T is for Tuesday. I’ll do my best to keep this in a rambling format rather than a lengthy post. Just some thoughts on the current state of the race conversation…
- Perhaps you feel some exhaustion regarding with the race conversation in our nation. I know I do.
- Let’s identify what this means. We can be exhausted for the wrong reasons.
- At my core, I believe the conversation still does and always will have value.
- So, I’m not exhausted in the sense that I wish everyone would quit talking about it and things would go back to “normal” where those in the majority position felt little compulsion to listen, learn, address wrongs, ask ourselves how we should change, etc.
- I’m exhausted and frustrated in another sense.
- Let me state this clearly: It is difficult for believers (or people in general) in majority contexts to have challenging conversations about being in the majority context. More simply, white people have a hard time understanding, processing, and discussing their historical place and context as white people.
- I am sympathetic to this. Many white people I know say “I’m not a racist” and point to their individual belief and attitudes. They don’t understand how they could learn and grow when in their heart they don’t find themselves guilty of racism. This makes a lot of sense.
- But the race conversation forces us to think about group dynamics as well as individual ones.
- Now comes the “exhaustion” part.
- No one would express surprise to hear me say we live in a culture of extremes.
- Billy Joel wrote these lyrics quite a while ago:
Out of the darkness, into the light
Leaving the scene of the crime
Either I’m wrong or I’m perfectly right every time
Sometimes I lie awake, night after night
Coming apart at the seamsEager to please, ready to fight
Why do I go to extremes? - Extreme views get the press, encourage the violence, and actually shape beliefs.
- I do not advocate for “extreme” views. By that term I mean a hijacking of important conversations such as ones about race and demanding allegiance to certain points of view.
- When people feel backed into a corner, they will often try to fight their way out. This is no way to have a conversation about race.
- And this exhausts me. Good people who could take steps toward learning and understanding and real Biblical unity instead respond with an extreme when confronted with one.
- Take CRT. If you don’t know what Critical Race Theory is, join the club.
- That’s right. I’m telling you I’m an educated pastor with an advanced degree and I don’t understand Critical Race Theory. Don’t write me trying to explain it. That’s not my point.
- I do read about it, seeking understanding. I do try, when I have time, to attempt to understand the intention of some of the scholars who originated it (yes, they are still living).
- But this is part of the issue. I refuse to claim that I understand CRT. Why? Because I haven’t had the time to fully investigate it. And, because of its status as such a lightning rod issue, we should exercise caution to avoid going to extremes without full understanding.
- I would love to find ways to invest in open, honest conversations where I can acknowledge my ignorance, state my convictions even if they need to be sharpened, listen to brothers and sisters who have not lived their lives in the majority context, and converse in a spirit of love and unity.
- I’m exhausted at the prospect. I fear the extremes have sucked the energy out of the will for many to do just that.
- Can you learn? Can you grow?
- Can you expose yourself to challenge and deeper understanding?
- I hope so. I hope the exhaustion won’t keep us from at least trying.