A bunch of white folks show up, blacks don’t, and it’s the white people who are blamed for not caring.
Oh man, I blew it this past weekend. Sunday was the day of the big National Sacred Conversation on Race, organized by Jeremiah Wright’s denomination, the United Church of Christ. I’ve been looking forward to that for months! And don’t ask me how, but it somehow slipped my mind. And boy am I kicking myself! Just look at what I missed:
The complexity of race relations in America will not be resolved easily, but a step toward understanding in Enid was taken Sunday by a group of Enid area residents at University Place Christian Church.
About 35 mostly white people gathered together to discuss racial issues. Only one black person, one Asian woman and one Hispanic were present, although the Rev. Jerry Galbreath said he sent personal invitations to the leaders of a number of minority organizations in Enid.
After discussions about progress made in Enid by groups like the Inter-racial Women’s Club and NAACP, the Rev. J.F. Wickey, pastor of the United Church of Christ in Enid, said his church has asked the question across the country and come to disappointing conclusions. Wickey said black people do not feel whites are truly ready to discuss race because they still come to the table from a supremacy point of view..
Nothing like a heaping helping of white guilt to start the week off right! A bunch of white folks show up, blacks don’t, and it’s the white people who are blamed for not caring. Somehow or another, when it comes to race, just about everything always turns out to be white folks’ fault. Still, I would’ve given 100 bucks to watch this preacher say that with a straight face! I can’t believe I forgot about this. And they weren’t done. Another preacher made a really powerful illustration:
During the discussion Galbreath referred to examples of “systemic racism,” which is included in societal norms. He placed a school desk in the center of the room with a sign indicating it is a right-handed desk for “normal” people. That way students at one time were made to feel abnormal if they were left-handed.
Gosh, I’ll bet there wasn’t a dry eye in the room after that. I’m bawling like a baby myself as I type this. Set the left handed freaks free! It’s hateful and systemic! ~Sniffle~
Hey, wait a minute. Lefties? I thought we were talking about black people?
Well, anyway, I’m sure it was all very deeply moving and systemic and stuff. I’m really sorry I missed it. But there’s good news! They’re gonna try again on June 22. Let me go grab a hanky and mark my calendar!
Aw, who I am I kiddin’? I didn’t forget about it – I stayed home to watch a Dukes of Hazzard rerun.