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A review by drbobcornwall
Race in America by Laura M Cheifetz, David Maxwell
4.0
Racism has been called America’s “original sin.” It is a sin that led to the genocide of much of the Native American population and was expressed in the chattel slavery of persons brought to this continent from Africa. It has been expressed in laws that denied Asians either the opportunity to immigrate or achieve citizenship in the United States. It has been expressed in the treatment of Latinos/as—a community of peoples, many of whom trace their ancestry to a time before much of the Southwest was part of the United States. The ramifications of this original sin of racism remain with us. While many hoped that the election of Barack Obama would usher in a post-racial age, nothing of the sort has transpired. Racism remains a scourge on our land. We’ve seen it play out in various ways in recent years, coming to a head during the final year of Donald Trump’s term, when a racial reckoning coincided with a global pandemic. The aftereffects remain with us even after the end of the Trump term.
Even as attempts are made to build relationships, educate against racism, and reform institutions change has proven to be slow. Indeed, the names Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown that gave birth to the “#BlackLivesMatter” movement, along with the rise of the Birther Movement, growing Islamophobia, and the rise of anti-Asian violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, are all signs that there is much work to do. Simply claiming to be color-blind will not suffice.
As a white male Christian, reading books about race and racism isn't comfortable. Neither is acknowledging white privilege. Yet, whether asked for or not, certain privileges have been accorded to me that are related to my color. By understanding that these privileges exist I put myself in a better position to stand as an ally with those whose ethnicity and race exclude them from these privileges. It is important to understand that these privileges have little to do with economics and everything to do with color.
As an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) I am expected to participate in anti-racism training. This training is designed to sensitize clergy to the realities just mentioned so that we can help our congregations move forward toward being anti-racist communities. Educating ourselves to these realities is important, and there is an increasing number of books and resources that help us in this regard. One of these books is Race in America.
Race in America is a revision of the book Race in Post-Obama America: The Church Responds, which was edited by David Maxwell and appeared in 2016 as President Obama’s term was ending and just before the beginning of Donald Trump’s term. The book is edited by David Maxwell and Laura Cheifetz. While Maxwell served as editor of the original edition, Cheifetz has joined him for this new edition. While the original edition drew on ten contributors, this edition has thirteen. They write as members of a committee, so identities are largely hidden. Therefore, the book represents a conversation among a group of people with a shared concern for the church and the broader world. One of the contributors, the Rev. Mary Gene Boteler, writes in the introduction that the book is especially poignant for white Christians living in the United States so that they might "read, discuss with others, and initiate or continue a plan of action to confront racism" (p. xvi-xvii). The book both educates and calls the reader to action.
The book is divided into three parts. Part one defines and recounts racism in five chapters. The first chapter provides definitions of terms used in the book. That chapter is followed by one that explores the relationship of the Bible to racism. This is followed by two chapters that explore the “White and Nonwhite Binary.” These two chapters take a look at the history of the United States through the lens of whiteness. That is, who qualifies as white and what that means for how we live in this nation. These two chapters replace three chapters that look at U.S. history. Finally, part one is closed out with a chapter on “Trumpism.” This chapter is new and informative. It speaks to how the illusion of racial progress symbolized by Obama’s election was broken by the election of Donald Trump and the surge in white identity politics. Each of these chapters reminds us that while progress has been made at points, we are far from reaching any real post-racial age.
If Part I offers definitions and recounts history, Part II focuses on the realities of racism today. There are four chapters in this section. The first chapter explores the relationship between colonialism, immigration, and assimilation. Chapter seven focuses on police brutality and the Black Lives Matter Movement, which was born before Trump, but took the lead in the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. Chapter 8 focuses on the role of social media, which has played both a positive and a negative role in the current crisis. It has been used to promote hate and bigotry and to organize responses. The authors do a good job of lifting up both the benefits and the challenges posed by social media regarding the continuing racial divide in America. The final chapter in this section is titled “Do Segregated Churches Imply Racism?” The authors agree with Martin Luther King’s declaration that the reality that eleven o'clock on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week, and that this reality is a sign of racism. However, they aren’t sure that integrated worship is a true salve for the problem of racism in America if we continue with a melting pot vision of assimilation in which we all adopt the worship practices of the majority culture. While truly integrated worship is to be welcomed, a case can be made for, at least at this moment, the continuing existence of ethnic churches. But if we do move toward multi-cultural worship it needs to be more than simply a reflection of the dominant culture's preferences without allowing for other expressions to exist. So, in place of the melting pot, a better image for integrated worship is that of the salad, where distinctive elements are present and celebrated! We have a long way to go before this reality is widespread.
Part three is titled “What to Do?” In chapter ten, a word is addressed to white people like me by contributors who are white. This chapter addresses the challenges of white supremacy and white privilege. It serves to remind us that racism is more than prejudice. It is systemic. We who are white often miss the signs. It is telling that 80% of white youth and young adults don't like talking about race and assume that they live by a color-blind code. So, what do we do? The authors provide us with eight excellent suggestions for how we who are white can address white privilege and work toward the elimination of racism. Among these include recognizing our privilege, along with educating ourselves as to what this means, and then speaking up and showing up. This chapter is not a comfortable read, but then it's not supposed to be. Finally, in chapter 11, we turn to the church's response. While we may want to quickly move toward a color-blind beloved community, they tell us that there must be justice before there can be reconciliation. That will take a lot of work. It means addressing questions of reparations and looking at how we engage in mission. The authors conclude that "racism is hard-wired into this country from its founding and then through its constitution and religious, social, economic, and political life. Undoing it will take more than reading a book or going to one protest. But change and transformation and hope are also in the DNA of the Christian Disciple" (p. 134). Addressing the challenge won't be easy, but this should not deter us or lead to complacency. That is not an option.
