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This is actually in response to something I posted on FB, but after I put in the work of writing it, I though I'd share it anyway.
That systemic racism exists in the US is a fact, whether we are comfortable admitting it or not. 1/
That systemic racism exists in the US is a fact, whether we are comfortable admitting it or not. 1/
This doesn't mean every person in America is a racist, or that every person working in or benefiting from these systems is racist, it simply means that racism has affected these systems in the past and continues to do so today. 2/
For instance, in 2017 the average white family in the US made $68K per year, while the average African American family made just $40K. That's an almost $30K difference and just a little over half what the average white family makes. 3/
That same study showed that 36% of whites over the age of 25 have a college degree, while only 23% of African Americans do, and that African American families were more than twice as likely to be poor as white families. 4/
The median net worth of white US households is $144K, while the the median net worth of black households is just $11K. That's roughly 13X less than white families. 72% of whites own homes, but only 43% of black families do, and blacks are nearly 2x as likely to be unemployed. 5/
Moreover, African American males are 5.1X more likely to be in prison than whites.
Now, I know none of you think that African Americans are simply lazier, less willing to work, less skilled, or more prone to crime than whites are, because that really WOULD be racist. 6/
Now, I know none of you think that African Americans are simply lazier, less willing to work, less skilled, or more prone to crime than whites are, because that really WOULD be racist. 6/
Therefore, there must be something wrong with the SYSTEM that creates these massive injustices. If you've ever read about vagrancy laws, redlining, and convict leasing then you know what kind of policies I'm talking about and how they might still have an impact today. 7/
Again, this doesn’t mean that no white people have ever grown up poor or struggled in life. It doesn’t mean that all white people are racist. It just means there are systems in place that give advantages to whites that aren’t given to blacks. 8/
It doesn’t mean that whites have never had to work hard or overcome disadvantages, it just means that one of those disadvantages was not the color of their skin. 9/
Let me give you one modern example of systemic racism that doesn’t necessarily involve people making actual racist choices. I got it from @scott_m_coley. 10/
Until very recently, the University of North Carolina awarded legacy points to those applicants whose parents or grandparents attended UNC. Your application to attend there was more likely to be accepted if your parents or grandparents were alumni. 11/
The only problem is, UNC wasn’t integrated until 1955, meaning until very recently white applicants whose parents were alumni STILL had an advantage over African American students because no African American students COULD have legacy points. 12/
African American applicants were necessarily disadvantaged in attending UNC even if NO ONE in the admissions department made an intentional racist decision about whether to admit them or not, because the system itself was unjust. 13/
So what’s the solution? To answer that question in its totality will take far wiser heads than mine, and far more time than a single FB post could provide. But let me offer at least a few words of wisdom. 14/
1st, let’s agree together that racism is wrong. Gen 1:27 tells us, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This means every person on the planet, regardless of race, is endowed with value by God himself. 15/
2nd, that we’ve been created by God in his image means it’s wrong to say God is "colorblind," or that he "doesn’t see color." In fact saying so does damage to the beauty and complexity of his creation. 16/
He could have made every flower look the same, but he didn’t, because he’s a creative, artistic God who values diversity and beauty. 17/
Likewise, he could have made every human the same bland shade of gray if he wanted, but he chose to make us in a thousand beautiful shades of white, black, and brown. We don’t look this way by accident, God is showing off. So enjoy and celebrate his good creation. 18/
Moreover, remember that in Revelation 7:9 John describes, a multitude of worshippers "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages," standing around the throne. 19/
How would John have known they were from every nation, tribe, people, or language, had their unique ethnic diversities not remained intact? So then God’s good creation of ethnicity is still true, and still celebrated in heaven itself. Praise God! 20/
3rd, remember that pointing out injustice isn’t divisive; it’s biblical. James 4:17 says, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." 21/
We know racism is wrong, and we owe it to Christ to speak out against it. This is what it means to be an ambassador for Christ here on the earth (2 Cor. 5:20-21). 22/
4th, let’s be humble and empathetic toward our African American brothers and sisters in the faith. Countless faithful brothers like @ThabitiAnyabwil and @drtonyevans have all spoken out against the racist systems they still encounter today. 23/
It takes a humble, Christ-surrendered heart to listen to their cries, assess our own complicity in the problem, and seek solutions in Christ. FINALLY yes, the solution to the racial hatred and sin in men’s hearts is Christ, but ALSO remember that faith without works is dead 24/
...and that true religion means to visit widows and orphans in their affliction-IOW to address and correct injustice-(Js. 1:27). If we want our gospel witness to be effective, then we’ve got to address injustice so that people will see the OUTCOME of the Gospel. /25
