I'm so glad that articles like this are viral on the Internet. I tend to think that I don't come from a place of racism, but the article showed me how it can sneak in with such subtlety.
I'm afraid I don't understand the Tea Party thing ... has a different connotation over here.
I'm not sure if this is relevant (forgive me if I've missed the point) ... but it jumped out when I read this about Barack Snr in Barack Obama's "Dreams from my Father" and am trying to imagine the scenario if the tables were turned
“… after long hours of study, my father had joined my grandfather and several other friends at a local Waikiki bar. Everyone was in a festive mood, eating and drinking to the sounds of a slack-key guitar, when a white man abruptly announced to the bartender, loudly enough for everyone to hear, that he shouldn’t have to drink good liquor “next to a nigger”. The room fell quiet and people turned to my father, expecting a fight. Instead, my father stood up, walked over to the man, smiled, and proceeded to lecture him about the folly of bigotry, the promise of the American dream and the universal rights of man. “This fella felt so bad when Barack was finished,” Gramps would say, “that he reached into his pocket and gave Barack a hundred dollars on the spot”
Thanks for helping people to be aware of their racism - whether conscious or unconscious - during the years of your ministry. And thanks for passing this on via Facebook.
Trust me - there are times when ignorance is bliss. No need to engage in any way with the "interesting" people that participate in America's new version of the Tea Party.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful story about Obama's father. I would like to hope, if the tables were turned, that I would have as much grace as Obama's dad. Not sure I would, but if he could do it, so can I if need be.
Alternet picked up the story and ran it, too. It was interesting to see how race still clouds perceptions.
ReplyDeleteThomas,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that articles like this are viral on the Internet. I tend to think that I don't come from a place of racism, but the article showed me how it can sneak in with such subtlety.
Carol, We might forget to think about these things, but we shouldn't forget to think about them. I'm glad you posted the link. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, G.G.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Carol. It took me a while to wake up enough to get here.
ReplyDeleteI have played Tim Wise's "imagine" game many times in the past 40 or so years. Some of what I think are my best sermons came out of playing it.
However, I don't believe I can remember it being as power as it is today, with a African American President and armed white protesters.
Tim's words are powerful and the game is one that everone needs to consider at this very moment.
I have just shared his words on Facebook. I wonder if anyone will follow the link.
I'm afraid I don't understand the Tea Party thing ... has a different connotation over here.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is relevant (forgive me if I've missed the point) ... but it jumped out when I read this about Barack Snr in Barack Obama's "Dreams from my Father" and am trying to imagine the scenario if the tables were turned
“… after long hours of study, my father had joined my grandfather and several other friends at a local Waikiki bar. Everyone was in a festive mood, eating and drinking to the sounds of a slack-key guitar, when a white man abruptly announced to the bartender, loudly enough for everyone to hear, that he shouldn’t have to drink good liquor “next to a nigger”. The room fell quiet and people turned to my father, expecting a fight. Instead, my father stood up, walked over to the man, smiled, and proceeded to lecture him about the folly of bigotry, the promise of the American dream and the universal rights of man. “This fella felt so bad when Barack was finished,” Gramps would say, “that he reached into his pocket and gave Barack a hundred dollars on the spot”
Nick,
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping people to be aware of their racism - whether conscious or unconscious - during the years of your ministry. And thanks for passing this on via Facebook.
Dancing,
ReplyDeleteTrust me - there are times when ignorance is bliss. No need to engage in any way with the "interesting" people that participate in America's new version of the Tea Party.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful story about Obama's father. I would like to hope, if the tables were turned, that I would have as much grace as Obama's dad. Not sure I would, but if he could do it, so can I if need be.
Carol, Just checking in. The cloud photo on your banner is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHey G.G.,
ReplyDeleteThanks! Blog posts are not pushing their way out of my head, so I'm just hanging out with life. I will mosey on over to your place now.