The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21st. On that day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws.” Proclaiming the day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. It has now been 40 years since their declaration – forty years of genocide, fear, brutality, ethnic cleansing, anger, unfair opportunities, violence, racism, rape, prejudice, judgment, Darfur, Rwanda, Iraq, Gaza, Taiwan, LA, Cicero, New Orleans, and too many others – hardly anyone could argue we’ve even started to approach ‘eliminating racial discrimination.’
So what do we do? How do we lament these losses of life, the brokenness around the globe and in our own cities, the sin that keeps us all entrenched in the problems swirling around race and the differences of power that come with it? Today is a good reminder for me to look, again, at my own motivation for caring about this “issue” – as it’s more than a topic, interest, or esoteric theory; it’s about real people, real and valuable humans whose lives are abused or cut short because of race. And it’s a reminder for me to encourage the church to think about and address race as the deeply spiritual problem that it is – for both the perpetrators and the victims. I’ll never forget hearing Desmond TuTu, the former archbishop of South Africa and a black African, say during an address on Chicago’s south side that, “we fight racism because it is wrong and it harms the humanity of the oppressed, and we fight racism because we love the racist.” From a man jailed and beaten by his white oppressors. He loves them. He advocated for forgiveness and reconciliation in South Africa after the many centuries of oppression from apartheid. Powerful.
Today I am pausing to think, and feel, and be touched by race and its affects in our world. It is a complex, personal, emotional, power-charged topic to be sure – it requires long conversations and relationships and tough choices. It also requires action and courage and conviction. The winter 2006 issue of “The Narthex” is on why the ECC desires to be a diverse church; have you read it – what do you think? My recent favorite book on race for the white community is by Paul Kivel, “Uprooting Racism“; any thoughts on this book, or on other great resources you’ve enjoyed? The ECC has an opportunity to send churches on Sankofa journeys and help them experience a weekend workshop called “Invitation to Racial Righteousness”; any interest or thoughts about this experience? Just a reminder; for me and for all of us.
Help us, God; help us to remember, to feel, to care, to weep, to feel uncomfortable, to give up control, to confess, to be moved, to forgive, to find righteousness in relationships, to be encouraged, to be empowered, to talk, to act, to change, to listen, to speak out, to learn, to try, to be open to your call to help the church represent Your faithful and diverse kingdom, to bring the aroma of Christ to racist people and a racist world.
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
– Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King
In a multicultural class I was in last year, the question “Is my comfort more important than someone else’s pain?”
It is to easy not to do anything, say anything, hold the door, because there might be a few moments of akwardness and discomfort. While not acting, speaking may be easy, it perpetuates pain, ultimately we all lose when we do not speak out.