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Thread: The Downside of racial integration from a Black Christian perspective

  1. #1
    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    The Downside of racial integration from a Black Christian perspective

    interesting responses in the comment section


    https://www.raanetwork.org/downside-...ck-christians/



    .......We want places to lament when the next unarmed black person is killed by law enforcement. We want "amens" from people who understand what it's like when a classmate or co-woker insinuates that your presence is only due to affirmative action. We want to say "That's my jam!" when someone mentions a nineties R&B song (clearly the best era for this genre). We want to talk about what it's like to be a black believer in a white Christian congregation.

    But how can black people get this kind of communal strength when all of our gatherings are integrated?

    Integration itself is not the problem. The issue is that in many integrated settings, many of the white people don't understand black experiences. They won't understand the struggle, understand the references, or feel the pain and the pleasure of being black.

    As much as we love our white brothers and sisters, we don't always want to have to explain the essence of being black. In integrated settings with white Christians, we have to unpack basic ideas about the black experience. We have to talk about privilege, white supremacy, systemic racism, black culture, food, and music. These explanations are exhausting. It's hard to have a 401 level solidarity with people who are on a 101 level of racial awareness.

    To avoid complete fatigue, black Christians sometimes seek out occasions to be with other black people and not have white people around judging or questioning their lived reality. But in an integrated church culture, just getting together with other black people is nearly impossible.

    First, you don't want to be accused of being racist. It's very hard to explain to white people, "This is not for you." They will see you as moving backwards in race relations. Additionally, even if you do manage to gather with just black people, if white people find out they may want to join you. Again, how do you say, "This is not for you," without being perceived as anti-white? If you publicize your intent to only gather with black people, that only brings more questions and condemnation from those who don't understand the need for black solidarity.

    Many often fail to understand the need for black Christians to gather alone and interpret this as a form of re-segregation and racism. They'll ask, "If the gospel unites people of every nation and tribe, then why do black Christians insist on excluding white people?"

    The desire to gather with other black Christians is about renewal.

    Black Christians, just like any black people in America, need communities that will affirm their dignity and restore the strength they expend just to exist in this nation. Gathering in a mono-racial setting is only temporary. Afterwards, we go back out into a world where we are the minority, and where our presence is often considered a problem. It is impossible to survive as a black person in America without rejuvenation from people with shared experiences. We retreat into racially-specific communities with the intention of coming back out stronger and more prepared to engage across the color line.

    It is sinful to segregate out of hate for other people or with a desire for permanent separation. But black community empowers us to live more racially integrated lives, not less. With a solid sense of self and the confidence in others' support of us, black Christians can engage a world built around whiteness with courage and patience.

    White people may never fully comprehend the downside of integration for black people. We can only hope our white brothers and sisters will assume and believe the best of us, and celebrate our attempts at forging black community instead of impeding them. Although black people are going to find a way to gather with one another anyway, the understanding from white Christians would facilitate racial harmony.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    ??? So.....is this article saying there are differences in blacks and whites other than skin color and historical culture from African roots???

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Just seems like a big long excuse for something the writer would call 'racist' if whites did it.

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    Senior Member Romans828's Avatar
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    OK, we get it...

    NEWS FLASH: Black folks can be racist too!

    I don't think anyone on this forum disputes that fact.

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    FaithfulOne (08-24-2017)

  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by romans828 View Post
    ok, we get it...

    News flash: Black folks can be racist too!

    I don't think anyone on this forum disputes that fact.
    thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

  7. #6
    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Romans828 View Post
    OK, we get it...

    NEWS FLASH: Black folks can be racist too!

    I don't think anyone on this forum disputes that fact.
    That wasn't the purpose of starting the thread. Does this man have a legit point or not?

    Growing up on the west coast, i always went to integrated churches. It never even was a thought. I'm on a contract with a church in the south right now so I travel back and forth , and to be honest, it was like stepping back in time. Shocking. It's still a HUGE issue for both sides in many parts of the country

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    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    So of y'all are so cranky lately - no names

  9. #8
    An appeal to the forum overseers (I wanted to say "gods" but I may get labeled as a heretic, I got enough labels on here as it is), may I respond to Pente's post? Yes? Thanks...

    Ahem...since being Spirit-filled I've attended multiracial churches, I attend one now. I can't get on board with this author...a clue to how he sees things is in the title of his blog, "Reformed African American Network"..tells me a lot right there.

    But when he said this,
    As much as we love our white brothers and sisters, we don’t always want to have to explain the essence of being black. In integrated settings with white Christians, we have to unpack basic ideas about the black experience. We have to talk about privilege, white supremacy, systemic racism, black culture, food, and music. These explanations are exhausting. It’s hard to have a 401 level solidarity with people who are on a 101 level of racial awareness.
    I've experienced this just recently on here. But that doesn't mean I want to go seek an all-black Christian forum, because even then, there are bound to be sharp differences there too.

    White people may never fully comprehend the downside of integration for black people. We can only hope our white brothers and sisters will assume and believe the best of us, and celebrate our attempts at forging black community instead of impeding them. Although black people are going to find a way to gather with one another anyway, the understanding from white Christians would facilitate racial harmony.
    He seems to favor segregation, which, (surprise surprise), I don't agree with.

  10. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Pentecali View Post
    So of y'all are so cranky lately - no names
    Yeah, so what

  11. #10
    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    FaithfulOne in my opinion, the black inner city church (many) are in decline. I've not only seen it but I've been told that by many leaders, yet some of those churches are reaching the most broken. On the other hand,IMO Some of them are in decline because of pastoral abuse. What I mean is Bishops living large while the people suffer. I think the younger generation is just not going to succomb to that like the older generation did.

    No one makes anyone attend a church. If you go, you do it by choice. If one goes to a predominately white or black church, it's probably going to have a dominant culture. No?

    In the 60s during civil rights, he probably would have a valid point. But in 2017? I just don't see it.

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    FaithfulOne (08-24-2017)

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