CANADIAN SOUTHERN BAPTIST SEMINARY RACIAL PREJUDICE (INITIAL DRAFT OF POSITION PAPER) SUBMITTED TO DR. ROB BLACKABY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE CLASS CHRISTIAN ETHICS 2T2311 BY SEUNG HUN CHA (DAVID) NOVEMBER 26, 2010
Contents 1. Introduction... 3 2. What is racism?... 3 3. What is prejudice?...... 5 4. Revealing Whiteness... 7 5. The Vision and the Reality..... 8 6. Deep-Rooted Prejudice... 9 7. Racial Prejudice and Christianity...10 8. What does the Bible say about Racial Prejudice... 11 9. Conclusion 12 Bibliography... 13 2
1. Introduction History provides us with many examples of people who were enticed by dreams of a better life for themselves and their families and voluntarily left their countries of birth for other, more prosperous geographical regions. Yet sometimes the necessity of leaving has been thrust upon people because of environmental disasters, political ideologies, ethnic cleansing, and civil wars, at times, the countries receiving these individuals have opened up their hearts and homes to the newcomers, perceiving them as fellow human beings and hoping to make a better and richer community and society together. But at other times, biases have intervened and societies have treated newcomers unequally, favoring immigrants and refugees of one country or identity over those of another. At the heart of discussions about immigrants and refugees is the vision that citizens have articulated about who they are as a nation, the values and norms that motivate them, and the ideals that they with to uphold individually and collectively. I would like to believe that no one can dispassionately observe my thoughts and ideas expressed in this paper. Many of the issues of prejudice and racism are still quite open. I will venture to frame these issues as I see them, hoping thereby to benefit the thinking of all who read this paper. 2. What is racism? Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. Racial separatism is the belief, most of the time based on racism, that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another. 1 1 http://www.adl.org/hate-patrol/racism.asp 3
Racism has existed throughout human history. It may be defined as the hatred of one person by another -- or the belief that another person is less than human -- because of skin color, language, customs, and place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes. 2 During the past 500-1000 years, racism on the part of Western powers toward non- Westerners has had a far more significant impact on history than any other form of racism (such as racism among Western groups or among Easterners, such as Asians, Africans, and others). The most notorious example of racism by the West has been slavery, particularly the enslavement of Africans in the New World (slavery itself dates back thousands of years). This enslavement was accomplished because of the racist belief that Black Africans were less fully human than white Europeans and their descendants. 3 One important feature of racism, especially toward Blacks and immigrant groups, is clear in attitudes regarding slaves and slavery. Jews are usually seen by anti- Semites as subhuman but also superhuman: devilishly cunning, skilled, and powerful. Blacks and others are seen by racists as merely subhuman, more like beasts as men. If the focus of anti-semitism is evil, the focus of racism is inferiority -- directed toward those who have sometimes been considered to lack even the ability to be evil (though in the 20th century, especially, victims of racism are often considered morally degraded). 4 2 http://www.adl.org/hate-patrol/racism.asp 3 Jones, James M. Prejudice and Racism, [London, Massachusetts, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1972] 10 4 Ellis, Cashmore & James, Jennings, eds. Racism: Essential Readings 4
In the second half of the 19th century, Darwinism, the decline of Christian belief, and growing immigration were all perceived by many white Westerners as a threat to their cultural control. European and, to a lesser degree, American scientists and philosophers devised a false racial "science" to "prove" the supremacy of non-jewish whites. While the Nazi annihilation of Jews discredited most of these supposedly scientific efforts to elevate one race over another, small numbers of scientists and social scientists have continued throughout the 20th century to argue the inborn shortcomings of certain races, especially Blacks. At the same time, some public figures in the American Black community have championed the supremacy of their own race and the inferiority of whites - using nearly the identical language of white racists. 5 All of these arguments are based on a false understanding of race; in fact, contemporary scientists are not agreed on whether race is a valid way to classify people. What may seem to be significant "racial" differences to some people - skin color, hair, facial shape - are not of much scientific significance. In fact, genetic differences within a so-called race may be greater than those between races. 3. What is Prejudice? We know that the term Prejudice is used by many people in many different ways. Some use the term to indicate trivial, sometimes arbitrary, but generally quite personal dislikes. In other cases the term can have lethal connotations, as when a Green Beret officer issues orders to terminate with extreme prejudice association with a particular individual. [London,Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Sage Publications, 2001] 238. 5 Shannon, Sullivan. Revealing Whiteness: The Unconscious Habits of Racial Privilege. [Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana University Press, 2006] 143. 5
