Do We Really Understand Racism?

A few years ago, I read a book, written by an African-American Woman, M. Garlinda Burton whom I understand is a member in the United Methodist Church (UMC). I was raised up in the UMC, but have since become ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. I am not certain if she is ordained, but it seems that she has been an outspoken advocate for both Black folk and women  I am a quiet fan. For now. (The link I used no longer works.)

I liked what I read because she is saying that if anything, we should be against racism (and sexism), and discrimination of any type. She uses the terminology anti-racist, meaning it's not enough to be racially neutral, so-to-speak. We need to be against racism. But more and more, I am beginning to wonder if any of us really understand what racism is and is not? In other words, do Black folk really understand what it means to be racist, and do White folk really understand what it means to acknowledge that racism really does exist?

I keep hearing this thing about having the "conversation." But if it's one thing Americans seem to be good at, it is avoiding certain discussions, especially those that are sensitive, and where one or more groups has to admit that they are responsible/at fault. I think most of us are aware of the several groups, including the Southern Baptist Church, that has said, in one way or another, that they want to apologize for whatever role their "group" played in American slavery. Well okay--we get it. But what Black folk want to know is what can you do now? Regretting any involvement in slavery is wonderful! But what happens now--today?

When we as African-Americans continue to see and hear of disparaging treatments and comments, those treatments and comments that are derogatory, and hurtful, we have to wonder if there is ever going to be a "conversation"? And if so, what will that "conversation" consist of? I think that the not knowing (lack of knowledge, some would probably say ignorance), the blaming and the refusal to acknowledge that racism is still very much present, is what is at the least, stalling the "conversation".

Indeed, it will, no doubt, be an emotional discussion. And we cannot ignore this. I think it's way past time we had an open honest discussion in this country and lay all the stereotypes, the lack of knowledge, the incorrect ideas and assumptions, lay it all to rest. And it is emotional because it is painful. It's painful to believe that other human beings believe what they believe because of pigment and/or biology. And there is a belief that Black folk should not be angry, since we are told, that it happened so long ago. Really?.

I am not happy that we need to have this "conversation". But we need to have it, and soon!

This was written several years ago before George Floyd or Breanna Taylor. Go figure!

Confidence or Arrogance?

More and more, I am convinced that there is a serious difference between confidence and arrogance. I am even more convinced that we are confused about which is which.

For the purpose of this post, confidence is defined as "a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities." Some synonyms include self-assurance, assertiveness, and boldness. Arrogance is defined as "having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities." Some of the synonyms we can use for arrogance or arrogant include vain, pompous, or conceited.

I believe in a healthy amount of confidence. Some may refer to it as faith. Perhaps the two are very similar. Another definition, for the sake of clarity, offers an understanding of the difference between faith and confidence, which says faith is "complete trust or confidence." I would dare say that our trust or confidence should be placed very carefully, using wisdom and good common sense.

In my own humble opinion, it seems that arrogance is something that is out-of-control in this world. It seems that arrogance lacks humility,  which is a characteristic of modesty, something that is very hard to come by in this immodest culture in which we live. This culture tends to lean toward being very vain and egotistical. I am often overwhelmed by the narcissistic people I seem to encounter on a daily basis. I often wonder whatever happened to humility.

We need confidence. We must have confidence to live from day to day, even from one minute to the next. We must have the confidence to believe that the chair we sit in is going to hold us, or that the building we are in is going to remain standing, at least while we are in it. We must have confidence that the coffee maker will give us the fresh hot cup our mouths are craving, or that the vehicle that we are driving is going to get us where we are headed.

It appears that the culture is fascinated by people who are overly-confident, arrogant, narcissistic even, giving young people the impression that it is more advantageous to be this way rather than being humble and modest. I am convinced that it is this very thing we call arrogance that is contributing to this corrupt and nefarious society. I'll have more to say later.

The Blame Game

Seems to me like no one wants to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong. Could it be that we are so ugly towards persons who mess up?

Of course I am by no means a Donald Trump fan. But I think we have to let him off the hook even a little bit, especially because of his reputation to fire folk. If he did not fire the speech-writer who used the quotes from Michelle Obama's speech, I think it can prove to be a good lesson for us all that we have to let people off-the-hook when they mess up, because we need to better understand the nature of forgiveness.

We have all done something that offended somebody, even though we may not have realized it at the time, for which we probably need to be forgiven. I am convinced that most relationships need the forgiveness factor in order to be healthy and to be maintained. Forgiveness needs to be a part of every relationship, just as much as love and friendship. Each of our life experiences will cause us to need to have forgiveness and be forgiving in our hearts--people usually don't know what they are doing. How do I know?

First let me ask you not to wholesale, dismiss this claim because it comes from a place you may find offensive. I would have to ask what makes it offensive to you and do you have any idea why? And please find a fresh reason why, do not regurgitate what you have heard someone else say, unless you have thoroughly given great thought to your answer and you can summarily explain why you believe what you say you believe.

I have read, which for many is a story, about a man hanging from what is usually called a cross, where one of the first things he said from that position of pain was "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34, NIV, New Testament Bible). I am further convinced that the last part of that statement was more for the benefit of the hearers and readers because grammatically speaking, that part of the sentence was unnecessary. If any idea or idiom could be transcendent, certainly is the idea that we do not know what we are doing.

I believe so many relationships, organizations, and especially churches could do and be a lot better if we all understood that forgiveness, and  I mean the God-kind of forgiveness where we don't bring it up again and again, is a vital component in our relationships. I believe also, one of the main reasons the Church seems to have lost its appeal to so many is what is often interpreted as unloving, unkind and unforgiving treatments in Churches. I think what I heard a preacher say once is very, very true. "You have to catch a fish before you can clean it."

