Quit Making Racism the Young Man’s Burden

Last updated on: June 5, 2020 at 10:02 am by Jennifer Fitz

Quit Making Racism the Young Man’s Burden 2020-06-05T10:02:49-05:00 Jennifer Fitz

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.

Today I saw an otherwise lovely, if a tad anodyne, church statement on recent events, that included The Appeal to The Youthful Savior. I won’t quote it verbatim, but you know the type:

“Young people are our future.”
“Children will show us the way.”
“We need to learn from the youth.”
“The next generation will be the ones who solve this problem.”

I’m sorry, are you dead yet?

Quit trying to brush your personal failings off on your kids. If you are guilty of racism, knock it off and change your life. If you are guilty of failing to evangelize those who live in your parish neighborhood because they aren’t like you, change that.

There is no one alive on this earth who is not able to be part of this change. Are you ancient and bedridden and dependent on others? Treat your caregivers with equality and respect. Are you retired to an all-white retirement community and honestly don’t have a way to get out of your bubble? Quit tolerating the racist jokes of your peers on the putting green. If you are in parish or diocesan leadership . . . just do your job, yes?

***
On that last point, let me tell you about a parish leader doing her job.

This week I sent a thank you note to the youth leader who has played a small but pivotal role in my children’s formation. Why? Because as I’ve watched my kids, each in their various ways, respond to our nation’s present struggle, I knew that this youth leader had contributed her part in helping my kids grow up to be decent human beings who want to do the right thing with regard to human rights.

She does this by explicit teaching and she does this through her instinctive choice of evangelizing service projects for the kids that transcend social barriers and affirm the inherent worth of all members of our community.

Where did she learn to be this kind of person? From her parents. She has memories of being oblivious to the possibility of racism, of being shocked to discover it in others, and of seeing her parents actively take a stand against racism in ordinary neighborhood life of the 1960’s and 1970’s.

She learned not to be racist from old people. She, an old person, teaches kids to be anti-racist.

I’m very sorry if the old people in your life are racists. I’m doubly sorry if, like my kids, you are discovering that many teens today still share their parents’ racist worldview. But let’s not compound this with ageism.

If you are an old person, it is your job to lead our society in the way it should go. Don’t abandon post. Thanks.

Artwork: Icon of Two Elders, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago), via Wikimedia, CC 4.0.

Previous Post

May 28, 2020

On Police Brutality, Civil Unrest, and Resisting Simplified Narratives

Next Post

June 23, 2020 The Innocence of St. Junípero Serra

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Catechesis Catholic Q&A Chastity Church Craziness Come See Me Talk Disability & Chronic Illness Economics Evangelization Facepalm Forgiveness Good Things History Homeschooling Human Rights It's All Catholic Listen to Me Survey Series Liturgical Living Marriage Modesty Not Satire. But almost. Rant-o-Rama Sacred Art & Music Satire South Carolina Spark Clutter Stick that Corner Suffering Thinking Topics Writing Stuff

Select a Month September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 January 2026 December 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What small part of the body does James say is a restless evil, full of deadly poison?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The hand The eye The tongue The heart