Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Does Racism Still Exist?

I was at this camp called SLT for several weeks and one of the things we talked about was institutional racism (although they had another name for it) and how it affects ethnic minorities.
Coming into this training I sort of rolled my eyes because my thinking was that although racism still exists, it's not everyone it's just a few isolated cases here and there. But after hearing about this stuff and thinking about and essentially God poking at me I began to see how it has manifested itself in my sphere of life.
Then, as I got to thinking more and more about it, I started to get a little frustrated. Then, I started to get mad. Then I started to get really mad to the point where I was fuming!!! I remember that night I was so mad that tears were coming down my face and I didn't want to talk to anybody but I just wanted to yell at the same time. I was mad at the world for being this way. I was mad at my parents because, although they sort of hinted at it, they still didn't really know what it was themselves let alone tell me in away that makes sense. I was mad at myself because I felt stupid and blind to issues that had been affecting me. Mostly, I was mad at God.GASP!! How could I be mad at God?
I know what you're probably thinking right now. Will has gone off the deep end and he is recanting the faith!!!
I can assure you that is not the case. I was just mad at God because I felt like "here this injustice is being done to me!! Your servant!!!! You know God, the one you've called since birth!! The one you won't leave alone for too long because you have these plans for him!!! The one who's pretty much given up his life in commitment to you!! And this is all I have to show for it?!!! Thanks for nothing GOD!!!
Honestly, I felt betrayed. After picturing this stuff more clearly I felt like someone just told me my dad wasn't really me dad. I felt like I was soldier going on a mission with my fellow troops and finding out during the mission that they are going to ambush me and not knowing a clue about what to do to stop. After not talking to God for a few days, and then yelling at him for an hour or so I got passed my anger and came to terms with God about what to do. One thing God for sure said is "Trust me".
Friends, racism still exists. As a black male in society I have seen it a lot. Maybe in the future I will write more about it but if you're curious about how I've seen it you can email me and I'll give some personal examples. But make no mistake!! IT DOES EXIST!!!! Maybe you've been priveleged to not be able to see or deal with it because of your ethnicity but it's there. My questions is what will you do? I think God is angry about this injustice as well as the many other injustices. I also think his anger of it mandates our response as His people.
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8




1 Comments:

At 8/08/2006 6:56 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Will. This is Hannah. Just thought I'd say hi since I haven't seen you in ages. I've been wondering what you've been up to. Drop me an email sometime. :)

~*Hannah*~

 

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