Thank you for your words of wisdom. I especially appreciate your comment that, "When it comes to racism, White Christians often attempt to express love through words of affirmation, but what we need are acts of service." Thanks for pointing out the discrepancies white people have when it comes to extending love toward our BIPOC neighbors.
Dr., there are so many layers to all of this. For me, it starts with a lack of understanding around "white" being a social/power construct. White church never taught me anything about about power structures or social constructs and how both of those affect how justice or true Jesus-style love plays out. And white women, in particular, are groomed within church to be "nice" and follow a 19th century model of charity as their Christian mandate of living goodness. Then, add to all of that, that every form in this country still has a "white box" to check, which leans towards reaffirming the whole "white goodness" myth/thing and lends favor within patriarchal/slanted systems... All of this just messes so deeply with the human psyche; and without true prophetic truth-tellers, well, there's still a lotta "white bubble cluelessness" within church world!
"What magical power do White Christians think their love has?"
Definitely appreciate this question because I feel like for many of us White Christians, the real answer is that we have not really thought about it. Especially in White dominated Christian spaces, "racial justice" seems so focused on White people's feelings of whether they are racist or not that we never get around to actually addressing any practical issues.
So, it seems to me that the "words of affirmation" is the default response to hearing about racist incidents because it is rooted in thoughts and feelings (thoughts and prayers??) rather than practical response.
I heard a podcast episode with either Rachel Cargle or Austin Channing Brown, I think, that was talking about a seminar they were leading on antiracism, and they asked the group why they attended the seminar. The White folks responded with things like wanting to be a good friend or wanting to not be racist. Then, she pointed out that it is curious that no one said because racism is wrong or because I want to stop racism.
Even the most "woke" White Christians still seem to center themselves and their internal moral questioning of how racist they are over either how can I support those experiencing racism or what can I do to reduce or eliminate racism.
I had this cheesy YA book when I was a kid called, Love is a Four Letter Word. Yes. Even as a white woman I felt this in white Christian spaces. "We love you, so get in line." Or, "We love you, and no one else will." "We love you, so if there's a problem here it must be on your end." I can't imagine how much more painful that dynamic would be to Black people, and Black women in particular.
Thank you, Dr. Walker-Barnes. I had not considered this before, and your explanation helped me get it. May it guide me and help me guide my fellow white folk.
Eliza Doolittle's song to Freddie came to mind. "Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words. Is that all you blighter's do?"
And if you're going to show me, let's not make this a one-time transactional thing. I'm sorry but a march and a protest are not the kind of fight I need. I want to know what love is when you put those pithy signs down.
Terrific essay. James says, too, what does it mean if you say be warm and well fed but do nothing. (What’s love got to do with it popped into my mind, also!) Thank you.
Ask any interracially adopted person in a white family too. Ask them if white love made everything better and if they feel they have to be grateful and cater to whiteness in all they do now 👀
Phew. Thank you for writing this. It's why I wrote a WHOLE book about this. "Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself." It was nominated for a NAACP and centers the Good Samaritan story.
Thank you, Dr. Walker-Barnes, for continuing to tell the truth and shame the devil!
I must begin by thanking God that probably every person described by Jesus in the Good Samaritan parable was a descendant of Shem. Not Japheth nor Ham; Shem.
As to your theme, I understand how Christian Action - which can include something as passive as Prayer - was demonstrated to the Apostles, by Christ, in their three-year “apprenticeships” as well as addressed in the letters of James. If I could borrow an expression from the ‘70s ; “Action… Jackson !”
For your reader’s enjoyment, may I illustrate your point in the lives of two white men, one from New Jersey and the other from New Hampshire, who graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. In each, you will read about absolute Christian Action.
Blessings to all who have Christ in their hearts and action in their service…descending from any of Noah’s 3 sons, repopulating the world after the Ark landed on Mt. Ararat.
Dr. Walker-Barnes, I was on that zoom as you shared your presentation (It was Excellent! You pulled no punches!) and noticed how many of the attendees did not know what to do with your message. The easy thing for them to do was throw off that "I am not like those you are speaking about. I love all of God's people." Having preached in a number of white spaces, I think there are a number of them who forget or just don't know that love is an ACTION word and the embodiment of justice. The prophet Micah 6:8 makes it clear: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
This is so powerful because I was explaining this to White coworkers and they said well Brittany we love you. I said what I need is for you to be allies that advocate for change. Thanks for naming this so clearly. This was music to my ears.
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I especially appreciate your comment that, "When it comes to racism, White Christians often attempt to express love through words of affirmation, but what we need are acts of service." Thanks for pointing out the discrepancies white people have when it comes to extending love toward our BIPOC neighbors.
