Please watch this. (Saw it online and it gets to the heart of my struggles with Disunity in Christ)
I have be struggling with Clevelands book. Mostly because I think she leaves out some pretty significant background information in an effort to not offend or hurt White Christians about the implications of their Whiteness on the disunity that actually exist in Christ.
The example, that bothered me the most, was her conversation about the racial segregation of Chicago. That example bothers me so much because it completely ignores the city's horrifying history of housing segregation and racialized population control and pooling. For instance, she discusses how most Black folks in Chicago are White Socks fans and the White folks are Cubs... well the Black folk in the city were legally forced to live in the Bronzeville or south side area of the city. This area is closest to the White Socks stadium. This is where Cabrini Green, the most unfortunate housing project to be built in the Midwest (the model for the show GOOD TIMES), was constructed. Bronzeville was constructed with the intention of keeping Negros away from the city. They engineered the neighborhoods in a way that there were a series of dead end streets and that major thoroughfares and interstates completely bypassed the area. The Cabrini Green projects were constructed as high rises with floor to ceiling fences around them. They literally where caged high rises for Black folks.
Upwardly mobile Black folks attempted to move into other areas of the city but found that legally they were not allowed to rent, lease, or purchase homes elsewhere. Mortgages included clauses that restricted all future owners of property from selling homes to Black folks. So they were forced back to the South side of Chicago.
So now you have a segment of the city, built like a mouse trap, with subpar housing option, under-resourced schools, no industry, underrepresented food options (food desert), a GRoWING population living below poverty (in many cases)- this is how Chicago, the "Black on Black Crime" (undercover racists) news sound bites Dream. (Sidenote-so when Donald Trump, who has experience with housing discrimination, uses Chicago in a debate about Black on Black Crime and then wants to say it needs law and order, you hopefully now understand how truly disgusting that is. )
Most recently, there was drama between Black folks and the White Socks. The White Socks wanted a new stadium. They wanted to move it deeper into the newly gentrifying Bronzeville neighborhood. Unfortunately for them, Black folks still occupied those homes. So, the White Socks developed a foundation and that foundation struck deals with those Black families so that they would release the land. The Black families upheld their end of the bargain, the moved out. Their homes were demolished and the stadium was constructed. BUT when it was time for the foundation to cut those families checks for the land that the stadium now occupied, the White Socks foundation filed Bankruptcy and refused to pay. Those who could afford took legal action and sued the White Socks franchise that claimed no fault in the matter (stating the foundation was a separate entity). The families largely won and the settlement pays have just begun to be issued.
All of this to say, yes Chicago is racially segmented... and there is a reason for that, and it's a nasty racist reason behind why.
This is also why our Christian churches are segmented. Yes because our neighborhoods still bare the architecture of their creation. We live where we were designed to live. We worship, typically where it was SAFE to worship. Maybe people of color (more than 1 or 2 families) don't worship in your community or live in your community because they haven't been given the all clear. AND when they do come, maybe they experienced what People of Color and PWIs experience. Tokenization (Will you sing in our choir), Otherness (So glad to have you here, your people are always welcome to OUR church), MicroAgressions of various type and kind.
I also struggle with the idea that bringing in a couple families of color makes a church "Multicultural", especially if the faith tradition and worship (beyond a jazzed up choir) still predominantly reflects White Christian traditions.
Watch the video here. How Housing Discrimination Works
Monica Johnson's Blog for Social Justice in Higher Education and Beyond
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
220 Pages of Non Threatningly Whispering For White Folks
Their [White Liberals] knowledge revealed in fact that they
can deal with the Negro as a symbol or victim but had no sense of him as a man.