You should be fired!!!

I don't know that Donald Trump intended to be offensive, but I think it does go to show that he is a poor administrator or manager (which may be used interchangeably in this article), whichever makes sense to you. A good manager checks and is aware of possible sensitive areas that may possibly be offensive to certain people and/or groups. I thought that was basic training for managers and administrators. Or does Mr. Trump not care? And in spite of votes, does he not care that if he were to be elected, he would be every one's President? Not only Jewish people (and the last I heard, regardless of who she may or may not be, Jewish ethnicity is determined by the mother's ethnicity), but also African-Americans, Gay-Americans, etc. Perhaps he could use some sensitivity training. I believe this is something we should all give very careful consideration.

I am talking about the tweet that has been called antisemitic, that once again calls Hillary Clinton "crooked" (the pot calling the kettle). Apparently, the tweet used a six pointed star (often called the Star of David) that was subsequently changed to a circle, and included some negative and derogatory caption about Mrs. Clinton, his presumptive Democratic opponent in the race for President.

One response to the criticism brought up how the six pointed star is often used by Sheriff's Offices as their badge shape. I am presently married to a retired Sheriff's Deputy and the particular Sheriff's Office uses a seven pointed star. One reason I know this is because I made a computer generated version of the badge for something my husband needed to do once a long time ago before he retired, and he wanted the image of the Sheriff's star to be on the document. (The computer that image was designed on was destroyed in a flood a few years ago, so I no longer have the PC nor the software that designed it, nor the star itself. Not only that, but if memory serves me correctly, a similar image was included in a set of CD clip art I bought nearly 20 years ago.) In my mind, this seems to reflect a lack of attention, perhaps even a lack of knowledge of vital information, even important details, for such an important office.

I'll have more to say about this lack of knowledge, as well as lack of attention, in future articles.

Check the Facts!

I am so sick of people being misquoted or folk jumping to conclusions about what they think someone has said! They seem so convinced that someone has said something--or try to read into someone's mind what they are thinking. I have said and will probably say it until the day I die. CHECK YOUR FACTS!

Two things that aggravate me most in life is arrogance and assumptions. I think, more than anything else, these two character traits really are what make living in this world so challenging, to say the least. Both demonstrate a type of selfishness and self-centeredness that has no regard for others, really no respect and no acknowledgement of other people.

It may seem like I ramble some in these posts. Perhaps I do, at least a little. There is so much to say, and I am pretty certain, at some point the reader  will figure out most of what has me rambling so is the fact that I have a lot to say, possibly more than will fit into this space.

But for the most part, people seem to believe lies before they even listen to the truth.They already have their minds made up about what to think and what is true. Maybe I'm gullible or something, but  it seems that people are more apt to believe what they want to believe whether it's true or not. It must be that believing the truth may be harder than believing a lie.

It also seems that the world attempts to discredit the truth, be it religion, or even down to what we eat. The very thing we need is nourishment, even just to live. But I know for myself (due to some health challenges over the last couple of years) that while we need food even as mere sustenance, to be very honest, it is food that's killing us.

As a Christian person,  if I listen to what the world has to say, even my believing in God, and especially in Jesus Christ is foolishness. The world cannot seem to embrace the belief in miracles that Christians typically believe. It seems that the world does not embrace nor does it want to believe that which cannot be proven scientifically, and that which it seems to refuse to even try to understand.

The world wants us to believe that Jesus does not matter, that God is unimportant.The unbelieving part of the world wants us to believe that Jesus is just a myth or a fairytale. And even those of us who say we believe have to be very careful to demonstrate what we say we believe, that God is love, and that we are God's tangible, loving, agents in this world. Too many people say it, but it comes across as arrogant and self-serving. Don't just say it.

Lies?

What is the deal with Donald Trump? He is telling lies and getting away with it. I don't get it.These people who call themselves Christian are not saying anything about these blatant lies and they want him as President! You've got to be kidding!

About the main reason I have not kept up with any blog that I or anyone else writes (especially online) is because I do not want to be involved in a back and forth that seems to be endless with no resolution. It just seems to go on and on.

I am unashamedly and unapologetically Black and female -- AND Christian -- all of which I believe is of equal importance. If someone can come up with a reason why one is more important than the other, by all means tell me. I am almost 100% certain that White Christians would say that being Christian is the most important thing. I see it as very important, and perhaps it is most important. But being Black and female is just as important because to believe that thing about God made me, I also need to believe that what God has made is at least as important.

And allow me to digress briefly -- I'm going back a few years to a former Presidential candidate. This candidate had a Pastor that the world seem to bash because the world heard a brief excerpt from a sermon that Pastor preached. Let me help you. I heard the entire sermon, and what was excerpted was taken out of context. (I also want to say that the term "unashamedly and unapologetically" came from this same preacher, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, whom I have had the pleasure of hearing and meeting.)

One of my pet peeves in life is people who jump to conclusions. I have been like this for many years! (I even remember putting up a flyer or something on a former job about people making assumptions -- I did it at least a couple of times because it must have offended somebody; it kept being taken down; so sorry you were offended, and I hope you read this to understand why I put it up in the first place.) But all you need to do is check your facts.

And I especially want to say this to preachers -- please, Please, PLEASE, check your facts! This is one of the reasons I think Christianity is in the sorry state it is in -- whatever comes up comes out, and you don't even check your facts! Even if you don't care, other people do, and those are the people you should be trying to reach.

Maybe that's why you like Donald Trump!