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christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:
Its not rare. He didn't say one thing that the average white southerner doesn't feel. What we don't want to do..... is to keep saying it and saying it and saying it and saying it and saying it.... and begging and begging and begging and begging..... While you finally take your own sweet time in actually PUTTING IT BEHIND YOU.
How's that for a Honest and RARE confession?
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graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:
That's what I am talking about. It is so rare that someone is this honest without blaming those who were impacted by the practices. Thanks for helping me illustrate the point.
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christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:
I didn't blame you. Have you ever read....
Luk 7:32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
Do you know what forgiveness is "graceandtruth"? How many times do you want to be asked? or are you waiting till every whiteman asks to finally forgive?
The very fact you ENJOYED the confession you referenced.... proves YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. Its not just everyone around you. Please notice. I included everyone.
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graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:
Yes, I do know what forgiveness is. Do you know what promoting unity through honesty is "christundivided"?
I don't think I asked for anyone's apology..........are you reading the right post? Just go with what I say.
I ENJOY when people who say they are Christians are HONEST without excuses. If you read the rest of the comments it appears some "white folk" got it. How about you? Are did you even read the article and comments before you responded?
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Castor Muscular
Guest
For what it's worth:
I spent a year in Marietta GA (right next to Atlanta) when I was 5. I didn't think about it until I read this piece, but now I do recall that all the kids who went to my school there were white. It was a rotten school. Half the kids attended school barefoot. We were learning the alphabet, and I was already reading at a 4th or 5th grade level, so I was bored out of my mind. The kids tortured me on the bus because I was a yankee. They'd pull down my pants and make fun of me. Our family did make friends with a family not far away -- some very poor people who lived in a garage. I didn't witness any racism that I can remember, but that's probably because the only black person I saw was some guy who did some yard work once while we lived there. EDIT: I just remembered that we did have one black family over for dinner once. My mother warned us that the neighbors might treat us differently and I could get some flack at school because normally black people weren't allowed in white people's houses. That's all I remember about it - I don't even remember what they looked like.
I was happy to move back to Trenton, NJ. The high school I attended there was about 70% black. I was in high school during the race riots, but I didn't really "get" what they were about at that time. I just didn't see things in "black and white" for some reason. If there was racism around, it apparently didn't rub off on me. I simply didn't witness much racism going on in my school. I had black friends, I had white friends, and I didn't see the difference. There were mean black kids I avoided, and mean white kids I avoided. Some kids in one of my classes wanted to counter the race riots by marching with "white power" signs. I thought they were idiots.
Two particular riot days I recall: I was going downstairs to have lunch (the cafeteria was in the basement). Some black kids knocked me down and tossed me down the stairs. I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and went and ate lunch. At some point a white kid went running by me with his hand sliced open by a razor blade. Then everyone rushed out of the cafeteria, including me.
The other day I recall was when school closed due to riots at about 10AM. The buses stopped running because the black kids went downtown and started destroying the stores. My friend Benny and I walked home (maybe 6 or 8 miles -- not sure). We just walked around the town to stay away from the riots. We went to his house and made hot dogs. Meh. Just another day.
I finally witnessed REAL racism when a real-estate guy started block-busting to stimulate the market. He moved a black family onto our street. They were very nice, especially the kid my age. But a few idiots on the street put their houses up for sale almost immediately, and then some bad families moved in. My parents were determined to stay put until a really noisy family moved in next door (it was a duplex, so sound traveled easily). We couldn't get any sleep, and they wouldn't turn down their 24-hour-per-day music. So we moved. I was really pissed, because I wanted to finish High School at my school.
I spent a year in Marietta GA (right next to Atlanta) when I was 5. I didn't think about it until I read this piece, but now I do recall that all the kids who went to my school there were white. It was a rotten school. Half the kids attended school barefoot. We were learning the alphabet, and I was already reading at a 4th or 5th grade level, so I was bored out of my mind. The kids tortured me on the bus because I was a yankee. They'd pull down my pants and make fun of me. Our family did make friends with a family not far away -- some very poor people who lived in a garage. I didn't witness any racism that I can remember, but that's probably because the only black person I saw was some guy who did some yard work once while we lived there. EDIT: I just remembered that we did have one black family over for dinner once. My mother warned us that the neighbors might treat us differently and I could get some flack at school because normally black people weren't allowed in white people's houses. That's all I remember about it - I don't even remember what they looked like.
