Take Down That Flag – But Don’t Stop There. The Wolves Have Teeth. [James Gribble]

Last updated on: August 16, 2018 at 2:21 pm by Guest Contributor

Take Down That Flag – But Don’t Stop There. The Wolves Have Teeth. [James Gribble] 2018-08-16T14:21:39-05:00 Guest Contributor

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.

photo: agasfer, CC via Flickr

When that one flag comes down in Charleston, watch how many flags go up all over the country. Watch how they sell out at the truck stops. The removal of one flag is not the end of anything. It is another beginning. It will provoke this hateful ideology to greater boldness. When symbols of (White) supremacy are supplanted, beneficiaries of the status quo will always circle their young and show their teeth.

It isn’t as if the wolves were toothless, before. They just had no reason to grin. But threaten their dominance and they will grin, even bite. Restrictions on western expansion of slavery, emancipation of slaves, voting rights for Black people, desegregation of schools, affirmative action, police accountability, and the removal of confederate battle flags from state capitals all threatened White Supremacy. And whenever ideologies of supremacy are threatened, we see resistance in the form of more overt action from the dominant class. Enter the KKK. (Or, we might recall why the flag in question was raised in SC in the first place back in the ‘62.)

What do we see when the right of Black people to exist (even as criminals) is proclaimed? KKK membership and gun ownership simultaneously balloon.‪ #‎BlackLivesMatter‬ protests did not create the racism that flooded KKK rolls last summer. They exposed it.

Protest points and says, “Yo, that bush is moving!” When the ninja jumps out, it was because he couldn’t hide anymore. Protest didn’t create him. He was always there. He was always dangerous. If you didn’t see the racism ninja before, wait until this flag comes down, wait until other states follow suit, wait until Obama gets on TV and tells other states to follow suit. Then, watch that bush.

When that flag comes down, take some time to listen to local talk-radio (current conversation, this morning, defense of Confederate flags and the Bedford bust in Nashville) and let the fact that Dylann Roof’s manifesto isn’t shocking shock you. When that flag comes down, watch the message boards and comment sections and see how Roof had extreme methods, but relatively moderate ideas.

Most of all, don’t let anyone convince you that your work is over because one flag was removed from one state capital.

—

James Gribble lives in Cookeville, a small college town in Middle Tennessee, with his wife and two sons. He and his wife host a weekly meal and Bible study in their home and he is on the preaching rotation for a small emergent collective in which he participates. Follow him on Twitter.

Previous Post

June 11, 2015

On Coming Back (But Don't Call It a Comeback!)

Next Post

June 25, 2015 But For the Grace of God: Tullian Tchividjian and a Better Gospel Through Guilt

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2018 August 2018 July 2018 July 2017 May 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 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 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 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 March 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz