Racism
When slavery was abolished in America (and elsewhere), a residual effect of slavery was the racism that has pervaded our society, even to the present time. Of course, discrimination has been around since the beginning of the ages, whether the dividing line is established over color, shades of one color (for example, dark brown against light brown), shape of the eyes, place of birth, religion–and the list goes on. Mankind is divided.
We have chosen here to explore the legacy of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in America and the racial divide stemming from it. That divide is White vs. Black, or as one commentator has said, “The lighter hue” vs. the “darker hue.” Racism can be expressed on both sides in a variety of ways. Some racism is becoming more and more glaring, perhaps more prevalent– at least more in the news. But there are also subtler forms of racism that need to be noticed and talked about.
Explore with us this controversial topic…
Law Enforcement
Prominent in the news during the past few years is the topic of “Police Brutality” –or at least, prejudiced, uneven treatment of African Americans by law enforcement officers. Several clips follow that might put some light and balance into that most important topic.
I Love Being a Police Officer, But We Need Reform
We've invested so much in police departments as protectors that we have forgotten what it means to serve our communities, says Baltimore Police officer Lt. Colonel Melvin Russell. It's led to coldness and callousness, and it's dehumanized the police force. After taking over as district commander in one of Baltimore's toughest neighborhoods, Russell instituted a series of reforms aimed at winning back the trust of the community and lowering the violent crime rate. "Law enforcement is in a crisis," he says. "But it's not too late for all of us [...]
Dallas Shooting Eyewitness Says Exactly What We Need To Hear After This Week
Please view the full article and video on Huffington Post. Dallas Shooting Eyewitness Says Exactly What We Need To Hear After This Week
Overt Racism
Many whites who think racism is a thing of the past might be surprised to hear the description in the clips below of the racism encountered daily by African Americans in America.
Racial Insensitivity
Even if a person isn’t prejudiced openly toward African Americans, there is a strong possibility that he is not sensitive to the issues that offend African Americans around him. The mere fact of living in a business or social environment that is mainly white can create a blindness to the needs, frustrations, and injustices in the everyday life of African Americans in our culture.
Racialized Culture
Although individuals in a community may have gotten past racism for the most part, there are still remnants of it in the culture around them, buried in laws, institutions, policy, business practices, and more. These have to be brought to light and purged from our American way of life!
Unconscious Bias
Increasingly used in the discussion about race is the term, unconscious bias. Bias Studies are showing that even though people think they aren’t racists (toward any people group), they still have favorable bias toward their own group, not necessarily based on skin color. And they have negative opinions deeply held about other groups.
What is Embedded in Us?
No matter what darkness is deeply held, there is a remedy!
Deep Biases – Webinar Discussion
We have to be on the lookout for the deep biases within us…but there is a solution.
Take the Implicit Bias Test
Here you will see a choice of implicit tests, including one for Black/white and one for Light skin/Dark skin. Are you ‘unconsciously biased’? Take the Implicit Bias Test
Whites
Surprising to many African Americans, it appears that many whites are basically clueless about the challenges faced by African Africans in our country. Hopefully, the racial turmoil in many communities might have the positive effect of waking up White America to the needs of other races around them.
Many whites don’t realize the privilege they enjoy in education, the job market, social structure because they are white—the open doors they take for granted that their African American brothers must push and struggle to gain access to.
And then there is that false aura of superiority among whites-either a real or perceived attitude encountered by non-whites. Codified by law in the past, deeply entrenched during the days and thereafter from slavery, even justified religiously to defend the practices of slavery in all its oppression, White Superiority is an attitude that defies God’s Word. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2: 3
Attitude of White Superiority – John Dawson
White superiority—is it real? Imagined or blatantly flaunted, white males especially project an attitude of assumed superiority, according to John Dawson of YWAM.
Inside the mind of white America
BBC News reported on June 16, 2016 about the concept of there being "two Americas." Please check out this compelling video clip. Inside the Mind of White America