I was happy to move back to Trenton, NJ. The high school I attended there was about 70% black. I was in high school during the race riots, but I didn't really "get" what they were about at that time. I just didn't see things in "black and white" for some reason. If there was racism around, it apparently didn't rub off on me. I simply didn't witness much racism going on in my school. I had black friends, I had white friends, and I didn't see the difference. There were mean black kids I avoided, and mean white kids I avoided. Some kids in one of my classes wanted to counter the race riots by marching with "white power" signs. I thought they were idiots.
Two particular riot days I recall: I was going downstairs to have lunch (the cafeteria was in the basement). Some black kids knocked me down and tossed me down the stairs. I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and went and ate lunch. At some point a white kid went running by me with his hand sliced open by a razor blade. Then everyone rushed out of the cafeteria, including me.
The other day I recall was when school closed due to riots at about 10AM. The buses stopped running because the black kids went downtown and started destroying the stores. My friend Benny and I walked home (maybe 6 or 8 miles -- not sure). We just walked around the town to stay away from the riots. We went to his house and made hot dogs. Meh. Just another day.
I finally witnessed REAL racism when a real-estate guy started block-busting to stimulate the market. He moved a black family onto our street. They were very nice, especially the kid my age. But a few idiots on the street put their houses up for sale almost immediately, and then some bad families moved in. My parents were determined to stay put until a really noisy family moved in next door (it was a duplex, so sound traveled easily). We couldn't get any sleep, and they wouldn't turn down their 24-hour-per-day music. So we moved. I was really pissed, because I wanted to finish High School at my school.
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christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:christundivided said:
Yes, I do know what forgiveness is. Do you know what promoting unity through honesty is "christundivided"?
I don't think I asked for anyone's apology..........are you reading the right post? Just go with what I say.
I ENJOY when people who say they are Christians are HONEST without excuses. If you read the rest of the comments it appears some "white folk" got it. How about you? Are did you even read the article and comments before you responded?
I did not read the comments. I didn't know you wanted everyone to pay attention to the comments section. Maybe you should include such the next time you post a link. Maybe you were so happy you moved a little too quick.
Since you obviously believe I am missing something.....what specifically is you want me to "get" from this?
G
graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:graceandtruth said:christundivided said:
Yes, I do know what forgiveness is. Do you know what promoting unity through honesty is "christundivided"?
I don't think I asked for anyone's apology..........are you reading the right post? Just go with what I say.
I ENJOY when people who say they are Christians are HONEST without excuses. If you read the rest of the comments it appears some "white folk" got it. How about you? Are did you even read the article and comments before you responded?
I did not read the comments. I didn't know you wanted everyone to pay attention to the comments section. Maybe you should include such the next time you post a link. Maybe you were so happy you moved a little too quick.
Since you obviously believe I am missing something.....what specifically is you want me to "get" from this?
Wow!! This guys blog really bothered you....
I am happy regardless of a person's prejudice or lack there of. This article did not effect my happiness. However, I don't know if I could say the same for your happiness since your attitude appears to be the polar opposite of that displayed by the author of the blog.
This post was not intended to pick a fight but simply to point out what I believe to be a biblical response to the past and present racism in America. Your responses IMO have been condescending and laced with veiled insults from the beginning. Like your inference that the apology of a "white" (your term) person would mean anything at all to me. The post was made with the intent to point out that repentance and reconciliation for past and present wrongs should go hand in hand. As the author pointed out a large percentage of the youth alive at that time are alive now and populating and leading our churches. With that in mind I am amazed that very little is being done to bring about reconciliation besides demanding that African-Americans "PUT IT BEHIND THEM" without acknowledging as the author did that it is still in front of them and all around them in subtle and not so subtle forms.
It is a testimony to the state of Christianity today when we compare this reaction to that of Peter. When Paul confronted Peter for his prejudiced behavior towards the Gentiles as he attempted to play to his Jewish brethren there is no mention of Peter saying, "I'm tired of begging so the gentiles have to PUT IT BEHIND THEM". Instead Peter was expected to be sensitive to the Gentiles to facilitate reconciliation without accusing the Gentiles of ENJOYING Paul's biblical rebuke of Peter's actions and attitude.
I'm not looking for a fight CU just a reconciliation that is missing in the conservative church.
