Years ago, my husband and I spent many hours with close friends planning a racial reconciliation conference. My husband and I are white. Our friends are black. Throughout the process, we experienced a few fleeting moments of turbulence but overall, the conversations were devoid of tension and conflict. That was about to change.
While seated around our dinner table the week before the event, I made a passing remark conveniently exonerating myself from the label of racist. Something flashed across Neil’s face. He uttered one short word, but drew it out as if weighing the inherent risk: “Well …” Rather than giving him space to explain, I blurted, “You aren’t implying that I’m a racist, are you?” My brave friend dared to speak the truth: “Yes.”
What followed was one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had. My friend’s courage and my choice to listen rather than defend myself initiated a painful, humiliating process that continues to this day: recognizing and repenting of my racist biases, beliefs, and practices.
Too often, white individuals limit racism to specific behaviors such as name calling, flying the Confederate flag or committing hate crimes. We logically conclude that we’re not racists because we don’t do that.
However, as any black or minority person will confirm, racism is much more pervasive and encompassing.
To read the remainder of this article, please click this link to Relevant Magazine.
Note: I did not choose this title. No one study could possible prove that racism exits. However, the reality of life in America for our non-white brothers and sisters proves unequivocally that racism exists. If you disagree and want to comment, you must be respectful of this.