–James Baldwin , The Fire Next Time
Adaptation
The White Christian’s knowledge of racism and how they see
themselves connected to it reveals in fact they can deal with the legacy of
Jesus as a symbol or a mythological victim of the persecution of his day but
have no sense of how to integrate the essence of his character into the stark
realities of his humanity. Which is to say that White Christians can understand
that Jesus was persecuted and crucified, but just can’t seem to accept that
they [White Christians] are most closely related ethno/biologically to the
Romans that crucified him. They are so unacquainted with the racial ethnic
realities of Jesus that they even depict him as a Blond long straight haired,
blue eyed, pale skinned White man on their adorned crosses in their lily white
churches or in their lily White movies.
So I am struggling to get through the Disunity in Christ
book. I recognize that it is written by a woman of color, potentially another
Black woman. It is clear as I stumble through her pages that we are at a very
different stage of nigressence. I would guess that Dr. Cleveland, who
consistently glosses over the historical context of how disunity found its way
into the Christian Church, has prioritized the value of multiculturalism and the importance of its translation to a White dominant society over the painful lived experiences of herself and other people of color.
I found my blood boiling right after reading her juxtaposition of ethnic/racial separation in Chicago to cultural segments of Christianity. She writes about it as if all the Black folk in Chicago wanted to live in Cabrini Green or Bronzeville and all the Polish folk wanted to be sectioned off too. She writes as if slaves werent forced to the colored sections of White churches simply for show or to insure their continued captivity during worship hours of their masters.
I get it, Dr. Cleveland is trying to reach White folk and in order to reach them, you have to pretend like their racism was unintentional or nonstrategic. I see this in a lot of White focused diversity work. No one is allowed to make White folk feel uncomfortable. I have affectionately renamed Cleveland’s book 220 Pages of Non Threatningly Whispering For White Folks
I found my blood boiling right after reading her juxtaposition of ethnic/racial separation in Chicago to cultural segments of Christianity. She writes about it as if all the Black folk in Chicago wanted to live in Cabrini Green or Bronzeville and all the Polish folk wanted to be sectioned off too. She writes as if slaves werent forced to the colored sections of White churches simply for show or to insure their continued captivity during worship hours of their masters.
I get it, Dr. Cleveland is trying to reach White folk and in order to reach them, you have to pretend like their racism was unintentional or nonstrategic. I see this in a lot of White focused diversity work. No one is allowed to make White folk feel uncomfortable. I have affectionately renamed Cleveland’s book 220 Pages of Non Threatningly Whispering For White Folks
Dr, Cleveland makes me realize that I do not believe in the
validity of a warm and fuzzy unified cultural world. Not even within the
confines of Christianity. Its not that I don’t believe that the idea is good
one. I just do not trust, after all this time, that White folk have the
capacity to strip themselves of the racial privilege that finds itself at the
cux of the issue of racism. I can’t get down with multiculturalism in
Christianity because I don’t think it truly exists. I believe that there are
large White churches that some people of color attend or Minority Majority
churches that some White Folks attend. I don’t believe that we can truly have
multicultural churches because White folks aint ready to deal with (acknowledge
and apologize for) how they brought Black folks, Native Americans, Latinx,
Asian, and so on and so forth to know Christ. White folks aint ready to be
uncomfortable and Black folk aint got the energy or timed required to deal with
the aftermath associated with making White folks uncomfortable.
James Baldwin so eloquently wrote:
It is a fact that every American
Negro bares a name that originally belonged to the White man whose chattel he
was. I am called Baldwin because I was either sold by my African tribe, or
kidnapped out of it into the hands of a White Christian named Baldwin who
forced me to kneel at the foot of the cross. I am then both visibly and legally
the descendant of slaves in a White protestant country. And this is what it
means to be an American negro, and this is who he is, a kidnapped pagan who was
sold like an animal and treated like one. Who was once defined by the American
constitution as 3/5s a man. And who according to the Dred Scott decision, had
no rights that a White man was bound to respect. And today a hundred years
after his technical emancipation, he remains, with the possible exception of
the American Indian, the most despised creature of his country. (The Fire Next
Time)
Monday, September 26, 2016
For White Folk, Blaming Patriotism When the Term Racist Works Just Fine...
