As many of you know, I have written farily extensively about racism - especially given my experience helping to raise and house a couple of black young men. The following are just some random thoughts that crossed my mind as I thought again about this topic:
1) Unfortunately, judging people who are different as inferior is one of the most deeply ingrained "natural (wo)man" tendencies in existence. It has always been so, and it is so deeply ingrained that it is extremely hard to recognize, much less root out.
2) One of my oldest son's favorite songs is called "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" - by Avenue Q. [There is a bit of language that some might find offensive in the clip I'm linking, so decide whether or not you want to watch it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9CSnlb-ymA)] It's pretty instructive, imo.
3) As someone who has housed and helped raise more than one young black man in a predominantly white area, I think I understand the overall issue as well as a middle-aged white man can. My own experience with racism saddens me deeply, but it has helped me understand and gain charity as much as any other topic has. I also think the LDS Church is far more progressive right now in terms of racial practices than most people recognize - and much more than the vast majority of still-segregated Protestant churches I observed when I lived in the Deep South.
4) The last part of #3 really is a truly amazing paradox. We still have a ways to go - and a LONG way for some individual members, but, institutionally, we have come much further than many realize.
Cries and Dolls
3 weeks ago
7 comments:
I also think the LDS Church is far more progressive right now in terms of racial practices than most people recognize Separating racism from prejustice in the church helps justify and perpetuate prejustice against other classes such as women, working mothers, single women and LGBT. It all stems from the same closed minded disease.
Howard, to be technically correct, racism is a subset of prejudice. Recognizing gain in one area does NOTHING to negate the need to work on other areas.
Iow, as I said, we still have a long way to go, but ignoring real progress is just as "wrong" as perpetuating prejudice. So, I agree with your concern about other groups, but I think your comment, as written, is dead wrong - especially as it applies to the post itself and me as the author of it.
Papa D,
No slight intended. Your article is about random thoughts on raceism and I just wanted to add to it. I'm merely pointing out that breaking prejudice up into subsets is slight of hand that allows the church to continue it's prejustice against other groups. All backed up by scripture of course as raceism once was.
"breaking prejudice up into subsets is slight of hand"
and I disagree with that statement as written. It's only sleight of hand if it is used intentionally to mask the overall issue of prejudice - and I didn't do that in this post, which is what your comments both imply, since they leave no room for anything but ulterior motives and deception.
As I said in my first response, I think it is valid (totally valid and even appropriate) to look at subsets and recognize / acknowledge advances in those areas. To not do so actually is every bit as disingenuous, imo, as it is to ignore the prejudice that continues to exist with regard to other subsets - since BOTH of those approaches ignore one thing to focus on another.
We both believe there is much more to be done concerning prejudice - and I said so in the post. I hope we both believe much has been done concerning racism, even though there still is work to do there. It appears our disagreement is focused on the intent behind talking about progress - and I don't believe for a minute that progress in one area can't be discussed without damaging or covering up the need for progress in other areas (as your comments say).
We disagree strongly about that, it appears.
To weigh in here, generally we solve problems by breaking them up into their component parts and fixing the parts separately when necessary. Unless, Howard, you believe there is a solution that is applicable to all type of prejudice and fixes them all at the same time?
Papa D,
Intent like prejudice can be either conscious or subconscious and I think this is a very important point. I was referring to how it works rather than making an accusation of conscious intent. There may or may not have been conscious intent but it functions as if it were slight of hand.
Yes we agree much has been done concerning racism, even though there still is work to do. And I know you value this as I do.
Yes Sam I do believe there is a solution that is applicable to all type of prejudice and fixes them all at the same time. Love. Love you neighbor. Love you brother. Love your sister.
Sam, I also believe in working on parts when tackling the whole isn't working. Having said that . . .
Thank you, Howard, for that clarification. I agree with pretty much everything in your last comment, except, still, the use of the term "sleight of hand".
I especially agree with the following:
"I do believe there is a solution that is applicable to all type of prejudice and fixes them all at the same time. Love. Love you neighbor. Love you brother. Love your sister."
I have said previously here that I really don't like the phrase, "Hate the sin. Love the sinner." It's not written that way in any of our canonized scripture, and I much prefer, "As I have loved you, love one another." We can't love as He loved from afar or in theory; to love as He loved, we have to spend time in association with those whom "the natural man" would avoid.
When it comes to prejudice, we still are more "natural man" than "Christlike" in SO many cases.
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