Prejudice means to pre-judge or to form an opinion about something before all the facts are gathered, or is an opinion or attitude about a group of people that is based upon a lack of understanding or incorrect information. If prejudice is an attitude, then discrimination is the manifestation of that prejudice and a stigma, or a label, is the result. In real world terms, discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because they are a member of a particular group. While there is still much debate about the causes of prejudice, the field of psychology argues that we frequently make false generalizations not through malice or hatred, but just because, in many cases, it is easier to do so than to understand the real differences and complexities of our world. The world can be a confusing place, and one way to make sense of this chaos is to put things in boxes and categorize what we see. Rather than trying to process the complex nature of things, it is far simpler for us to generalize our experiences. 6 In the American context, the term prejudice has usually been reserved for those attitudes and behaviors that have characterized particular kinds of relations between the white Protestant majority and the racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. 7 This emphasis is captured in the definition offered by Gorden Allport in his classic book on Prejudice: Ethnic prejudice is an antipathy based upon a faulty and inflexible generalization. It may be felt or expressed. It may be directed toward a group as a whole or toward an individual because he is a member of that group. 8 Allport concludes that The net effect of prejudice, thus defined, is to place the object of 6 http://www.qahc.org.au/node/69 7 Jones, James M. Prejudice and Racism, London, Massachusetts, [Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1972.] 2 8 Allport, G..w., the nature of Prejudice. [Reading mass: Addison-Wesley, 1954] 10 6
prejudice at some disadvantage no merited by his own misconduct 9 There are two important elements in Allport s view of prejudice: (1) it is basically a negative attitude: (2) its existence puts the object of prejudice at an unjust disadvantage. Since an overwhelming amount of literature has focused on the white majority and black minority, and since these relations pose the most dramatic threat to the rather worn fabric of American society, in this paper I will examine the negative racial attitudes whites have toward blacks and the resultant social malaise. 4. Revealing Whiteness Biology alone does not determine racial identity. The concept of race is equally shaped by social norms and expectations, which are based on historical events and current practices. In North American society, being white is perceived as the norm. Often the fact that whiteness is also a race is not acknowledged. As a result, researchers have begun to examine whiteness and to define it in terms of social impact. Such research concentrates on "white privilege" - the differences in power between whites and non-whites, and the advantages white people automatically take for granted. 10 White privilege is best understood as a constellation of psychical and somatic habits formed through transaction with a racist world 11. As such, it often functions as unconscious: seemingly invisible, even nonexistent, even nonexistent, and actively 9 Ibid 10 10 http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/whiteness_and_privilege 11 Shannon, Sullivan. Revealing Whiteness: The Unconscious Habits of Racial Privilege. [Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana University Press, 2006] 63. 7
resisting conscious efforts to know it. For these reasons, white privilege is best understood as unconscious habit. One important reason to understand the unconscious as transactional 12 is that doing so reveals how unconscious habits impact the world. This impact can be for better or worse, and viewing the unconscious as transactional does not guarantee that it will be for the better. But it does increase the chances that the impact will be positive because it allows us to understand unconscious habit as productive rather than representational. 13 5. The vision and the reality In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the church as truly multiethnic: I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb (Rev 7:9). Here the Great Commission is fulfilled and we see that in heaven our ethnic differences are not taken away. Rather the ethnic diversity reflects even more of God s glory in that different people are united in their worship of the one true God. As Christians, whoever or wherever we are, we are called to work towards that biblical vision that God has destined. However, when we look at the church today, we sadly see that we are not immune from issues of racial prejudice and discrimination. Just as our society speaks of political correctness with regards to race and ethnicity, so in the church we can speak of a theological or religious correctness. We can talk all the theory of being one in Christ no 12 Shannon, Sullivan. Revealing Whiteness: The Unconscious Habits of Racial Privilege. [Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana University Press, 2006] 77. 13 Ibid 88 8
