These are strange times. First, we have a pandemic that shuts down commerce. Next, long-term racial tensions boil over with the murder of George Floyd. And now we experience widespread and ongoing national protests. I must admit; I’m confused, and the stuff that I see on the news doesn’t help. I want to start by acknowledging that it is difficult to say anything on this topic without offending someone, or even everyone. Nonetheless, in our polarized culture, conversation must be had. Blunt, honest communication is necessary, especially with those outside our social groups. People, of course, will frequently say things that are infuriating. That is okay if we can listen with an attitude of forgiveness. I consider dialogue to be the final antidote to violence. If we, as a nation, cannot hear and understand opposing voices, I fear that the future does not bode well. It could even lead to the entire breakdown of society. I consider this article to be a starting point, which I hope can stimulate others to share their views, whatever they may be. The racial divide is a complex issue that defies simple explanations. Let’s start with the basics. What percentage of people are happy with their racial background? Suppose we could take a one-time pill that would forever change our race. How many would do it? What if the pill was reversable? Would people try it? Let’s put it another way. Suppose everyone woke up tomorrow with the same skin color, perhaps a pale orange. Would that be good? Well, I did some Googling to see what I could find. Not much there. I did encounter one report indicating that 10 million people changed their racial identity on the previous census. I also came across a question posed on an Internet blog. It asked followers if they wished their racial background were different. Most who replied said no. Then there was Rachel Anne Dolezal (pseudonym Nkechi Amare Diallo). She taught a course at Eastern Washington University labeled “The Black Woman’s Struggle.” In 2014, she was elected as president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. There was a problem. She was white. As you can imagine, this stirred up a ton of controversy. Yet, she had her defenders. Quotes from two of them follow: Rachel Dolezal is black because she identifies as black. Her identity was authentic, as far as I could tell. - Psychologist Halford Fairchild We're getting more and more used to the idea that people's racial affiliation and identity and sense of belonging can change, or can vary, with different circumstances. – NYU Sociologist Ann Morning So, what do I make of all of this? There seems to be a trend among those with mixed backgrounds. Those in this category are increasingly likely to deny the part that is white. Minority folk are generally satisfied with their race. They simply want society to give them a fair shake so they can rise from the disparities that our social systems put upon them. In one sense, the racial divide is a relatively new concept. It stems from the colonial period which launched the slave trade. However, I see it as an offshoot of a deeper problem. This is the human tendency to divide into hostile groups. This is not meant to diminish the current situation. An open wound always gets more attention to others that have long since healed. Suppose all racial divisions instantly vanish. What would happen? Here is a scenario. One community humiliates another. It could be a one-time put down. Or, maybe it continues systemically for centuries. A schism forms. Naturally, both sides react to the goings-on and strive to make sense of their experience. They simplify and generalize the complexities, and this inevitably leads to stereotypical characterizations. The movie “The Freedom Writers” stands-out as an illustration. It portrays actual events which followed the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. I find one direct, candid exchange to be striking. It was the turning point in the relationship between Erin Gruwell (a white teacher) and Eva (her Hispanic student). Eva: White people wanting respect like they deserve it for free. Erin Gruwell: I'm a teacher, it doesn't matter what color I am. Eva: It's all about color, it's about people deciding what you deserve, about people wanting what they don't deserve. About whites thinking they own this world no matter what, you see, I hate white people. Erin Gruwell: You hate me? You don't even know me. Eva: I know what you can do. I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket! His POCKET! I saw white cops come into my house and take my father away for no REASON. Except they feel like it! Except because they can! And they can! Because they're white. So I HATE white people on sight! This honest expression was deeply moving. I get it. These are real issues. It won’t work for me to simply dig in, get angry, and reinforce preconceptions from the barracks of my self-righteousness. This attitude only escalates the division. If left unchecked, it will potentially destroy everything. I hear calls for revolution. At the same time, there are