Racism is part of the experience, being Black in America. It’s not hard to identify discrimination. And while many Whites get upset that Blacks “seem to find racism everywhere,” it’s not the fault of Black people that racism exists everywhere.
White America has a love affair with racism
And Black folk want nothing to do with it. That’s something White folk have to get over. Blacks just want to survive in this White Man’s World. So most keep their head down…don’t want to rock the boat. As W.E.B. DuBois said in The Souls of Black Folk, Blacks wear the mask: creating a public persona that is acceptable to White folk while struggling to maintain their own identity. Many fail to do so, and lose their identity…becoming shells of their former selves.
“It’s not our job to change White folk,” they’ll say. “We just want to survive them!” Or, “we just want to keep them out of our business.” So they find a way to live through the racism. They fight to not be defeated by racism.
But is avoidance and survival the proper response to racism?
Or is there a better way? Is there a more loving way? Is there a way that is more in line with the Call of the Gospel?
I believe there is. And this better way is what I’m after in today’s message. Have a listen and let me know what you say…