C
christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:Wow!! This guys blog really bothered you....
I am happy regardless of a person's prejudice or lack there of. This article did not effect my happiness. However, I don't know if I could say the same for your happiness since your attitude appears to be the polar opposite of that displayed by the author of the blog.
This post was not intended to pick a fight but simply to point out what I believe to be a biblical response to the past and present racism in America. Your responses IMO have been condescending and laced with veiled insults from the beginning. Like your inference that the apology of a "white" (your term) person would mean anything at all to me. The post was made with the intent to point out that repentance and reconciliation for past and present wrongs should go hand in hand. As the author pointed out a large percentage of the youth alive at that time are alive now and populating and leading our churches. With that in mind I am amazed that very little is being done to bring about reconciliation besides demanding that African-Americans "PUT IT BEHIND THEM" without acknowledging as the author did that it is still in front of them and all around them in subtle and not so subtle forms.
It is a testimony to the state of Christianity today when we compare this reaction to that of Peter. When Paul confronted Peter for his prejudiced behavior towards the Gentiles as he attempted to play to his Jewish brethren there is no mention of Peter saying, "I'm tired of begging so the gentiles have to PUT IT BEHIND THEM". Instead Peter was expected to be sensitive to the Gentiles to facilitate reconciliation without accusing the Gentiles of ENJOYING Paul's biblical rebuke of Peter's actions and attitude.
I'm not looking for a fight CU just a reconciliation that is missing in the conservative church.
Humm..... the high road.....
It often bothers me when people just generically post a reference and then wait for a "humble response" to such articles. Maybe you could have seasoned your first post with your last. Just maybe.... you might've get a different response. To me, Just to ME. Its seem you were looking for such a response. After all. I unwittingly "proved your point". At least I can be of assistance. You're not nearly as "clean" as you make yourself out to be.
I have never personally wronged a black man. Never. Yet, I have been personally wronged by black men. In fact, in my middle teens, I smoked. I stopped in the "projects" to buy a pack of "Newports" I walked into the place just like nothing wrong... .because as far as I was concerned.... there was nothing wrong. I bought the smokes, walked outside and was immediately confronted by a group of blackmen asking me why I had stopped in that part of town. They then proceeded to tell me that they knew I hated them and that they didn't like me. I tried to reason with them. I tried to tell them I had nothing against them and that I had just stopped to buy a pack of smokes. As crowd got closer and closer, I started backing up while still trying to reason with them. I was called every cuss word in the book. I eventually ran and jumped on my friends car. We just barely got away.
Let me in on a little secret. I never think about it until conversation like this come up. Never. I don't sit around thinking about how I was treated and wronged. Even when I do think about it, it doesn't bother me near as much as it did then. It really doesn't matter to me and I only bring it up to prove make a point.
Keep living in the past. Keep it up and enjoy yourself. Pretend that generation X is the same the baby boomers. I hope it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy in side. In the end, what you think doesn't matter and I feel no quilt from what you've been through. Keep up the blame game.
No go ahead keep blaming people like me. Go ahead and claim we need REAL reconciliation and no one is HONESTLY dealing with the issue.
1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
G
graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:graceandtruth said:Wow!! This guys blog really bothered you....
I am happy regardless of a person's prejudice or lack there of. This article did not effect my happiness. However, I don't know if I could say the same for your happiness since your attitude appears to be the polar opposite of that displayed by the author of the blog.
This post was not intended to pick a fight but simply to point out what I believe to be a biblical response to the past and present racism in America. Your responses IMO have been condescending and laced with veiled insults from the beginning. Like your inference that the apology of a "white" (your term) person would mean anything at all to me. The post was made with the intent to point out that repentance and reconciliation for past and present wrongs should go hand in hand. As the author pointed out a large percentage of the youth alive at that time are alive now and populating and leading our churches. With that in mind I am amazed that very little is being done to bring about reconciliation besides demanding that African-Americans "PUT IT BEHIND THEM" without acknowledging as the author did that it is still in front of them and all around them in subtle and not so subtle forms.
It is a testimony to the state of Christianity today when we compare this reaction to that of Peter. When Paul confronted Peter for his prejudiced behavior towards the Gentiles as he attempted to play to his Jewish brethren there is no mention of Peter saying, "I'm tired of begging so the gentiles have to PUT IT BEHIND THEM". Instead Peter was expected to be sensitive to the Gentiles to facilitate reconciliation without accusing the Gentiles of ENJOYING Paul's biblical rebuke of Peter's actions and attitude.
I'm not looking for a fight CU just a reconciliation that is missing in the conservative church.
Humm..... the high road.....
It often bothers me when people just generically post a reference and then wait for a "humble response" to such articles. Maybe you could have seasoned your first post with your last. Just maybe.... you might've get a different response. To me, Just to ME. Its seem you were looking for such a response. After all. I unwittingly "proved your point". At least I can be of assistance. You're not nearly as "clean" as you make yourself out to be.
I have never personally wronged a black man. Never. Yet, I have been personally wronged by black men. In fact, in my middle teens, I smoked. I stopped in the "projects" to buy a pack of "Newports" I walked into the place just like nothing wrong... .because as far as I was concerned.... there was nothing wrong. I bought the smokes, walked outside and was immediately confronted by a group of blackmen asking me why I had stopped in that part of town. They then proceeded to tell me that they knew I hated them and that they didn't like me. I tried to reason with them. I tried to tell them I had nothing against them and that I had just stopped to buy a pack of smokes. As crowd got closer and closer, I started backing up while still trying to reason with them. I was called every cuss word in the book. I eventually ran and jumped on my friends car. We just barely got away.
Let me in on a little secret. I never think about it until conversation like this come up. Never. I don't sit around thinking about how I was treated and wronged. Even when I do think about it, it doesn't bother me near as much as it did then. It really doesn't matter to me and I only bring it up to prove make a point.
Keep living in the past. Keep it up and enjoy yourself. Pretend that generation X is the same the baby boomers. I hope it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy in side. In the end, what you think doesn't matter and I feel no quilt from what you've been through. Keep up the blame game.
No go ahead keep blaming people like me. Go ahead and claim we need REAL reconciliation and no one is HONESTLY dealing with the issue.
1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
CU you are missing the point. History affects the present and must be dealt with. Scripture teaches that we make past wrongs right not cry, "Don't live in the past". That is all I am saying.
I have been wronged by many "white" folk in many instances. I have been called N***** and cussed so many times growing up that I can't begin to count it. I have been physically attacked with the final outcome going both ways. So I sympathize with your bad day. Please accept my heartfelt apology for the cussing you had to endure that day and its lasting effects. I wonder what effects being subjected to the systemic treatment that Yancey speaks of for years has on a people. This is the issue.
Your assumption that I am looking for someone to blame is telling. Peter was to blame and no one had to look for someone to blame. Yancey pointed out that the generation to blame is alive and well today. He pointed out that they are in our churches and like his church then they are silent or worse yet blaming the group that was and is being wronged.
No fight my brother. When Christ saved me he took care of my animosity towards those who see no problem with past and present racism. I see the absence of African-Americans in the IFB and other conservative churches and I would like to see that change but I know that it will never change as long as attitudes about racism and its effects past and present do not change. My intention is not to judge but to inform.
Thanks for the push back and the pointers. I will be sure to preface future posts so that no one is expected to respond humbly.
G
graceandtruth
Guest
Castor Muscular said:
Sorry Castor I missed your post. Thanks for the Northern perspective.
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Here's the issue I see (as evidenced by GtT and CU's back-and-forth*):
Some people want to ignore the effects of past racism on present conditions.
Some people want to blame all present conditions on past racism.
* Not saying that they are saying exactly these two things, but that these two attitudes ultimately result in this thinking if not curbed.
Some people want to ignore the effects of past racism on present conditions.
Some people want to blame all present conditions on past racism.
* Not saying that they are saying exactly these two things, but that these two attitudes ultimately result in this thinking if not curbed.
G
graceandtruth
Guest
rsc2a said:
What if #2 is just a strawman used by those trying to facilitate #1.
C
christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:
Predictable.....
C
christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:CU you are missing the point. History affects the present and must be dealt with. Scripture teaches that we make past wrongs right not cry, "Don't live in the past". That is all I am saying.
I have been wronged by many "white" folk in many instances. I have been called N***** and cussed so many times growing up that I can't begin to count it. I have been physically attacked with the final outcome going both ways. So I sympathize with your bad day. Please accept my heartfelt apology for the cussing you had to endure that day and its lasting effects. I wonder what effects being subjected to the systemic treatment that Yancey speaks of for years has on a people. This is the issue.