To the folks whose friends have been dancing around this issue for the last few weeks. Let me make it plain...
You have an issue with Colin Kaepernick because you have an infection (regardless of rather its big or small) of racism. It's not patriotism, it ain't got nothing to do with the troops. It ain't cause you wish he'd be like MLK (which is also racist because essentially you are saying he isn't being a good negro while providing an image of a good negro... if it wasn't you would suggest other folks like Ghandi or Harvey Milk or Erin Brakovich... but nope you picked the stereotypical Black figure, you just forgot that White folk hated and subsequently killed him too).
You have an issue/hatred for Kaepernick because you need to deal with your racism. It doesn't matter if your 1 or two black friends tells you different. Even people of color can have internalized racism (they can utilize its tools and reinforce the negative beliefs that they have been taught to have about themselves- Jerry Rice/Richard Sherman/Your good Black friend Jamal who agreed with you that one time about "ghettos" and the use of the N-word).
Ain't nobody told you bout yourself though because you, random White friend, and your White Privilege means you can use this weakness of yours for adverse actions toward people of color (specifically the ones you supervise or work alongside). Institutional racism has for a long time affected people's performance reviews, abilities to get jobs, bank loans, promotions, scholarships and etc).
AND TO BE CLEAR... someone telling you about your own proclivity for racisms is not hatred or racisms towards White folks. It's stating the obvious. Like telling you that your fly is down or that your bra strap is showing. Just because you are embarrassed doesn't mean that you aren't in the wrong.
So you got options-
1) Own it and move on. You literally have the privilege of not giving a damn. Unless you do something as stupid as using the NWord in public or calling people monkeys, or saying the unarmed Black folks shoulda been killed on the Internet you probably won't feel your racism anyway. That's another by product of White Privilege. Aren't you lucky.
2) Own it and change it. This is a daily process and it will be painful. You have to call yourself out on your racism and work to counterbalance it. That's right... I said WORK to counterbalance it. You can't pray it away. (Read that whole part of the Bible that references faith without actions) The work also means educating yourself and your friends. Don't wait for us to do it... we're a little emotional preoccupied right now with the consistent murdering of our people and violation of our bodies.
Here is a brief syllabus:
Between the World and Me
White Privilege: The Essential Readings
Disunity in Christ
The New Jim Crow
White Like Me
Anything by Dr. DW Sue
Anything by James Baldwin
Between the World and Me
White Privilege: The Essential Readings
Disunity in Christ
The New Jim Crow
White Like Me
Anything by Dr. DW Sue
Anything by James Baldwin
3) Attack the messenger for making you uncomfortable because you got embarrassed by how accurate they were when they called you on your crap. -A caught cat will holler.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Capable and Responsible
Disjointed thoughts from the 2nd Part of White Privilege: Essential Readings
I recognized the anger of my first post about this book. I felt guilty, like I was being mean to White folk for their not knowing. I sat in that.
Alex posed a powerful prompt in "asking" me to process through where I identified my own privilege. I completed that review of self on my birthday. Making the list was fairly easy. It was cathartic. I've got growing to do. I was reminded that you can't make changes to the rough edges of who you are if you don't know who you are... I need to amend that statement...
You can't make changers to the rough edges of who you are If you...
1) Don't know who you are
2) Don't recognize your edges as being rough
3) Don't care that your rough edges a seriously impact the quality or ability of life for others.
4) Don't sincerely internalize that you are capable and responsible to the world around you and the people in it.
I think this is where my anger returns. Specifically with White Privilege...
How often do we, people of color/colleagues of color/so on and so forth, have to shine the light on the rough edges of Whiteness?
Is shining a light on those edges powerful enough, especially if White folk don't (want to) understand that the edges are rough?
What happens when you expend the effort to educate and your pupil flat out displays resistance?
