we want to be more like God, we have to get to know a man so that we can know his heart. And even then, we can’t judge him because we can’t know him the way God knows him.
Great job!
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Thanks! It’s often forgotten that man was made in the image of God…and all of humanity is descended from Adam and Eve… There is no excuse for discrimination!
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I just ran across this post in the process of rebuilding a blog roll. It is really well done so first let me congratulate you on that.
There are any number of reasons, sociological and physiological why prejudice and racism exist within cultures and human beings. They are not one and the same and shouldn’t be confused.Racism is more of a cultural issue, more supported by government and corporate power structures. It is difficult if not impossible for Racism to exist without the underlying foundations of power, without the messaging from leadership within societies that it is ‘okay’ to treat with disdain or even violence those that are without power / different. Racism, gender inequality, sexual orientation inequality, xenophobia and even religious inequality all come from the same place and all are supported by power structures within society.
Prejudice on the other hand is different and more personal. It is a learned behavior, usually generational and generally very focused. It usually fear based. Obviously without some of the power structures in place supporting Racism, personal prejudice would be more difficult to pass down through generations, however it wouldn’t be impossible.
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Thank you!! I’ve greatly enjoyed putting it together. Thank you for the clarification. I feel like that was something that I should have known. What a great explanation!
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