We do not naturally tend toward people that are different then us.
While yes, physically people as human beings regardless of the color of their skin and the country they were born in, people are nearly identical. But we are not the same.
Everyone's perspective is built out over their experiences. The color of their skin, where they were born, their communities, their friends, their recreation, their family, everything is playing into how individuals think and function.
As a result we have incredible differences, some good, some bad and we live in a country that has been called a 'melting pot'. I was watching the President's Cup yesterday - which is being held right next to Ellis Island - and the commenters were talking about the incredible role that island played in American History. Being the front door of America to nearly 12 million people over the course of half a century.
Our country has been an incredibly welcome open society to people all of all race colors and spiritual backgrounds. You could argue that the Constitution has allowed that, and is the greatest political document of all time. That in it is that very foundations that every democratic society should follow.
Within these communities you have expressions, and underlying cultural norms. Again very different per the context. Urban and rural areas are going to look very different. The father you get from an interstate the more conservative and generational the communities will be.
Colin Kapernick Has Pulled the Curtain Back On One
Unfortunately, not all these cultural norms are conducive to equality and freedom. I personally believe that no cultural will ever be able to build itself into a place where everyone has the same experience of privilege or access. This is a result of the melting pot and the incredible diversity that is available in our country. I also believe that race should not be one of those barriers where people of different race experience different privilege or access. This has been the case for a long time in different parts of our country and it is beginning to be exposed, thanks to Colin Kapernick and many members of the NFL using their platform to expose the issue.
So What Do You Do?
This I think is the question that the majority of us are beginning to ask? I actually think the majority of our country is not racist. I do not know that I know anybody under the age of 60 that would call themselves racist. I do however think the majority of Americans that are not racist, have no idea what blacks in particular experience in these same cultural norms. As a result we have built out cultural norms that are still pushing racists tendencies, for the most part ignorantly! Things like walking home at night can be very different pending on your skin color, as a result of racial profiling. Unless you have a friend thats black the majority of white Americans will have no idea what racial profiling actually feels like.
The root of this goes way deep - is incredibly dynamic and we can talk about that in a later post.
What I want to hit on, is what do you actually want to do about it? My millennial generation has been accused of feeling like we are highly opinionated, have a high justice meter, but do not actually do anything outside of like or dislike things on social media. So, if you care about racial reconciliation in whatever your individual context what are you doing about it?
Couple Thoughts of Things You Can Do
Refuse to believe mainstream media's portrayal. It's biased, generally pushing an agenda and following the $$$'s. While there may be element's of truth mixed, you will always get a skewed perspective that will immediately make it difficult for you to have any real idea of the problem.
Make a friend in your local community that is off a different race. Not like a one time meeting, actually try and make a legitimate friend and learn from them. Ask their experience in the culture. Listen, and allow an experience that is different from yours help you identify the problem in your community. Racial reconciliation will never happen with the whites doing one thing or the black doing one thing. It will happen when the problem is addressed holistically, with all the races interacting as a community and not the white or black people.
Get involved in your local politics. Attend town hall meetings, email your city mayor, your residential council member, or your local police chief. Get the dialogue moving. Not assuming nobody is doing anything but pushing the dialogue forward with people that actually have influence and power to bring about legislative change.
Don't get discouraged. We are addressing a systemic cultural issue that will take time and understanding to bring about change. Assume that people are wanting to change. People do not want to suck. They learn how to suck, and they need to learn how to be better.
Get over learned political correctness. If you are legitimately trying to be part of the solution you can't gently talk about the issues or always be nervous about stepping on someones toes. If you say something that is offensive and have genuine relationships with people they will tell you. Political Correctness is for the most part preventing genuine relationships from people that are different.
Thanks for reading - I would love your thoughts on this - especially if you have solutions to the problem that I haven't mentioned above. Please be kind to each other if you are engaging in the dialogue, as this is and can be incredible personal and has real implications in our lives.
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