Are Racial Equality Programs Racist?
My Personal Take on Racism
It is no secret that America has a long and complicated history with race. For centuries, America was home to slavery and racism, two issues that continue to plague the country to this day. This history has created a divide between the races in America, and segregation can be witnessed today in many ways ranging from demographics, education, voting status, and employment.[1]
For many years, I thought it was disappearing and significant progress was being made. From my personal experiences, it hasn’t been a big issue but I’m also a white male and according to many, that puts me in a category of privilege regardless of my background, views, or experiences. I cannot help but see the evil in the divide and I pray that somehow it will end. I realize it is not something that can happen overnight but I’m a tad frustrated that it appears that we are headed in the wrong direction. My non-expert, white-male advice, would be to eliminate all programs, organizations, and movements to truly equal the playing field and create a culture where it simply does not exist.
I believe the divide between blacks and whites is less than the media and politicians portray it and many of the stories or movements such as Black Lives Matter seems to incite racism. Don’t all lives matter? I grew up in a family that focused on African missions, a mentor of mine is African American, and many of my closest friends in ministry are black. My mother actually said, “she’s pretty cute for a white girl” when I brought a date over to their house to meet her in my twenties. I mention these experiences because I am a white male that is truly colorblind when it comes to skin. It has never been part of my life so I have always felt that racism was ridiculous. I did not, and still do not understand how programs such as affirmative action, equal opportunity, or others that take race into account over expertise are helping in any way? I realize I’m looking at it through a white male lens, however, I also could argue that in many ways white males are considered the enemy by many regardless of their views or upbringing. If I love everyone, and honestly want the best for anyone, then why am I being punished for my own personal advancement?
When I was applying to colleges straight out of high school (with honors), I was considering Michigan and Michigan State University. I was confident I would be accepted to Michigan State however when I spoke to my counselor about applying to Michigan, she asked me “if I had any minority relatives in my family.” I did not apply and went to Michigan State but always felt like it was unfair that diversity mattered more than qualifications. A year later, I was in a leadership class at MSU and was chosen to defend against Affirmative Action in a debate against a black female. The class pronounced me the winner when the female had little to no response in a segment where we questioned each other. I simply asked, “If we continue to create programs to equal the playing field based on race vs. qualifications, how can institutions claim to provide the best service knowing they didn’t hire the best candidates?” I followed it up with a similar set of questions, “do you really believe that racial programs will end racism? If so, how? If not, how would you end racism?”
Shelby Steele and His Work on Race in America
I knew Shelby Steele was a political voice but I did not realize that he was such a prominent expert on race in America. His work on the topic of race is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the current state of race relations in the United States. Steele argues that “America’s past sins have polarized our country.” He elaborates his argument in his book Shame that whites have become too focused on their own victimization, while blacks have become too focused on victimizing whites. This has led to a situation where neither side is able to see the other’s point of view. As a result, our country is more divided than ever before. Steele’s work is essential reading for anyone who wants to gain an honest expert opinion on the conflict of race that has plagued our country for decades.
As Shelby Steele reveals in his book, America has grown and changed through the history and efforts of many. Historically, vices such as slavery, racism, sexism, and militarism were fought by liberals through protests, court cases, and even war to completely dismantle them in society.[2] Liberals set the ground running for the cause of change of a better America. They attempt to redeem America from its previous sins by creating and modeling effective strategies that promote livelihood, laws, and governance. However, some of the programs have failed over the years, creating more harm to society. The liberals, according to Steele’s book, have lost their focus, and ironically instead of achieving equality, they have exploited and advocated for the pains of the less fortunate in society.[3]
In our community today, the barrier to racial equality currently is not yet over. Shelby Steele argues that the concept in white liberals have installed in the community is that of their superiority over the blacks.[4] The argument that they tend to highlight is that blacks are in need of saving. These concepts undermine liberal social policies as they promote racial inequality among citizens. He also argues that the guidelines not only failed to solve the problem of inequality but also created a challenge and barrier to addressing these issues. “We couldn’t reform our way past this evil; we had to assault it radically.”[5] The problems faced by modern black Americans cannot be discussed equally because of the inconsiderate policies. Furthermore, it has made it difficult to consider blacks and whites as equals both in mind and in practice.
All of this discrimination and prejudice has led to a divide between races in America. There is a lot of mistrust, anger, and resentment between blacks and whites, but I do not understand why? Unfortunately, this divide is still very evident today. This divide has led to discrimination and prejudice against minorities, and it is something that I argue, “we need to stop addressing.” This reminds me of what Apostle Paul said in the gospel; “For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”[6]
[1] Census.gov
[2] Steele, Shelby. Shame, 44
[3] Ibid, 74
[4] Ibid, 99
[5] Ibid, 99
[6] Galatians 3:26-29
About the Author
Michael O'Neill
Director of Operations / Executive Pastor at Kinergy, Inc. Federal 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. An experienced entrepreneur, leader, father, wellness professional, and owner of a multi-location medical practice with my wife, Nicole O'Neill, MD.5 responses to “Are Racial Equality Programs Racist?”
