Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Alicia T. Crosby

Home
Progressive Christian
Working Out My Prejudices

Working Out My Prejudices

Last updated on: December 5, 2013 at 10:23 pm by Alicia T. Crosby

Working Out My Prejudices 2013-12-05T22:23:44-04:00 Alicia T. Crosby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Race is honestly one of those things I wasn’t really aware of until adulthood. Yes, I have always known that I was black but my being raised in multicultural environments kept me largely shielded from understanding that black meant fear.

Or that you were threatening.

Or that you were less than in someone’s eyes.

And while I experienced isolated incidences of racist treatment, it wasn’t until reaching adulthood that I felt the brunt of racism. And my God, its every-freaking-where.

We are not living in a post racial world and quite frankly, I wish we’d stop pretending so we could actually get to the root of our issues. This pretending things are ok and there isn’t a problem crap is going to lead to something explosive happening and who knows what the fallout will be.

I’m grateful for my walk with God that helps me filter through my negative thoughts and emotions but seriously to say that I’m not battling with my own prejudices would be a lie. These attacks on my people make me want to latch on to them more and to others a little less.

Students are getting abused and harassed in institutions of higher learning because of the color of their skin.

A little boy in Michigan murdered in broad daylight by his elderly white neighbor who thought he stole something (and police investigation showed he didn’t).

Being racially profiled in boutique shops and in the freaking dollar stores because you think the color of my skin means I can’t afford something and must have stolen to purchase it or will steal it from you.

Seeing stories like the 3 high school kids in Rochester, NY who were arrested for waiting in the “wrong” place for a freaking school bus.

Seeing stand your ground laws apply to some races (read: whites) and not to others.

Do you know what its like to have to explain to kids what stand your ground is and what it means for them? Or have to hear a young black man wallow in despair because someone connected to a dog fighting ring (Michael Vick) is more likely to be jailed than a person who kills someone who looks like him (George Zimmerman)?

Seeing these stories or witnessing things like police profiling firsthand weigh on you. I think if we’re honest, we all deal with some level of prejudice towards a group who is other. I think we naturally have preconceived ideas about other people and negative imagery and experiences fuel those thoughts.

But tonight I’m reminded of the need for grace. Grace for other, grace for ourselves, grace towards those who submit to their prejudices instead of pushing past them.

I’ve been turning these ideas over in my head for a while but the world’s loss of one of its great leaders is what helps me put things into perspective. One of the most beautiful parts of Nelson Mandela’s legacy is the example he leaves in forgiveness and reconciliation for those who wronged you. Despite the (justifiable) anger and hatred he could have chosen to yield to and act on, Madiba chose peace and to exhibit mercy. And it is his life that reminds me of gospel in this hour.

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

This is what I will choose to let my heart rest in tonight. Racism and prejudice aren’t things that I can resolve in the world but they are things that I can humbly bring to God and work out in me. I can confront the darkness in myself, take those thoughts captive, and make them subject to a right spirit of mercy and kindness. This will allow me to enter a space where I can live justly and honor those whose lives have marked my own through their embodiment of peace.

Previous Post

November 26, 2013

It Struck A Chord: Authentic Love

Next Post

December 9, 2013 It Struck A Chord: Why I Don't Call Myself A Feminist

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Devotions Faith Justice & Activism Musings My Thoughts Poetry Prayers Spirituality The Blog Things That Struck a Chord Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2020 June 2020 October 2019 July 2019 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 October 2017 September 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible has only one chapter?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nahum Zephaniah Habakkuk Obadiah