many reasonable voices speaking out. The question is: “Will they be heard?” As a white person, when I hear a siren and see the lights in my rear-view mirror, my thought usually is: “Oh no, what did I do this time?” I have a bit of anxiety, but not fear. My biggest worry is: “How much will I have to pay?” I live in a peaceful, coastal town that is less than 1% black. In my area, the schools are good. I have no clue as to what it is like to be in a neighborhood where dozens are shot each day. I don’t understand how the scourge of slavery indelibly impacts people living a couple hundred years later. I agree; I’m largely ignorant. I want to learn, but without direct relationships, it is hard. Yes, one can sort through the mire of the Internet. Often, stereotypes get in the way. Voices like “Whites are evil” don’t help. I don’t accept that I am inherently evil because of physical characteristics that I cannot change. I recognize that I am where I am largely due to the whims of history. The tables could easily have turned. If the power imbalance shifts, they could turn again. Today’s victors can easily become tomorrow’s victims. Yet, despite all of this, I see and hear things, and read a lot. These are my perceptions. It is important to understand that today’s racial protests do not present a unified message. They seem to be an amalgamate of different groups and agendas. These are: College age young adults that want to feel part of something big. Large numbers who are truly fed up with the failures of our legal institutions. Those who seek revenge for historical grievances. Political anarchists who use the crisis as an excuse to push their radical agendas. Troublemakers who loot, burn down, get free stuff, and generally cause havoc. I was heartened to hear quotes from a couple Black Lives Matter (BLM) members in Portland, Oregon. A local leader proclaimed to the crowd: Thank you for your support. But at the end of the day, we are still black. This is our space. If you want to protest, go protest. If you are here for other reasons, go home. Another young black woman called out white protesters breaking down the entrance to a T-Mobile store to get free cell phones. She shouted: “This is hurting us. Please stop!” Despite these two examples, I am disappointed that the national BLM organization has not, to this point, officially condemned the violence. I find other aspects of the protests to be troubling. One of these is the chant “No Justice, No Peace” with fists raised. On December 14, 1968 Vietnam protesters were being held in a California prison. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was at the site on that day and delivered a speech. He said: “There can be no justice without peace and there can be no peace without justice.” About twenty years later in Howard Beach Queens, three black men were assaulted by a white mob. The activist Sonny Carson organized a demonstration at which he proclaimed: “No Justice, No Peace,” leaving out “There can be no justice without peace.” The raised fist traditionally symbolizes resistance and unity, a rebellion against authority. Apparently, it originated from a painting titled “The Uprising” by Honore Daumier. The artist got his inspiration from a French uprising in 1848. My problem is this. When the slogan is accompanied by a raised fist, it comes across as a threat. This is not just my perception. MLK’s niece Alveda Celeste King in a recent interview said: “The expression should be reversed to say No peace, No justice (rough paraphrase).” She was decrying the violence that coincides with the protests. For reasonable protesters, the slogan is meant to say that “No Peace” means that the struggle for equal justice will continue as long as inequities persist. Unfortunately, the wording is ambiguous. For those prone to violence, the expression enables them to turn legitimate anger to rage. I am particularly troubled by young kids wearing T-shirts displaying the slogan along with the raised fist. These represent the upcoming generation. I sincerely hope that our country can resolve the bulk of disparities before these young people come of age. In closing, a few verses from the Bible might be good to consider. They present both sides of the peace, justice equation. Justice He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8) Peace How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied! How blessed are those who are merciful, because it is they who will receive mercy! How blessed are those who are pure in heart, because it is they who will see God! How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God's children! (Matt 5:6-9) MLK also said: “I see these two struggles as one struggle.” And “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These are things to keep in mind as we grapple with the issues before us. Thanks for listening, Dan Harvey, author of Wrestling with Faith, secondlooknow.com
oh DAN!!!
This is EXCELLENT material!
You have done an amazing piece of work, and SO timely!
To corrupt a phrase from Kipling “You’re a braver man than I am, Gunga Din.”