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Michael,
Thanks for your post. I enjoyed reading it and do appreciate the thought you put into it. This is a very hard subject but I am glad to see you engage in it. I have a few thoughts on your post and hope you do not take my responses as me being harsh or hateful because I think you’re a great guy but simply an invite into dialogue.
There were a few things that you said that I’d like to engage with.
In your post, you said, “I believe the divide between blacks and whites is less than the media and politicians portray it and many of the stories or movements such as Black Lives Matter seems to incite racism. Don’t all lives matter?” As a black male in America, when I state the words “black lives matter,” it’s not a statement of position. It’s not me saying my life matters more because I’m black. It’s me saying my life matters too! Black people in 2021 accounted for 27 percent of those fatally shot and killed by police, according to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit group that tracks police shootings. That means we are twice as likely as my white brothers and sisters to be shot and killed by police officers.
In your post, you said “truly colorblind when it comes to skin.” Now don’t get me wrong, I understand what you are trying to say and I appreciate it but I think when we come at it from that position we are missing the beauty of creation. We are supposed to see skin color, God created us in that way. We are to see our differences, proclivities and all that it comes with.
Finally, you stated in your post “Unfortunately, this divide is still very evident today. This divide has led to discrimination and prejudice against minorities, and it is something that I argue, “we need to stop addressing.” How do we move forward from something if it isn’t addressed? Maybe you believe it isn’t being addressed in the right way but to simply stop addressing something because it’s ugly or uncomfortable or messy isn’t helpful.
Thanks for engaging with the reading. I know this can be uncomfortable for all of us, but so good to actually dialogue about it.
Thank you, Daron. I take no offense and I hope I was not offensive in any way. I’m glad you know my heart and could see through any potentially controversial comments I made.
As far as my comment regarding the media, I believe the media has an agenda and is controlled by forces of evil. I believe in many ways they create a divide that would not necessarily exist (or would be less) if they reported information in a different light. I am not arguing the statistics, our ignorant history, or that any lives matter more than others. My view on “all lives matter” echoes your comments about God’s beautiful creation. We were made in his image and I see humans and humans. I find it difficult to put anyone in a certain category and see us all as his beautiful creation and refuse to pass judgment. When I see movements that single out a race or a group, it seems to me like it promotes a divide instead of ending it. How can we ever move forward if we are constantly dividing individuals?
As far as the colorblind comment is concerned, I think we’re actually on the same page on this one. I could have used a different word to describe it but I agree that there is beauty in color and the point I was trying to make is that I would never judge someone on skin color and the fact that people do makes me sick.
The final comment about eliminating programs or addressing inequality – I am not in favor of ignoring something because it’s uncomfortable, I’m in favor of disregarding programs that promote or encourage division. If the media, corporations, universities, or society in general would simply focus on love and support for everyone, we would live in a more peaceful world. So yes, I do think it could be addressed in a different way, and I obviously am no expert nor do I have a good solution other than to seek the Kingdom of God. I don’t believe there is any room for racism in God’s kingdom and we are loved by him so unconditionally that we can’t even comprehend it. I think if the world were more Christ-like, this wouldn’t be an issue. I realize this is also easier said than done and we’re all in this field to push His kingdom forward. It’s definitely no easy task. If anything, as “believers” we are actually the minority in this dark world, and skin color has nothing to do with it. If Heaven has no place for racial division, and we’re instructed to bring Heaven to earth, perhaps we’re attacking this division with the wrong type of solutions and should focus more on Christ instead of politics or government intervention?
Thank you again. I appreciate your view and I’m glad you know my heart. I feel extremely blessed to know you and call you my brother. We share the same Spiritual Father and the same mission in Christ. The cruxes of my views were all grounded in my faith and love for all of God’s creation even if my lack of expertise in this area may have portrayed something different.
Michael,
I’m so glad we can have this conversation. I believe this is missing from the race conversation, which is civil discourse. We should be able to, as brothers in Christ that know each other’s character to be able to hear each other out filtering the conversation through love and the Spirit. It is things like this that give me hope for the church.
Michael,
I appreciate your thoughts and comments on Steels, issue with social programs.
You said:
“Shelby Steele argues that the concept in white liberals have installed in the community is that of their superiority over the blacks.[4] The argument that they tend to highlight is that blacks are in need of saving. These concepts undermine liberal social policies as they promote racial inequality among citizens. He also argues that the guidelines not only failed to solve the problem of inequality but also created a challenge and barrier to addressing these issues. ”
In my work with missions in the church this is one of the biggest shifts we are trying to address in that we show up trying to save those we are surfing rather than partnering with them to create change. We go in with a mindset that they need saving… This couldn’t be further from the truth. There is so much wisdom to be gained from those different than us and it is when we learn from each other and partner together to move forward that we find true healing and progress. So in regards to racism, there are needs to address systemic issues and then there are needs to partner and raise up voices different than our own to gain wisdom. People different than us don’t need saving simply because they are different, they need a voice, resources, and opportunity to use the God given gifts they have to make the world and communities better.
Just some thoughts that your post brought up for me. I think you’re right in that we have a long way to go to heal.
Thank you, Sara. I agree. I have witnessed this in missions too. We go there thinking we have the answers and they need saving and we’re the ones who learn more from them. I’ve never been on a mission that I didn’t feel like I got more out of it than those I was there to serve.