Dr., there are so many layers to all of this. For me, it starts with a lack of understanding around "white" being a social/power construct. White church never taught me anything about about power structures or social constructs and how both of those affect how justice or true Jesus-style love plays out. And white women, in particular, are groomed within church to be "nice" and follow a 19th century model of charity as their Christian mandate of living goodness. Then, add to all of that, that every form in this country still has a "white box" to check, which leans towards reaffirming the whole "white goodness" myth/thing and lends favor within patriarchal/slanted systems... All of this just messes so deeply with the human psyche; and without true prophetic truth-tellers, well, there's still a lotta "white bubble cluelessness" within church world!
I won't say I love you! But I promise I will fight for you.
Thank you for the message.
"What magical power do White Christians think their love has?"
Definitely appreciate this question because I feel like for many of us White Christians, the real answer is that we have not really thought about it. Especially in White dominated Christian spaces, "racial justice" seems so focused on White people's feelings of whether they are racist or not that we never get around to actually addressing any practical issues.
So, it seems to me that the "words of affirmation" is the default response to hearing about racist incidents because it is rooted in thoughts and feelings (thoughts and prayers??) rather than practical response.
I heard a podcast episode with either Rachel Cargle or Austin Channing Brown, I think, that was talking about a seminar they were leading on antiracism, and they asked the group why they attended the seminar. The White folks responded with things like wanting to be a good friend or wanting to not be racist. Then, she pointed out that it is curious that no one said because racism is wrong or because I want to stop racism.
Even the most "woke" White Christians still seem to center themselves and their internal moral questioning of how racist they are over either how can I support those experiencing racism or what can I do to reduce or eliminate racism.
I had this cheesy YA book when I was a kid called, Love is a Four Letter Word. Yes. Even as a white woman I felt this in white Christian spaces. "We love you, so get in line." Or, "We love you, and no one else will." "We love you, so if there's a problem here it must be on your end." I can't imagine how much more painful that dynamic would be to Black people, and Black women in particular.
Thank you, Dr. Walker-Barnes. I had not considered this before, and your explanation helped me get it. May it guide me and help me guide my fellow white folk.
Eliza Doolittle's song to Freddie came to mind. "Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words. Is that all you blighter's do?"
And if you're going to show me, let's not make this a one-time transactional thing. I'm sorry but a march and a protest are not the kind of fight I need. I want to know what love is when you put those pithy signs down.
Terrific essay. James says, too, what does it mean if you say be warm and well fed but do nothing. (What’s love got to do with it popped into my mind, also!) Thank you.
Ask any interracially adopted person in a white family too. Ask them if white love made everything better and if they feel they have to be grateful and cater to whiteness in all they do now 👀
Phew. Thank you for writing this. It's why I wrote a WHOLE book about this. "Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself." It was nominated for a NAACP and centers the Good Samaritan story.
Thank you, Dr. Walker-Barnes, for continuing to tell the truth and shame the devil!
This is exactly the Advent reflection I needed at the start of this week on love. Thank you for your words. May they influence my actions.
I must begin by thanking God that probably every person described by Jesus in the Good Samaritan parable was a descendant of Shem. Not Japheth nor Ham; Shem.
As to your theme, I understand how Christian Action - which can include something as passive as Prayer - was demonstrated to the Apostles, by Christ, in their three-year “apprenticeships” as well as addressed in the letters of James. If I could borrow an expression from the ‘70s ; “Action… Jackson !”
For your reader’s enjoyment, may I illustrate your point in the lives of two white men, one from New Jersey and the other from New Hampshire, who graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. In each, you will read about absolute Christian Action.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Woolman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Daniels
Blessings to all who have Christ in their hearts and action in their service…descending from any of Noah’s 3 sons, repopulating the world after the Ark landed on Mt. Ararat.
Dr. Walker-Barnes, I was on that zoom as you shared your presentation (It was Excellent! You pulled no punches!) and noticed how many of the attendees did not know what to do with your message. The easy thing for them to do was throw off that "I am not like those you are speaking about. I love all of God's people." Having preached in a number of white spaces, I think there are a number of them who forget or just don't know that love is an ACTION word and the embodiment of justice. The prophet Micah 6:8 makes it clear: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
PREACH! I’m sitting in the power of this true word you just spoke
This is so powerful because I was explaining this to White coworkers and they said well Brittany we love you. I said what I need is for you to be allies that advocate for change. Thanks for naming this so clearly. This was music to my ears.
Thank you for your writings. I learn from them and they are greatly appreciated.