Colorblindness or Reconciliation?
What I Believe About Racism and Why
Residing in a small town in north-central Alberta, a bedroom community of Edmonton, I am part of a population of approximately 22,000 people, among whom 820 are identified as visible minorities. Despite my upbringing in South Africa, where I was classified as a “coloured” person, I am not included in this demographic category here.
However, an incident at a gas station in our town illustrates the racial prejudices I have encountered in my community. A man, visibly agitated, confronted me with the words, “Go back to your own country. Do you even speak English?” before storming off. Although tempted to respond with, “English is my last name,” I chose to refrain because he was not in a place to have a meaningful conversation.
I have encountered racism under both oppressive and free political systems. Additionally, I have experienced misidentification. Due to my appearance, many people label me as an old white male. I normally respond in jest, “I might be old, but I’m not white”. Consequently, I have also been told, “You couldn’t possibly understand the oppression of our First Nations people,” based on the erroneous assumption that I share a history with old Caucasian males from the West. I find the matter of race frustrating. Quite honestly, if race were my primary identity label, I’d be confused. Where do I fit in, based on race?
My belief in the existence of racism is informed by my personal experiences and experiences of others down through history. I believe that all forms of racism are wrong. I attribute the persistence of racism to our fallen human nature, believing that reconciliation can only be achieved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early church grappled with issues of hatred and polarization between Jews and Gentiles. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14-18:
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”
What This Book Has Confirmed
The End of Race Politics: Arguments of a Colourblind America by Coleman Hughes confirms that racism is alive and well in America and quite confusing. The labelling of people creates confusion more than clarity. His solution is, “to get out of the business of racial classification.”[1] I could say that I agree wholeheartedly. Racial classification confuses people, particularly when the races are mixed. I am case and point.
Additionally, he presents a neo-racism that has replaced the traditional forms. He writes, “Neoracists agree that race matters deeply and inherently, but not because of genetics or divine decree. Instead, they believe that race matters for societal and historical reasons: that discrimination in favor of non-whites is justified on account of the hardships they endured-at the hands of whites.”[2]
This is confirmation of what I have witnessed happening in our world. Through initiatives like affirmative action, people are discriminated against based on race. According to a National Post article, Canada has practiced this since 1980. In 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms contained a clause protecting equality rights — and a sub-clause that permitted affirmative action. Since then, Canadian government institutions and universities have set “equity targets” and are growing “identity-based” hiring and admission programs. The clause in the Charter of Rights encourages this practice. The author notes, “Equality could be violated by government programs aimed at ‘the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race.’”[3]
I would mostly agree with his assessment of what is happening. However, I am challenged by his solution.
What This Book Has Challenged
Hughes’ solution to the problem of neoracism is to return to the principles of the civil rights movement led, most notably, by Dr. Martin Luther King. He refers a lot to the civil rights movement in America. He writes, “We need to condemn neoracism for what it is: racism in anti-racist clothing.”[4] He goes on to describe how this might take place through employment, education and policy making. He also exhorts, “And we need to strive to ensure that our personal relationships don’t get infected with toxic thinking of any sort.”[5]
While his desire resonates with me, my concern with his solution is that racism is part of the sinfulness of humanity. Condemning neoracism and working toward a “colourblind” America doesn’t deal with the sinful heart of humanity. Racism exists in every country of the world and without the power of the gospel, I don’t see it changing any time soon. As Paul writes about Jesus in Ephesians 2.14, “For He himself (Jesus) is our peace.” As a Christian it’s challenging for me to see the issue of racism outside of redemption and reconciliation provided through the gospel.
As we look toward our next Advance in Cape Town, I am reminded of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The central purpose of the TRC was to, “promote reconciliation and forgiveness among perpetrators and victims of apartheid by the full disclosure of the truth.”[6] While South Africa still grapples with the aftershocks of Apartheid, 35 years since it was abolished, Desmond Tutu was motivated by more than colorblindness. He was motivated by the ongoing work of reconciliation and redemption.
[1] Coleman Hughes, The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America (New York: Thesis, 2024), 11.
[2] Hughes, 18.
