In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, which happened so close to home, many of us are reeling, trying to determine what this means for us.  As Christians, what does God call us to do in these times of racial injustice?

Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent

Did you know that one year ago (on September 27, 2019) the ELCA wrote an apology letter to people of African descent “for its historical complicity in slavery and its enduring legacy of racism in the United States and globally”?  This Declaration of the ELCA can be found on the Racial Justice Ministries page of the ELCA website.  Yes, you heard me correctly – I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the ELCA has a webpage and numerous resources dedicated to Racial Justice, and I encourage you to check them out!¹

I’m going to focus on one resource in particular – the Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent.  Racism is rooted in our nation’s history, rooted in slavery based on the false narrative that Africans were inferior.  I know this happened a long time ago – the first Africans were enslaved 400 years ago and slaves were emancipated 155 years ago – and as the ELCA declaration implies, some may be wondering, “why can’t we just move on?”  The truth is, we are still on the hook for what happened in the past.  The concept of race was constructed through 245 years of enslavement, and that culture of racial superiority and inferiority didn’t simply change when slavery was abolished – it is still a major issue in our world today, as witnessed through recent events, and we are called by God to think and act differently.¹

 “In the U.S., people identified as white benefit from their skin color whether or not they’re descended from a slave-owning family, whether they’re recent immigrants or their ancestors have been in this country for several generations, and whether they come from an upper or lower socioeconomic class.” 

– Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent¹

White Privilege

In the late 1980’s, Peggy McIntosh (scholar, activist, speaker and research scientist) developed a list of some of the daily effects of white privilege, and reading through this list was a real eye-opener and wake up call for me.  I have never needed to worry about being able to rent or purchase housing in an area I want to live or about my skin color affecting the appearance of my financial reliability.  I don’t need to worry about being followed or harassed while shopping.  When I turn on the television or open a textbook, I see people who look like me widely represented.  I can talk poorly, dress in second-hand clothes or not answer letters, without having people attribute these things to the bad morals, poverty, or illiteracy of my race. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of my race. And I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.²

The term “white privilege” may sound like an insult or accusation, but as John Amaechi (psychologist, author and former NBA player) puts it, privilege is actually about the absence of inconvenience or challenge.  White privilege doesn’t mean that your life isn’t hard, that you didn’t grow up with few resources, that you haven’t had to overcome your own challenges, that you didn’t work hard, or that you don’t deserve the success you’ve had – what it does mean is that your skin color hasn’t been the cause of your hardship or suffering. Understanding and embracing our privilege (whether skin color, social class, economic status, gender, able bodied, etc.) doesn’t make you a bad person, but ignoring it raises the chance that others will be excluded.³

“Unearned privilege runs deep, and white people can’t escape it. It is not based on individual attitudes or behavior. Racism is a system of structural advantage. The concept of race was built for political and economic advantage for those who are white at the expense of indigenous people and people of color.”

– Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent¹

Now What?

By this point you might be asking yourself and God, “What do I do now?” The information I have shared so far only scratches the surface of what the ELCA offers on the topic of Racial Justice. Here are a few recommendations from various ELCA resources (additional ideas/info can be found at the resources at the bottom of the page):

• Study the ELCA social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture” and the “Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent.”⁴
• Sign the ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge to “commit to study, prayer and action to become an anti-racist individual in an anti-racist church.”⁴
• Learn the history of systemic racism in this country and the ways racism and white supremacy impact every aspect of our life together.⁴
• Host learning opportunities for a deeper understanding of the systemic and root causes of historical and contemporary racism and internalized racial oppression. Provide resources and training on white privilege, internalized racial oppression, and cultural humility. You could also encourage those participating to write reflection papers, blogs, social media posts, etc. on insights gleaned from the session.⁵
• Engage in anti-racism and racial justice work, work toward economic justice – including the study of reparations.¹  Start where you are by joining community organizations working for racial justice.⁴
• Work to address and end modern forms of slavery and human trafficking. ¹
• Work to dismantle racial injustice by listening to voices, experiences and the expertise of people of color. Learn about the ELCA ethnic-specific associations and their strategies.⁴
• Explore and use the anti-racism resources of our church partners through the A.C.T. Now to End Racism initiative of the National Council of Churches.⁴
• Encourage individuals to report instances of oppression, exclusion, etc.⁵

The ELCA teaches that racism is sin.  In the words of the ELCA, “We confess, repent and repudiate the times when this church has been silent in the face of racial injustice.”  Grace family, it is time to change the tides and be on the right side of history.  Please follow God’s call and join me in the movement for racial justice. 

Dear God of justice, In your wisdom you create all people in your image, without exception. Through your goodness, open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being. Open our minds to understand that all your children are in the same human family. Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviors, and speech which demean others. Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination, and their passionate appeals for change. Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history. And fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equity for all in our communities. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Resources

¹ELCA. (2019). Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent. https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Slavery_Apology_Explanation.pdf?_ga=2.255881099.1441103864.1599094561-85875918.1599094561

²McIntosh, P. (1989). White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. https://nationalseedproject.org/Key-SEED-Texts/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsack

³Amaechi, J. (2020, August 05). What is white privilege? BBC Bitesize. https://www.facebook.com/bbcbitesize/videos/294558424984697

⁴ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge. https://www.elca.org/racialjusticepledge

⁵ELCA. How Strategic and Authentic is our Diversity: A Call for Confession, Reflection, and Healing Action. https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Strategic_Authentic_Diversity.pdf?_ga=2.214065431.1441103864.1599094561-85875918.1599094561