Your assumption that I am looking for someone to blame is telling. Peter was to blame and no one had to look for someone to blame. Yancey pointed out that the generation to blame is alive and well today. He pointed out that they are in our churches and like his church then they are silent or worse yet blaming the group that was and is being wronged.
No fight my brother. When Christ saved me he took care of my animosity towards those who see no problem with past and present racism. I see the absence of African-Americans in the IFB and other conservative churches and I would like to see that change but I know that it will never change as long as attitudes about racism and its effects past and present do not change. My intention is not to judge but to inform.
Thanks for the push back and the pointers. I will be sure to preface future posts so that no one is expected to respond humbly.
I have a good friend, at least I consider him a good friend.... that is somewhat younger than me. He is product of an interracial marriage. He, himself appears to be more African-American "looking" than not. We've talked many times about the issue. I can see his point of view and I sympathize with him. Yet, I KNOW without one doubt, he doesn't really accept what I have to say about it. The reason he doesn't..... is because I am a white man. I will never, I mean never, be able to really say I'm sorry for what he has experienced. I will never ever be able to tell him things are different now..... and that some of the problems rest with those who refuse to accept things are different. He's lived a good life. He has been promoted a few times and I did my best to see that he got promoted. I think a lot of this man. We disagree on many things but we are human beings. We are subject to same issues. Yet, it always different for him. Always. He knows this. We generally joke around with each other from time to time. He laughs at our differences, but often that laughter seems sprinkled with innuendo. I take it with a grain of salt because I care about him. I do feel comfortable with myself and I would change if I didn't. I'm not part of the problem.
I agree completely with your view of most modern IFB churches. I've even heard "preachers" tell Klan jokes from the pulpit in IFB churches. Yet, I know some that have and readily accept African American members. I will say that I think its just as rare to see a white person in a mostly black church as it is to see a black person in a mostly white church. It will take time for all of this "iron out". Yet, I do believe the constant requirement from African-American peoples for "crackers" to show endless humility for the "sins" of "times past"..... to be part of the problem as well. Honest dialogue here. I didn't mean to offend you.
G
graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:graceandtruth said:CU you are missing the point. History affects the present and must be dealt with. Scripture teaches that we make past wrongs right not cry, "Don't live in the past". That is all I am saying.
I have been wronged by many "white" folk in many instances. I have been called N***** and cussed so many times growing up that I can't begin to count it. I have been physically attacked with the final outcome going both ways. So I sympathize with your bad day. Please accept my heartfelt apology for the cussing you had to endure that day and its lasting effects. I wonder what effects being subjected to the systemic treatment that Yancey speaks of for years has on a people. This is the issue.
Your assumption that I am looking for someone to blame is telling. Peter was to blame and no one had to look for someone to blame. Yancey pointed out that the generation to blame is alive and well today. He pointed out that they are in our churches and like his church then they are silent or worse yet blaming the group that was and is being wronged.
No fight my brother. When Christ saved me he took care of my animosity towards those who see no problem with past and present racism. I see the absence of African-Americans in the IFB and other conservative churches and I would like to see that change but I know that it will never change as long as attitudes about racism and its effects past and present do not change. My intention is not to judge but to inform.
Thanks for the push back and the pointers. I will be sure to preface future posts so that no one is expected to respond humbly.
I have a good friend, at least I consider him a good friend.... that is somewhat younger than me. He is product of an interracial marriage. He, himself appears to be more African-American "looking" than not. We've talked many times about the issue. I can see his point of view and I sympathize with him. Yet, I KNOW without one doubt, he doesn't really accept what I have to say about it. The reason he doesn't..... is because I am a white man. I will never, I mean never, be able to really say I'm sorry for what he has experienced. I will never ever be able to tell him things are different now..... and that some of the problems rest with those who refuse to accept things are different. He's lived a good life. He has been promoted a few times and I did my best to see that he got promoted. I think a lot of this man. We disagree on many things but we are human beings. We are subject to same issues. Yet, it always different for him. Always. He knows this. We generally joke around with each other from time to time. He laughs at our differences, but often that laughter seems sprinkled with innuendo. I take it with a grain of salt because I care about him. I do feel comfortable with myself and I would change if I didn't. I'm not part of the problem.