How do you motivate yourself to educate when you know the resistance is coming? -Alex?
Self-care is a constant struggle... I'm working on it...I am fighting through this material and the racial climate right now. I want to give up on diversity work and White folk often... daily... But... I remember #4 ...
4) I sincerely internalize that I am capable and responsible to the world around me and the people in it.
No pretty conclusion on this one...
I recognized the anger of my first post about this book. I felt guilty, like I was being mean to White folk for their not knowing. I sat in that.
Alex posed a powerful prompt in "asking" me to process through where I identified my own privilege. I completed that review of self on my birthday. Making the list was fairly easy. It was cathartic. I've got growing to do. I was reminded that you can't make changes to the rough edges of who you are if you don't know who you are... I need to amend that statement...
You can't make changers to the rough edges of who you are If you...
1) Don't know who you are
2) Don't recognize your edges as being rough
3) Don't care that your rough edges a seriously impact the quality or ability of life for others.
4) Don't sincerely internalize that you are capable and responsible to the world around you and the people in it.
I think this is where my anger returns. Specifically with White Privilege...
How often do we, people of color/colleagues of color/so on and so forth, have to shine the light on the rough edges of Whiteness?
Is shining a light on those edges powerful enough, especially if White folk don't (want to) understand that the edges are rough?
What happens when you expend the effort to educate and your pupil flat out displays resistance?
How do you motivate yourself to educate when you know the resistance is coming? -Alex?
Self-care is a constant struggle... I'm working on it...I am fighting through this material and the racial climate right now. I want to give up on diversity work and White folk often... daily... But... I remember #4 ...
4) I sincerely internalize that I am capable and responsible to the world around me and the people in it.
No pretty conclusion on this one...
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Birthday Privilege!!!
Today is my birthday! I have been blessed to (as the old folk say) "be in the land of the livin' for one mo' year".
As I continue this journey of life, I think it's appropriate for me to count my blessings (term used loosely)... Or better yet, within the contentious climate of today, I shall count my privileges. (Blessings and privilege is different.)
Right, so... I talk about privilege often, specifically how White privilege and Gender privilege impact me negatively. The list to follow in no way negates the impact of those privileges on my life. This list specifically addresses the fact that while I am SERIOUSLY affected by White privilege or Gender privilege, there are individuals who have to deal with both of those and then some and then some and then some... Anyway... Here we go
(List not ranked... Stream of consciousness)
1. I am cisgender. As a cis-woman of color, although the statistics surrounding rates of assault, abuse, murder, sexual violence for my gender identity is quite high, the data on the lack of safety that transgender folks endure is catastrophic. (Goggle this and learn something new) I also have the privilege of being who I am...as I know myself to be without adverse consequence. I don't have to justify myself or my gender. I don't have to fear using the restroom. I don't have to be forced into counseling in order to transition towards my truth. I don't have to fear incarceration in a facility mismatched with my gender identity.
2. Regardless of preference or orientation, I am involved in a heterosexual relationship and therefore benefit from heteronormative privilege. The broader world around me openly recognizes the way I love, display affection, my projected sexual preference and so on and so forth. My husband and I can kiss in public and know that if we are accosted, it won't be because of that act. I don't fear persecution or prosecution based on my preference or sexual orientation. I haven't had to fear being disowned or kicked out of my family or family member's homes because of who I love or was attracted to. (Please take a moment to familiarize yourself on the data surrounding LGBTQIA+ youth and homelessness)
3. I've got all the damn degrees. (3.5) I've got all these damn degrees and have only ever attended private schools. Regardless of the cost or impact on my family, I have always been enrolled in "higher end" educational experiences. I've never struggled for educational resources. I haven't had teachers forced to teach me based on testing standards. I've always had 1on1 focused classroom attention. I can code switch with the best of them- with this however also comes the microaggressions of being 1 and only or 1 of few, but I still had security that others who looked like me largely didn't.
