Don’t Know Much about CRT, but I’ve been Listening to Black and Brown Voices

 

Underground Railroad Monument -- Detroit

                There has been a lot of chatter about CRT (Critical Race Theory) lately. From what I’ve been hearing, it’s a Communist plot designed to indoctrinate children and sow discord in our country. I will admit that I’ve not read much about this theory, which was developed by the Harvard Law School years ago to probe how the legal code is applied to different racial/ethnic groups. While I’ve not read much about CRT, I’ve gone through anti-racism training (it’s required by my denomination for clergy standing). I’ve done a lot of reading about racism, white supremacy, and white privilege, but I don’t remember encountering CRT as part of the conversation. So, why has it suddenly become the focus of the attention of politicians (primarily white)?

                Apparently, some in our country are feeling a bit uncomfortable because they are being confronted by what we might call the underside of American history. As more diverse voices are making themselves heard, we who are white are being confronted by events and experiences that might call into question some of what we’ve been taught about our country. For instance, we just celebrated Independence Day, a day that celebrates the issuance of the Declaration of Independence that declared that “all men are created equal.” Of course, that wonderful phrase included only white males. It didn’t include black folks, most of whom were slaves. It didn’t include indigenous peoples either. It also didn’t include women who didn’t get the right to vote nationwide until the 1920s. Being reminded of this truth might be unsettling, but it needs to be recognized because we’re still wrestling with what it means for all people to be truly equal. Slavery is part of our past, whether or not our ancestors were slaveowners. The policies of extermination of Native Americans are part of our history and can’t be pushed to the side (the Trail of Tears is part of our history). Manifest Destiny led to the expansion of the nation at the expense of Native Americans and Mexicans. The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy is part of our history. The same is true of the colonialist war in the Philippines. Learning about these parts of our history might be unsettling, but it’s not divisive or a communist plot. It’s simply looking at the complete story of our nation’s history.

                Now for my final point, the black and brown voices I’ve been listening to. Although we elected a Black man as President in 2008 and re-elected him in 2012 doesn’t mean we live in a post-racial society. The legacy of slavery and other historic events remain with us. Consider the wealth gap between white and black. To a great extent that is rooted in government policies that date back to the post-war era. VA loans and the GI bill funded education and home loans for returning GIs. That is, white GIs who were able to purchase homes that increased in value so that they could pass on an inheritance to their children. Redlining also contributed to this wealth gap, preventing African Americans with money down payment from purchasing homes in desirable neighborhoods. That is part of our history that continues to be felt to this day.

                Here is my advice to my friends who are white, listen to your neighbors who are black and brown. Listen to their stories and their concerns. Yes, the nation is changing. It’s becoming less white. It’s also becoming less Christian as immigrants from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, along with their children and grandchildren are adding to the broadening of our cultural and religious milieu. Mosques and Temples are being built in our communities, along with churches. Those churches might be filled with folks from all across the globe. Yes, it won’t be long before white folk like me no longer make up more than 50% of the population. That is already true of younger generations. We can resist, but it won’t change the course of history. So, let us listen and learn so that we might not only tolerate each other but perhaps become friends. That has nothing to do with CRT. Diversity education in our schools, our businesses, and the military isn’t designed to make white people feel guilty. It’s designed to open spaces in the nation for the increasingly diverse population. Knowing about the unsavory parts of our history is part of the process of listening to those voices that too often have been marginalized in this country.  While learning history is helpful, the most important thing is to listen to black and brown folks. That requires relationships with people that might not look like you. Then change can begin to happen in this nation, so that we can inhabit the promise of the Declaration of Independence.