Some resources on racism
With all the focus on racism, there are many discussions and resources being published about racism and white supremacy. These are a few that have been helpful to me.
Wilhelm Verwoerd on The Confessional podcast. This one really struck home to me. Wilhelm Verwoerd is a South African whose grandfather was the prime minister during apartheid. He grew up in the Dutch Reformed Church, which is a "sister church" of my denomination, the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Of course, we in the US do not have apartheid and all the violence
Hearing Wilhelm speak with his South African/Dutch accent struck a chord of familiarity. My denomination has many Dutch immigrants in it and my own local church has a family that came from South Africa as well as several 1st generation Dutch immigrants. That accent is both familiar and beloved to me.
At one point he talks about the way anti-communism played into their beliefs and actions:
...we were also very much influenced by the Cold War anti-communist rhetoric. So in these church gatherings and when we would go out and do things, we would also be very conscious of preaching anti-communism because people were saying that the African National Congress, you know, former President Mandela’s political party, they were really not liberation fighters. They were terrorists. You know, they were communist-inspired terrorists...
This also resonated with me, as I hear people talking about Black Lives Matter being Marxist.
It sounds as if Wilhelm has stayed in the church and kept his faith. I know Nadia has as well. I am glad of that. I also liked what he said about not being overwhelmed by guilt -- and that his fellow South Africans who are black tell him not to:
We’re not asking you to reject the color of your skin. You cannot. Even your culture, we’re not asking you to turn into some kind of gray nobody South African. That’s not what we are against. What we’re against is what those policies stand for and what they did to us. And we’re asking you to become part of changing that. Use who you are to become part of the liberation of all of us. And that invitation was the critical moment to say, yes, there is this painful truth, but I don’t have to go and hide in a corner. I don’t have to be overwhelmed by the sense of guilt and shame.His reference to the Black Christ painting by Ronald Harrison is moving and remarkable. You can see why he says that when South Africans see his skin color (white), hear his accent, and then his surname--the name of his grandfather who was prime minister--, it brings a lot into the room before he even opens his mouth. In the painting, the model for the Black Christ was an African National Congress president, and the centurion piercing Christ's side is Wilhelm's grandfather.
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| from Business & Arts South Africa, "Ronald Harrison Paintings at Luthuli Museum." |
Krista Tippett: Mindfulness in Uncertain Times, Commonwealth. I watched this live and my question was the first one they read during the Q & A!
A Conversation with Lorna Goodison, Padraig O'Tuama, Image Journal.
'I Cannot Sell You This Painting.' Artist Titus Kaphar on his George Floyd TIME Cover
It certainly has been a week--of shock, of sorrow, of anger, of confusion. Many of you have written passionate words and passed on thoughtful articles. My Facebook Universe is a diverse lot, from all corners of the globe, faiths and the political spectrum. Thank you for educating me.
I think best on long bike rides in God's amazing creation, and today these reflections came as I think about what's happened since George Floyd's horrific death in Minneapolis.
1. Tragedy and Grief. George Floyd was a child of God. It doesn't matter what his life was like before he was killed. Jesus knew his name and he was a sinner saved by grace, like you, like me. So if you begin by reciting Mr. Floyd's past, you've already tipped your hand. It doesn't matter. No one deserves to die in such an awful manner. No one.
2. Black Lives Matter NOW. The African-American community is in particular grief at this moment and to sorrow and console and demand better with them is right and just. This does not mean that other lives matter less or do not matter. That's a pointless diversion. Hopefully, you don't go to a funeral home and bend the ear of the grieving widow about your pain and loss. Right now, at this time, our black brothers and sisters need assurance, consolation and some hope for change.
3. Internalization. And why might #2 be so true? I owe a lot to a piece written recently by Radley Balko and to the stories from African-American friends. White people can view the ghastly video of Mr. Floyd's death and be shocked, but perhaps not psychologically seared; they can compartmentalize the death. Most black people cannot do so--it is internalized. "That could be me or a loved one," is a much more a likely response. They can visualize this actually happening to someone close. A very big difference and it produces a very big grief.
4. History. Since racism is burned deeply into the American story, there's every reason for persons of color to worry about an awful manifestation of this sin harming them in some way. And there's a weariness here. It's been going on for a long, long time. Pick your date: 1965, 1865, 1619, whichever. When I hear someone tell me of the "progress" that's been made, the death of Mr. Floyd underscores that the steps forward are only the start of a long march to justice. The film of Bryan Stevenson's stellar book "Just Mercy" is streaming for free now. Watch it.
5. Power and Responsibility. Police officers have a challenging job and many do their work well. But if you are given power (badge, gun, law behind you), you have ten-fold the responsibility not to abuse your power. Same for pastors, politicians, judges--anyone who takes a pledge or oath of office. That's what makes this death all the more heinous. This was not the same as "black-on-black" or any other kind of crime category you want to set up as a false equivalent. This kind of violence is abhorrent; violent behavior from a person expected to act in the public trust adds another layer of condemnation.
6. Take Specific Action! President Obama suggested that every Mayor of every American city should seize this moment and review their use-of-force protocols. That's a good place to start. Every Mayor: That means the Mayors of Grand Rapids, Holland and Kalamazoo as well as the Mayors of Minneapolis and Chicago and other big cities. Yes, even the Mayor of Small Town, USA. And while we're at it, let's review the way these violent cases are handled by the police, unions, cities and officials. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. That is a long time to be pressing your knee into someone else's neck. Why do you think the officer thought he could do such a thing and not worry about the consequences? Because, without the video, there wouldn't have been any.
7. Violence in the Protests. Violence against anyone is wrong and wanton destruction and looting is obviously a crime. No argument. It is interesting to note that where police, sheriffs and other officials make a real effort at listening and showing empathy, this kind of behavior is diffused.
8. Compassion. Up to today, my only post on Mr. Floyd's tragic death was a quote about compassion. I still think that's a very important first step. If compassion is "the capacity to feel what it's like to live inside someone else's skin," let that be our personal challenge, especially skin that's a different color than our own.