4. Socioeconomic stability- my parents and grandparents (aunts and uncles) worked real hard so that I could grow up and not have to see fiscal struggle. Not that I thought I was rich as the folks I went to school with, but that I new I had a great deal more financial options than the folks I went to church with. I didn't truly understand the value of a dollar until I was fresh out of college trying to live with my "ass on my shoulders". (Shoutout to everyone who loaned/gave me money or support in my 20s) Being able to buy food is a privilege. Knowing that you have a reliable mode of transportation, housing, technology, etc... Being able to save money...That's all privilege. Some of that you can work for, but for some, the hole they dug is to deep, and for many the hole was dug for them and it keeps getting deeper.
5. I work in higher education and I'm salaried . Yeah I know everybody ain't supposed to have my job or do what I do BUT working in higher education has its perks. I am privileged to work for an institution that does not police what I think or how I live. No one is telling me I can't discuss race at work. My opinions matter. I can go to conferences. I can go to school for more degrees at a discount. I got a bomb ass health insurance plan. They making it rain on my retirement. I get all these vacation days. (Please know that I bust my ass at my job. It isn't easy work but the perks are quite nice)
6. Technology- Between my husband and me (from work to home) there are 15 screens. Many people think of technology as luxury. I have one question...How many employers still take paper applications? The answer is few. Most folks want you to apply online. That requires knowledge of and access to technology. If you are applying for higher profile positions you need vitas/cv/resume/cover letters (technology required). If you want to pay your bills without paying extra fees (technology required) school (technology) news and weather (technology) Starbucks (my bad, went to far)
7. Ability- I currently have the use of all my limbs. I have not been diagnosed with anything terminal. I don't have an degenerative diseases or conditions. I can typically walk (privilege) into any building and know that I will be able to get around it. I don't have to plan my day around medication or the availability of assistance. I don't have to fight with an insurance company or my employer to protect my standard of care.
8. I have religions privilege. I identify as Christian, despite the lies folks out here telling about Christians in the US being oppressed, I'm out here benefitting from all this Christian privilege. My religious holidays are recognized by the world around me. My govt is filled with people who profess to share my faith. Their are laws, currency, restaurants, and major stores that adjust their operations to include worship services and my dietary restrictions (lent menus, blue laws about alcohol, Social Injustice Chicken closed on Sunday)
This is a broad overview of my privileges. I know that there are plenty more categories and sub categories that I can flush out eventually.
I am wholeheartedly thankful for my life. I am grateful for the experiences and challenges. I am glad that I worked through this list today because it not only shows me my privilege, but it reminds me that there is work to do AND I, in all of these areas of privilege, have the perfect platform to do that work.
I've had an amazing 34 years on this earth... I hope the (Lord willing) long remainder of my time can be used to make the world AMAZING for everyone else too.
Peace and Blessings MOJO
As I continue this journey of life, I think it's appropriate for me to count my blessings (term used loosely)... Or better yet, within the contentious climate of today, I shall count my privileges. (Blessings and privilege is different.)
Right, so... I talk about privilege often, specifically how White privilege and Gender privilege impact me negatively. The list to follow in no way negates the impact of those privileges on my life. This list specifically addresses the fact that while I am SERIOUSLY affected by White privilege or Gender privilege, there are individuals who have to deal with both of those and then some and then some and then some... Anyway... Here we go
(List not ranked... Stream of consciousness)
1. I am cisgender. As a cis-woman of color, although the statistics surrounding rates of assault, abuse, murder, sexual violence for my gender identity is quite high, the data on the lack of safety that transgender folks endure is catastrophic. (Goggle this and learn something new) I also have the privilege of being who I am...as I know myself to be without adverse consequence. I don't have to justify myself or my gender. I don't have to fear using the restroom. I don't have to be forced into counseling in order to transition towards my truth. I don't have to fear incarceration in a facility mismatched with my gender identity.