It's a tough read, but like the numerous books that have emerged over the past decade, that is to be expected. It challenges and educates. Nonetheless, as the current political situation reminds us, there is much work to be done if we're to truly become that Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. King. The goal is not becoming color-blind, for that simply negates the wonderful diversity that is humanity. Rather it is a move toward respect and celebration of our diversity so that out of the many we might be one.
Even as attempts are made to build relationships, educate against racism, and reform institutions change has proven to be slow. Indeed, the names Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown that gave birth to the “#BlackLivesMatter” movement, along with the rise of the Birther Movement, growing Islamophobia, and the rise of anti-Asian violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, are all signs that there is much work to do. Simply claiming to be color-blind will not suffice.
As a white male Christian, reading books about race and racism isn't comfortable. Neither is acknowledging white privilege. Yet, whether asked for or not, certain privileges have been accorded to me that are related to my color. By understanding that these privileges exist I put myself in a better position to stand as an ally with those whose ethnicity and race exclude them from these privileges. It is important to understand that these privileges have little to do with economics and everything to do with color.
As an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) I am expected to participate in anti-racism training. This training is designed to sensitize clergy to the realities just mentioned so that we can help our congregations move forward toward being anti-racist communities. Educating ourselves to these realities is important, and there is an increasing number of books and resources that help us in this regard. One of these books is Race in America.
Race in America is a revision of the book Race in Post-Obama America: The Church Responds, which was edited by David Maxwell and appeared in 2016 as President Obama’s term was ending and just before the beginning of Donald Trump’s term. The book is edited by David Maxwell and Laura Cheifetz. While Maxwell served as editor of the original edition, Cheifetz has joined him for this new edition. While the original edition drew on ten contributors, this edition has thirteen. They write as members of a committee, so identities are largely hidden. Therefore, the book represents a conversation among a group of people with a shared concern for the church and the broader world. One of the contributors, the Rev. Mary Gene Boteler, writes in the introduction that the book is especially poignant for white Christians living in the United States so that they might "read, discuss with others, and initiate or continue a plan of action to confront racism" (p. xvi-xvii). The book both educates and calls the reader to action.
The book is divided into three parts. Part one defines and recounts racism in five chapters. The first chapter provides definitions of terms used in the book. That chapter is followed by one that explores the relationship of the Bible to racism. This is followed by two chapters that explore the “White and Nonwhite Binary.” These two chapters take a look at the history of the United States through the lens of whiteness. That is, who qualifies as white and what that means for how we live in this nation. These two chapters replace three chapters that look at U.S. history. Finally, part one is closed out with a chapter on “Trumpism.” This chapter is new and informative. It speaks to how the illusion of racial progress symbolized by Obama’s election was broken by the election of Donald Trump and the surge in white identity politics. Each of these chapters reminds us that while progress has been made at points, we are far from reaching any real post-racial age.
If Part I offers definitions and recounts history, Part II focuses on the realities of racism today. There are four chapters in this section. The first chapter explores the relationship between colonialism, immigration, and assimilation. Chapter seven focuses on police brutality and the Black Lives Matter Movement, which was born before Trump, but took the lead in the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. Chapter 8 focuses on the role of social media, which has played both a positive and a negative role in the current crisis. It has been used to promote hate and bigotry and to organize responses. The authors do a good job of lifting up both the benefits and the challenges posed by social media regarding the continuing racial divide in America. The final chapter in this section is titled “Do Segregated Churches Imply Racism?” The authors agree with Martin Luther King’s declaration that the reality that eleven o'clock on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week, and that this reality is a sign of racism. However, they aren’t sure that integrated worship is a true salve for the problem of racism in America if we continue with a melting pot vision of assimilation in which we all adopt the worship practices of the majority culture. While truly integrated worship is to be welcomed, a case can be made for, at least at this moment, the continuing existence of ethnic churches. But if we do move toward multi-cultural worship it needs to be more than simply a reflection of the dominant culture's preferences without allowing for other expressions to exist. So, in place of the melting pot, a better image for integrated worship is that of the salad, where distinctive elements are present and celebrated! We have a long way to go before this reality is widespread.
Part three is titled “What to Do?” In chapter ten, a word is addressed to white people like me by contributors who are white. This chapter addresses the challenges of white supremacy and white privilege. It serves to remind us that racism is more than prejudice. It is systemic. We who are white often miss the signs. It is telling that 80% of white youth and young adults don't like talking about race and assume that they live by a color-blind code. So, what do we do? The authors provide us with eight excellent suggestions for how we who are white can address white privilege and work toward the elimination of racism. Among these include recognizing our privilege, along with educating ourselves as to what this means, and then speaking up and showing up. This chapter is not a comfortable read, but then it's not supposed to be. Finally, in chapter 11, we turn to the church's response. While we may want to quickly move toward a color-blind beloved community, they tell us that there must be justice before there can be reconciliation. That will take a lot of work. It means addressing questions of reparations and looking at how we engage in mission. The authors conclude that "racism is hard-wired into this country from its founding and then through its constitution and religious, social, economic, and political life. Undoing it will take more than reading a book or going to one protest. But change and transformation and hope are also in the DNA of the Christian Disciple" (p. 134). Addressing the challenge won't be easy, but this should not deter us or lead to complacency. That is not an option.
It's a tough read, but like the numerous books that have emerged over the past decade, that is to be expected. It challenges and educates. Nonetheless, as the current political situation reminds us, there is much work to be done if we're to truly become that Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. King. The goal is not becoming color-blind, for that simply negates the wonderful diversity that is humanity. Rather it is a move toward respect and celebration of our diversity so that out of the many we might be one.