Nimarata N. Randhawa has maintained for a very long time that America was never a racist country. This is a curious thing to say, at least for anyone who has read about our history. Ms. Randhawa is commonly known as Nikki Haley, former Governor, Ambassador to the UN, and current presidential candidate. In 2012, however, Ms. Haley wrote that when her family came to South Carolina, nobody would rent to them. She continued; “Word quickly got around that my father worked at the ‘Black school,’ and besides that, he and my mom were obviously foreigners themselves.” This family’s story is an amazing example of the American Dream coming true, and it is the same story that has allowed this country to become the incredible place it is for so many of us. This dream isn’t just about being successful; it is about facing adversity and finding your way. Since the Revolutionary War, we have seen ourselves as the underdog, fighting for all people’s rights; okay, most people’s rights. We have also placed barriers in the way of people who were not of European descent; that’s why it’s called “systemic.” If you don’t believe that, you haven’t read the Constitution. Or history.
There’s a reason my first ancestor in this country took an N off of his last name – he didn’t want people to think he was Jewish. There’s a reason my wonderful friend Elsayed went by Steve. There’s a reason so many immigrants have worked hard to lose their accents and assimilate into American culture. Racism and bigotry aren’t purely American problems; it seems that we human beings are tribal by nature and have difficulty seeing others as equal to ourselves. Consider the Amish. They are a closed society who have always feared that they would be infected by “the English” (although they have gotten rich selling their trinkets to us). Or the ultra-orthodox New Square community near where I grew up: they put a chain across the one road to keep the impure out during the Sabbath.
Let’s stop playing this ridiculous game and accept that we humans are flawed and need to improve. I, for one, find my faith in God has helped me to see myself more clearly and change the parts of me that are in need of transformation, and I am not done yet. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the more religious we are, the more bigoted we tend to be. We tend to gravitate towards religious rules that point us towards bigotry instead of acceptance and understanding. If your religion teaches you to hate or legislate against those who are different from you, you should find a new religion. Faith is not supposed to be used to destroy; it is supposed to be a force for good. If you can’t see racism in America, you might have so much privilege that it doesn’t touch you. Or you might be part of the problem. I think God can help you with that.
Prayer – Holy God, You know that we are imperfect and prone to be selfish. You did, after all, create us. You also have given us the capacity to grow more into Your likeness. Help us in that journey. Amen.
Today’s art is a painting produced by Arielo “Bisco” Taylor during the first day of the Racial Equity Summit in Alaska in 2016.