matter what our background, and that we are without prejudice and discrimination, but it is open to question that that is a heartfelt and lived out reality. 6. Deep-rooted prejudices Racial prejudice and discrimination are part and parcel of human sinfulness. They affect the human heart worldwide. Even as Christians it s so easy to have cultural and ethnocentric pride and prejudices 14. I have seen it in myself and in many Christians, including church leaders, around the world. An example of this is seen in the apostle Peter. Despite being one of Jesus closest friends, despite being aware of Jesus attitude towards Samaritans, despite being filled with the Holy Spirit and mightily used by God at Pentecost, Peter still had the same ethnic prejudices of his fellow Jews in his attitude towards Gentiles 15. There was still racial prejudice in Peter s heart and therefore he needed a special vision from God to teach him otherwise (Acts 10). As God s people, we must try to identify and repent of cultural pride and prejudices in our lives. And this we can do through the help of God s Word, the Holy Spirit and our fellow Christians 7. Racial Prejudice and Christianity The Bible has much to say about race, ethnicity, prejudice and discrimination, from practical care of the stranger/alien in the Old Testament to challenging the hatred between Jews and Samaritans in the New Testament. In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46), Jesus identifies as himself with the stranger or alien: I was a 14 http://www.new-wine.org/free-media/magazine/issue-48-winter-2010/145-15 Globe, Litho. Racism and The Administration Of Justice, New York, [Amnesty International Publications, 2001] 65. 9
stranger and you invited me in. The Greek word for stranger is xenos, which also means foreigner or alien and from which we get the English word xenophobic (fear or hatred of foreigners) 16. A better understanding of the term stranger here would be someone who is ethnically different to us, rather than simply somebody we do not know. As both warning and challenge, this parable reminds us that our welcoming of those who are ethnically different to us is one of the criteria by which we will be both judged and rewarded when Jesus comes again. From Hitler and the Nazis to the Southern American slave owners, prejudice of one race against another has resulted in atrocities. To counteract the disease of racial prejudice, modern-day societies have drafted and enacted legislation to ensure that people treat each other with respect and dignity allowing one another their inalienable right to their pursuit of life and liberty. While man s actions can be legislated, their hearts and fears cannot. Thus, society continues to suffer from the disease. Forums, coalitions, and initiatives continue to be formed to foster unity, understanding, and tolerance. 8. What does the Bible say about Racial Prejudice? God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as judges with evil thoughts. Instead, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8). In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two racial groups: Jews and Gentiles. God s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of 16 http://www.foreignword.com/tools/dictsrch_aff.asp?menu=n&query=stranger&src=bp &go=translate&trg=cq 10
their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross. 17 Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34). If God is impartial and loves us with impartiality, then we need to love others with that same high standard. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 that whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God s image; we are hurting somebody whom God loves and for whom Jesus died. Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, this should not be. Victims of racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Racists may not deserve your forgiveness, but we deserved God s forgiveness far less. Those who practice racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to repent. Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:13). May Galatians 3:28 be completely realized, There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 17 http://www.gotquestions.org/racism-bible.html 11
Conclusion As Christians today, we are living in a unique time in history. Due to globalization, greater migration of people, greater ease in travelling and advances in information and communication technology, there has never before been such a rich mixing of cultures and races, and awareness of each other. This brings challenges as well as opportunities. The centre of gravity of the worldwide church is rapidly shifting from Europe and North America to Africa, Asia and South America. Consequently there should be greater interaction and learning from the perspectives of our non-western brothers and sisters in Christ. Racial prejudice has shaped the form of our present day societies; indeed, prejudice has shaped societies since time began. As far back as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob living in the land of Goshen, peoples have been subjugated due to their differences. Beyond all of the spiritual implications of the nation of Israel living in Egypt, it is evident that the Egyptians feared the Israelites. Wherever there are differences, there is fear, intolerance, and injustice. To conclude, the best answer may be found in the Bible: Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). 12
Bibliography Allport, G..w., the nature of Prejudice. Reading mass: Addison-Wesley, 1954 Cecil, Foster. Where Race Does Not Matter: The New Spirit of Modernity. Penguin Canada, 2005 Ellis, Cashmore & James, Jennings, eds. Racism: Essential Readings. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Sage Publications, 2001. Globe, Litho. Racism and The Administration Of Justice, New York, Amnesty International Publications, 2001. Jones, James M. Prejudice and Racism, London, Massachusetts, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1972. Martin, James G. & Franklin, Clyde W. Minority Group Relations, Columbus, Ohio, Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company, 1973. Nuzhat, Amin & George j. Sefa Dei. eds. The Poetics of Anti-Racism Halifax, Fernwood Publishing, 2006. Shannon, Sullivan. Revealing Whiteness: The Unconscious Habits of Racial Privilege. Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana University Press, 2006. Stassen, Glen H. & David P. Gushee. Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press, 2003. Vijay, Agnew. ed. Interrogating Race and Racism. Toronto Buffalo London, University of Toronto Press, 2007. 13