Recently, it was brought to my attention that a select group of white Blogtalkradio (BTR) hosts have been critical of the new "Black Talk Radio Network" (www.blacktalkradio.ning.com) This ning.com network was created to provide a meeting place for black BTR hosts and give listeners one-stop accessibility to the shows of their favorite black Blogtalkradio hosts. It also allows black BTR hosts to submit blogs for reading and videos for viewing.
I'm sure there are a number of white Americans who are also critical of the new "Black in America" social network (www.blackinamerica.com), which came online following the Cable New Network's report by the same name. They seemingly believe the creation of these meeting spaces creates more division than unity, does nothing to create what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to as the Beloved Community. What they fail to realize, though, is that they have had reserved meeting spaces for themselves for centuries, and have been adamant about keeping black Americans and other persons of color on the outside looking in. "Lord forbid my white daughter fall in love with a...a..Negro."
For this reason, I would encourage readers of this blog entry to purchase a copy of the PBS documentary "RACE: The Power of an Illusion". You will learn about one of the methods white people used to insulate themselves from Blacks and other persons of color. The method in question involved the denial of loans to Blacks who wanted to move into predominantly white communities. You also will begin to understand White America's need for enlightened sensitivity.
As most of you well know, prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Whites weren't supportive of Blacks moving into their neighborhoods (Some of you are probably thinking, "And they still aren't."). They were concerned about maintaining high property values. If their neighbor ended up being black, they surmised that their property value would plummet. To make matters worse, this long-standing and universal sentiment was fueled by local, state and federal policies that were developed to prevent race mixing.
But I love white people. All of them aren't bad. The enlightened ones recognize that the concept of race is an illusion; therefore, they're doing everything they can to support the Black Diaspora citizenry's campaign to rewrite its name into the world history books. The ones I worry about are the unenlightened ones, those white Americans who say nothing and sit idle as we black Americans talk about the different ways we are being mistreated and alienated in this country and around the world. Their privilege doesn't allow them to see the truth, that they have been, and continue to be, the beneficiaries of their ancestors' crimes against humanity.
But we black Americans must also understand that there have been a number of white Americans who feel a great deal of sorrow for the crimes that were committed then by their ancestors and the ones being committed now by their contemporaries. These are the white Americans I love the most, the ones that I want to align myself with.
And that is why I have tried so hard through the years to align myself with Whites who display enlightened sensitivity for our struggle through their words and deeds. When I was a high school and collegiate athlete, I remember how us black and white athletes got along, how we reveled at the opportunity to see who was faster and stronger.
No, we didn't have long-winded conversations about how some individuals in the white community are keeping Blacks down. At the time, it didn't seem to matter. Our daily practices together on the football field and track oval enabled us to relate to each other as human beings, individuals who each had something unique to contribute to the team's success.
But I also remember living in Tennessee in the late 1980s and attending a predominantly white church. There were plenty of black churches out there to attend, but I attended this one largely because I was in step with my peer group at the time. a group of track and field athletes. We all were in desperate need of a teacher of the word, not a preacher. Many of us had shunned the Christian faith the moment we set foot on the University of Tennessee campus. Through this teacher and our experiences together, we would learn that God is more concerned about our heart condition than our skin color.
But even in the context of this predominately white church setting, I found that many of my black peers were apprehensive when it came to talking about the elephant in the room. They seemingly harbored fears about being labeled a "trouble maker" or "angry Black" by Whites if they spoke out about racism in the workplace or in society. I learned that even when intentions are good, uneasiness still fills the room whenever the issue of racism is being explored. But I have since come to the conclusion that if talking about these issues makes them feel uncomfortable, then they have chosen to remain on the wrong side of God's law. But if they can talk about these issues and still maintain their composure, you have gained an ally for life.
White Americans who reach a state of enlightened sensitivity should receive commendation. But only if their words coincide with their deeds. Maintaining their composure when talking about these issues is one thing, but being able to recognize and take stock of their group's exclusionary policies and practices is something entirely different. Unenlightened Whites don't have the capacity to bridge these two extremes because their unmerited privilege doesn't require them to think about anybody but themselves, the upward mobility of their own racial/ethnic group.
You could say the same about us black Americans - that we only think about ourselves, our own upward mobility - but our thoughts are focused primarily on our lack of privilege. This lack of privilege is no fault of our own; it is directly related to the legacy of slavery and oppression. But we're preoccupied with it because everything around us speaks to what white people want us to think and feel about them, that they are God's gift to mankind, the originators of all great innovations.
GIVE ME A BREAK!
Every citizen of the world has an equal stake in the prosperity of this country and world. But we have to stop operating as free agents to form a human conglomerate. Because White America is sitting behind the steering wheel, their members need to take more deliberate steps to attract more Blacks and persons of color into the activities of the mainstream culture. They need to make us feel welcomed and valued as equal partners, not because we demanded that they make us feel this way, but because their consciences tell them it is the right thing to do.
What do you think? Do you love white people? Do you think more of them are willing to support our cause today than they were yesterday?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Be blessed, and continue to be a blessing.
Jeffery A. Faulkerson, MSSW
http://www.jefferyafaulkerson.com/ http://www.practicalwritingeditingconsulti... Copyright 2008 Jeffery A. Faulkerson. All rights reserved.
Posted By: J. A. Faulkerson
Thursday, August 14th 2008 at 3:13PM
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