There has been a ton of material cyberspace on the issue of race and Ferguson over the past several months and for the most part I have remained silent on the issue. Prior to this year I would have responded like most WASPs I have seen respond on the internet about it is time to move on and get on with the real issues of life.
Earlier this year I was fortunate to take a class on reconciliation training and my eyes were opened to a new way of seeing the issue of race relations in our culture.
Some of the things I took from this training are as follows:
1. My experience as an American Citizen of European descent is not universal. Just seeing and hearing about the experiences of those who are different than me helped me to see the problem of race in this country did not disappear with the emancipation proclamation or the civil rights act of 1964.
2. I do not know what it is like to be a person of color, female or homosexual in the United States today because I have not walked in those shoes. There is no experience I can have as a white, male heterosexual which can give me that experience on a daily basis.
3. As a white, male, heterosexual I have been the member of the privileged class in our society. I have done nothing to earn this privilege it has come as a result of who I am and I must confess I have unknowingly taken advantage of that privilege without realizing it was there.
4. Racism is a major issue that needs to be dealt with in this country and until it is dealt with in our society and the world at large. The issue will continue to hold us back as a nation until it is erased.
Since that training a couple of months ago I continue to struggle with the issue in my life. I am more aware when I hear statements made by people that could be construed as racially in nature. I often wonder what how I need to respond to such statements.
I have also come to some conclusions:
1. I need to listen to the stories of people not like me to hear about their experiences in order to become aware of the how their lives have been impacted.
2. I need to seek to understand how their lives have been and continue to be negatively impacted by the racial divide that has existed in my world.
3. I must do whatever I can to continue my in this area as I grow in my faith because the two go hand in hand.
I must confess this has been an eyeopening experience for me. I have had to confess my own sin in this area. Deal with my own desire for the quick fix and begin to work towards a solution the resolves the issue. While I do not fully understand everything that is behind the events of Ferguson, I am more aware of why it happened and it will continue to happen in communities like Ferguson around the country.
