This post was edited and updated on 8/20/2014.
When we talk about racism or bigotry most people are not aware of the nuances involved. Racism is a term filled with political nuance. Believe it or not, there is a distinction between being a racist and a bigot. A bigot may harbor malicious and hateful thoughts against another because of race, nationality, or religion. But a bigot lacks the power or motive to act. If one is a bigot, but has power and motive, then that is racism. Racism is inherently oppressive. Jim Crow laws were racist because they had the force of law and the support of a bigoted populace. Keep in mind that to be racist implies the political, social, and economic power to oppress a group of human beings because of their race.
As is popularly understood by the political class, racism is a white problem. White people are racist because they have a historical culture of political, economic, and social oppression. Black Africans were enslaved by white Europeans. White Europeans committed genocide against Native Americans. Therefore, racism is synonymous with “whiteism.”
Now maybe we can better understand the issues facing us. This understanding of racism means that even though one may not be a bigot, one is still a racist if a member of the oppressor class. If a white man kills a black man, the act is inherently racist. However, if a black man kills a white man it cannot be racism, because the black man has been oppressed. If a member of the oppressed class commits a crime against the oppressor class (white people), it is understood as justified rage, or an act of political resistance. If a black man hates white people he may be bigoted, but he is not racist. This understanding of racism means that society will never be post-racial, because all of human history must be understood through the eyes of one’s racial experience.
This is why Attorney General Eric Holder will investigate the death of Michael Brown, but refused to prosecute the members of the New Black Panthers for obstructing the voting rights of whites. After all, it was white people who enslaved blacks and established a Jim Crow society. If a black group obstructs white voters, then that is an act of justice. If a white police officer kills a black man, it must be a racist act.
I resist demagogues, those self-anointed preachers, politicians, and journalists (MSNBC & Fox) who self-righteously point their fingers at society while ignoring the logs in their own eyes. There are many demagogues, some of national renown, most a legend in their own mind. There are white demagogues who proclaim “I’m not a bigot” but would never invite a black person into their home, or to church. These white demagogues seek to rewrite history to ignore the systemic racism of the past, and the vestiges that remain. There are black demagogues who cry for justice while inciting people to hate and violence. These black demagogues are quick to charge “whiteism” for all the ills of their community, but quick to ignore the predators within their own community; or a political system and popular culture that has institutionalized violence and poverty.
I despise any form of racism and bigotry. My Christian faith demands that I embrace the unity of humanity because we are all created in the image of God. I reject the distinction between racism and bigotry. Hate is hate. Injustice is injustice. Hate and injustice are colorblind.
There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving, The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes (Romans 3:10-18).
Likewise, love and justice are colorblind. The issues before us are complex. Maybe it’s time for all sides to stop feigning righteousness. Maybe what we need is a season of confession followed by mercy. Eric Holder has said that Americans are cowards when it comes to racial issues. I think he’s right. White and black, we are all cowards. Maybe it’s time for acts of bold courage. Maybe we should have frank discussions that focus on solutions, rather than blame. Some will choose to do so. Most will not.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).
