1. Introductions
Purpose for our time: Develop a self-understanding about ourselves so that we may appreciate the differences we see in others through
*knowing about “target and non-target” groups
*Bible study, and a
*discussion about colors
2. We are all different.
Although we share a common identity of events, history, likes, values, laws, and so forth, we are also different. We are not all the same in exactly the same way.
Do continuums.
a. Tallest to the shortest in height
Are there others in your family who are the same size as you? Do you
happen to be the shortest? the tallest? Do you know why?
b. Longest hair to the shortest hair
Why do you have your hair at this length?
c. Lightest to the darkest skin color
Why do you think your skin color is the shade that it is?
In our society, we tend to believe differences are negatives. We often think that taller is better, lighter is better. We become accustomed to believing that there is this “ideal” person who’s just the right height, just the right color, just the right hairstyle whom we want to copy. Ask ourselves: what is just right?
The continuums not only showed our differences that are unique and the beautiful parts of us crafted by God, but they showed us that regardless of where we stood on the continuums, we were still members of the group. None of us were extraneous. We all belong to the whole family. Some taller, some shorter, some darker, some lighter, some chose to wear our hair longer, shorter, but all belonging to the same family. Even in our differences, we are still similar.
3. Define Racism
a. Prejudice is a personal attitude toward other people based on a categorical judgment about their physical characteristics, such as race, ethnic origin or gender.
b. Racism is a racial prejudice plus power. Racism is the intentional or unintentional use of power to isolate, separate and exploit others. This use of power is based on a belief in superior racial origin, identity or supposed racial characteristics. Racism confers certain privileges on and defends the dominant group, which in turn sustains and perpetuates racism.
c. Institutional racism is consciously or unconsciously enforced and maintained by legal, cultural, religious, educational, economic, political and military institutions in societies. It is one of the ways organizations and structures serve to preserve injustices.
When we are at our best, we can affirm all of our differences and accept one another. It is often not that easy or simple. We discover we do have prejudices toward people and when we also have our prejudices accompanied by the prejudices of the dominant group with power, then we are participating in racism. Look at the definitions. We are capable of turning what we have affirmed as our unique God crafted gifts into badges of degradation, exploitation, and victimization.
4. Oppression of Target Groups
Oppression gets in the way of a natural tendency to recognize, understand, and appreciate differences and similarities. See chart.
a. Which target groups are you or have you been a member of? Circle all those that apply.
b. What are the strengths that come from your experiences as a member of one of the groups you circled? Write down the words that come to mind to describe these strengths.
c. Think about a time when you were treated as “less than” because of your membership in one of the groups you’ve circled. Write down the words that come to mind that describe being treated as “less than.”
d. Which non-target groups are you or have you been a member of? Circle all those that apply.
e. “b” above
f. Think about a time when you were treated as “better than” because of your membership in one of the groups you’ve circled. Write down the words that come to mind that describe these experiences of being treated as “better than.”
We see our identities in both “target” and “non-target” groups.
4. Can Christians be racist?
YES!
a. Genesis 12:1-8. God is starting a new relationship with the world. This relationship comes through Abram and Sarai and promises them an unlimited solidarity with the whole world. In calling them out to a land yet to be shown them, God calls upon Abram and Sarai to give up the limited solidarity of homeland (nation, race) and extended family. God promises them that they will be a blessing to “all the families of the earth.”
b. Acts 10. Peter had a revelation that both “clean” and “unclean” are blessed by God. Peter was able to see that God shows no partiality. But accepts in every nation (race) those who fear and honor God and do what is right in relation to one another.
c. Genesis 1:26-28. Everyone is made in the image of God, co-creator with God. We have the right to be fully included at home in God’s creation. Everyone is entitled to share equally in the resources provided. From the very beginning God intended to share his world-making power.
d. The Bible depicts the movement of the people of God in a jubilee world. Jesus makes this world now and forever “at hand”: “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk.1:15). Each person by faith may live as a “new creation” (Gal. 6:15) in a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Jesus assumed the jubilee, God’s new beginning, in his first reported sermon to his hometown congregation. As a visiting teacher invited to read the last Scripture of the Sabbath worship, Jesus was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He chose to read from Chapter 61. Then he sat down to preach. And he said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
5. Racism is a sin
By now we can all agree that we can be more inclusive, less prejudicial, and that the Bible teaches against racism. But why is it so hard to be loving and caring, accepting, trusting, and inviting?
The reason is racism is a sin.
Racism is a power and a principality. Racism is a form of cultural addiction. We do not even have to choose racism. There are plenty of laws against it. But racism influences us, even controls, chosen or not. It makes us say with Paul, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.” (Romans 7:15-17)
In order for us to fight against sin, to overcome racism in our culture and in us, we will need to put on the “whole armor of God.” We will need all the help we can get. Jesus has authorized us to take authority over such unclean spirits, such cultural addictions as racism, “to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity” (Mt. 10:1). Since racism is a sin, then we must seek forgiveness from God and our fellow human beings and prepare to be transformed by the Spirit toward redemption and reconciliation.
6. The meaning of Color
Color is such a big part of our world. We don’t watch black and white TV sets anymore when there’s color. We use color to accent our outfits so that there’s something to catch the eye. Robert Fulghum, the noted storyteller, tells about his wish to give everyone in the world a carton of 64 Crayolas with the built-in sharpener so that we can color the whole world with peace and understanding.
When we see certain colors or hear the names of the colors, what images are conjure up in your minds?
Blue—placid and peaceful
Pink—sexy, romantic or baby girl
Green—growth and life
But when we refer to certain people with certain colors, the meanings associated with these colors can both be affirming and debilitating. The language we use everyday has been developed out of our historical interaction as a larger society. Language, too, shapes our attitudes and judgments. Language forms our values and directs our perceptions of people and situations. Since our common language has been historically developed by the group in power, our language contains many expressions that either covertly or overtly devalue people of other races and ethnic groups. This also happens to women. This means that racist and sexist judgments become imbedded in the very language we use.
Yellow—coward
Red—stubborn
But the greatest color dichotomy that has been used throughout the centuries has been that of Black and White.
Ossie Davis, the actor, once developed a lesson on racism in language. When he looked up WHITENESS and BLACKNESS in Roget’s International Thesaurus, he found that blackness has 120 synonyms, sixty are unfavorable (50%). Some are blotch, smut, murky, evil, deadly, and dirty. There are 20 synonyms related to race, such as Negress, nigger, darky, and blackamoor. Whiteness as 134 synonyms, 44 are favorable. such as purity, cleanliness, innocent, fair, and trustworthy. Only 10 synonyms (less than 8%) are negative, such as whitewash. Ossie Davis has said, “The English language is my enemy. It teaches the Black child 60 ways to hate himself (herself) and the white child 60 ways to aid and abet him or her in the crime.”
Adding to society’s color biases, Christianity has been accompanied by the symbolism of color. White is used to express the pure, while black expresses the diabolical. The conflict between “good and evil” came finally to be expressed by the conflict between white and black. Whiteness brings to mind the light, ascension into the bright realm, the immaculateness of virgin snow, the white dove of the Holy Spirit. Blackness suggests the infernal streams of the bowels of the earth, the pit of hell.
Black—evil (our hearts are black with sin)
White—good (though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow)
To build an inclusive community requires that we practice new language symbols that will not degrade any member of our community.
7. Read Gellman’s “The Bird-Feather Rainbow” on page 35.
8. Closing prayer