2. Regardless of preference or orientation, I am involved in a heterosexual relationship and therefore benefit from heteronormative privilege. The broader world around me openly recognizes the way I love, display affection, my projected sexual preference and so on and so forth. My husband and I can kiss in public and know that if we are accosted, it won't be because of that act. I don't fear persecution or prosecution based on my preference or sexual orientation. I haven't had to fear being disowned or kicked out of my family or family member's homes because of who I love or was attracted to. (Please take a moment to familiarize yourself on the data surrounding LGBTQIA+ youth and homelessness)
3. I've got all the damn degrees. (3.5) I've got all these damn degrees and have only ever attended private schools. Regardless of the cost or impact on my family, I have always been enrolled in "higher end" educational experiences. I've never struggled for educational resources. I haven't had teachers forced to teach me based on testing standards. I've always had 1on1 focused classroom attention. I can code switch with the best of them- with this however also comes the microaggressions of being 1 and only or 1 of few, but I still had security that others who looked like me largely didn't.
4. Socioeconomic stability- my parents and grandparents (aunts and uncles) worked real hard so that I could grow up and not have to see fiscal struggle. Not that I thought I was rich as the folks I went to school with, but that I new I had a great deal more financial options than the folks I went to church with. I didn't truly understand the value of a dollar until I was fresh out of college trying to live with my "ass on my shoulders". (Shoutout to everyone who loaned/gave me money or support in my 20s) Being able to buy food is a privilege. Knowing that you have a reliable mode of transportation, housing, technology, etc... Being able to save money...That's all privilege. Some of that you can work for, but for some, the hole they dug is to deep, and for many the hole was dug for them and it keeps getting deeper.
5. I work in higher education and I'm salaried . Yeah I know everybody ain't supposed to have my job or do what I do BUT working in higher education has its perks. I am privileged to work for an institution that does not police what I think or how I live. No one is telling me I can't discuss race at work. My opinions matter. I can go to conferences. I can go to school for more degrees at a discount. I got a bomb ass health insurance plan. They making it rain on my retirement. I get all these vacation days. (Please know that I bust my ass at my job. It isn't easy work but the perks are quite nice)
6. Technology- Between my husband and me (from work to home) there are 15 screens. Many people think of technology as luxury. I have one question...How many employers still take paper applications? The answer is few. Most folks want you to apply online. That requires knowledge of and access to technology. If you are applying for higher profile positions you need vitas/cv/resume/cover letters (technology required). If you want to pay your bills without paying extra fees (technology required) school (technology) news and weather (technology) Starbucks (my bad, went to far)
7. Ability- I currently have the use of all my limbs. I have not been diagnosed with anything terminal. I don't have an degenerative diseases or conditions. I can typically walk (privilege) into any building and know that I will be able to get around it. I don't have to plan my day around medication or the availability of assistance. I don't have to fight with an insurance company or my employer to protect my standard of care.
8. I have religions privilege. I identify as Christian, despite the lies folks out here telling about Christians in the US being oppressed, I'm out here benefitting from all this Christian privilege. My religious holidays are recognized by the world around me. My govt is filled with people who profess to share my faith. Their are laws, currency, restaurants, and major stores that adjust their operations to include worship services and my dietary restrictions (lent menus, blue laws about alcohol, Social Injustice Chicken closed on Sunday)
This is a broad overview of my privileges. I know that there are plenty more categories and sub categories that I can flush out eventually.
I am wholeheartedly thankful for my life. I am grateful for the experiences and challenges. I am glad that I worked through this list today because it not only shows me my privilege, but it reminds me that there is work to do AND I, in all of these areas of privilege, have the perfect platform to do that work.
I've had an amazing 34 years on this earth... I hope the (Lord willing) long remainder of my time can be used to make the world AMAZING for everyone else too.
Peace and Blessings MOJO
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