I agree completely with your view of most modern IFB churches. I've even heard "preachers" tell Klan jokes from the pulpit in IFB churches. Yet, I know some that have and readily accept African American members. I will say that I think its just as rare to see a white person in a mostly black church as it is to see a black person in a mostly white church. It will take time for all of this "iron out". Yet, I do believe the constant requirement from African-American peoples for "crackers" to show endless humility for the "sins" of "times past"..... to be part of the problem as well. Honest dialogue here. I didn't mean to offend you.
This statement does not accurately describe African-American expectations at all. What you call "endless humility" is not expected because it is unheard of in the African-American culture. It was once essential for survival and now a person no matter their ethnicity would garner only disdain by such behavior.
The second inaccuracy is your use of "sins of times past" because the same racism still exists today. I will be the first to admit that things have improved a great deal since the 1960's, 1970's, and even the 1980's. It is not always as blatant but none the less exists. Denial of this fact is a point of irritation. My daughter-in-law is European-American and comes from a really racist small community here in Louisiana. She says she never noticed any signs of racism until she married my son. She says it is even more apparent and blatant when my son is not around and it is just her and Wyatt the little grand baby.
The other point of irritation is when someone implies that we do not know what racism is. It would be helpful if people would develop relationships across ethnic "lines" by listening and accepting it as a fact when someone says certain behaviors are offensive. It should be a learning process for both sides. For instance, when I was in Germany we would stand in these long lines for service at German establishments and some German would walk up and just cut the line. Needless to say this was upsetting and the first phrase I learned was "excuse me please" so I could stop them from walking in front of me. I asked a German friend about that one day and she said that they were not being rude but they were simply in a hurry and when someone is in a hurry they let them go in front of them. She also said that no one would think of just skipping the line to skip the line. My eyes were opened and I never stopped a German from cutting me in line again. I let them exercise this cultural prerogative though I never used it myself even when I was in a hurry. I just could get past my American aversion to cutting in lines. I listened and learned without requiring them to validate their point of view and actually made some friends with some of those folks that I let cut after I knew what I was doing was not normal to them.
I understand your points and hope you understand mine. No offense taken. Thanks for being honest. You are still one of my favorite persons to disagree with. ;D
C
christundivided
Guest
graceandtruth said:
People are generally MEAN........and..... Some...... "black" people are paranoid. Now.... please noticed I said "some". I am not discounting it doesn't still exist. I believe it does, but your house isn't surrounded by Klan members. I know... I know... I don't understand and I'm going to extremes.
Oops, my first comments definitely tie into your comments above. Really, I am not saying you can't tell "racism".... but hey. You don't speak for all of the black community. You have to admit, "black folk" are just hurting themselves by crying racism when none exists. Does it offend you that I use the term "black folk". I can tell you I mean absolutely nothing by it. Nothing. Take my word for it.
I understand your points and hope you understand mine. No offense taken. Thanks for being honest. You are still one of my favorite persons to disagree with. ;D
I do understand but will you let me understand? Do you believe a white man can really understand racism? Be honest.... you're the one asking me to understand. I hope you will take my word that I am trying to understand.
G
graceandtruth
Guest
christundivided said:
I believe they can if they will listen to those who are experiencing it without crying paranoia
(I couldn't resist). I think what hinders their understanding is their unwillingness to simple accept what those experiencing it tell them. For instance your reference to "black folks" is offensive to many people. To continue to use the term after one has been informed that it is offensive and African-American is preferred perceived as racism because one has taken the position "your feelings don't matter". To other people African-American is offensive and the same would be true in that instance. I am not offended by it but it doesn't fit to well since as my wife often reminds me most of the Cajuns in Louisiana are darker than I am. LOL.........I really don't think I for one expect you to fully understand any more than I fully understand the inequalities that women experience. I do expect you to listen when someone is telling you something is racist and take the measures that you can to expose and eradicate it. I do not expect you to apologize when the extreme racism of America's past is mentioned but I do expect you to acknowledge that it was without qualifier. When someone says certain things are racially motivated I expect you to say, "explain to me what you see" instead of "here they go with the race card". I do not expect you to be color blind but I expect you to be aware that there are cultural differences between European- and African-Americans and to accept and respect both cultures.
There is one other way to understand racism better. According to my sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law marrying an African-American gives you a whole different view. I don't guess that is an option for all white men.
Thanks for the honest dialogue CU.