[3] Jamie Sarkonak, “American Universities see End to Affirmative Action. Not so in Canada”, The National Post, July 6, 2023. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jamie-sarkonak-american-universities-see-end-to-affirmative-action-not-so-in-canada.
[4] Hughes, The End of Race Politics, 153.
[5] Hughes, 153.
[6] https://www.apartheidmuseum.org/exhibitions/the-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-trc.
About the Author
Graham English
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa 30 minutes from Table Mountain, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. My family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada where I spent my teen years, met Wendy, and got married. We now live on the Canadian prairies in northern Alberta. I think God has a sense of humour. I'm a follower of Jesus, work in leadership and church development, love my family and walk a lot.18 responses to “Colorblindness or Reconciliation?”
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Graham, Thank you for sharing more of your story concerning racism. I look forward to learning more about your journey in Cape Town. I am often at a loss as to how to respond as a bystander in situations such as yours at the gas station incident. What is a response we can take that promotes reconciliation and redemption?
Kari, I think I realized by reading Coleman how confusing racism has been for me. I don’t often think about race because I just try to be who I am. I don’t see myself in terms of my race but rather have worked hard to ground my identity in Christ.
I think reconciliation and redemption starts with an awareness of my own sin and our my part in racism. I too struggle in this area. Then, it moves toward seeking to build relationships with those who are not like us, seeking to understand the story and perspectives of others.
Graham,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is interesting to see how discrimination has existed for centuries. I think back to the story of Joseph and that the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews for that was detestable to them. I have grown to love differences in culture and love learning about different cultures. I am excited for my brother-in-Law he is set to become a pastor at a multi-ethnic church that is over 50% Black but located in one of the wealthiest suburbs of Cleveland. It will be interesting to see what his experiences are.
Given where you live, in your church does the topic of race/ethnicity reconciliation ever come up?
Hi Jeff, it sounds like your brother-in-law is in for a good experience that could also be stretching (in a good way).
Racial issues come up about our First Nations people but not much in other situations. Most people are open to and accepting of others, with a few exceptions. However, most of us are not as pursuant of others as much as we could be.
What a great explanation of the issues. Thanks Graham.
Given your personal experiences with racism and misidentification, how do these experiences shape your understanding of the complexities of racial identity within the context of sin and redemption?
Great question, Debbie.
1. God loves all people.- foundational
2. All are created in his image and all have fallen – Gen 1 – 2.
3. God loves diversity – people from every tribe tongue and nation are gathered around the throne worshipping.
4. Our primary identity is in Jesus not race or gender – Galatians 3.26-29. Our identity in Christ doesn’t eliminate race or gender, but they do not define our position before God or in the church.
5. The church has an opportunity to become a signpost of God’s Kingdom in the world (Wright and Bird). Through welcome and hospitality toward the other we demonstrate God’s kindness, mercy and love toward our fellow human beings.
Hi Graham,
You mention that racial classification can be confusing, especially in a society where races are mixed. I am always grateful when I can travel to another country and attend an international church. It gets my head out of the narrow and inaccurate category of race that is pushed in America.
You have had some rich yet painful experiences regarding race. How do you think society can move forward in a way that acknowledges the complexity of identity while still striving for true equality and reconciliation?
Jenn, I think society is trying to answer the question without the gospel. It’s interesting that Hughes refers to the civil rights movement as the answer to the racial problem. However, MLKs vision was a gospel vision, informed by the Scripture. Hughes wants, to quote Mark Sayers, “the Kingdom without the King”,
I don’t believe true reconciliation is possible without the gospel.
We can move toward equality by providing equal opportunities for all.
Hi Graham,
If racial classification were entirely removed, what do you think would replace it as a means of understanding and addressing diversity and inequality?
Shela, in SA apartheid people were classified based on race and treated as either superior or inferior, depending on how they were classified.
I wouldn’t suggest that we rid the world of race, I believe diversity is beautiful. We run into issues when we allow race to be the primary identifier of humanity.
Thank you, Graham, for you post. I enjoyed reading it. One question I would like to ask your take on it. As we discussed racism, neoracism, and affirmative action, what is you view on equity? Thanks again, Graham.
Equality is being equal in status and rights. Equity used to mean fairness but now means everyone is given the resources they need for success. The result is that some people are treated differently, and given special opportunities, privileges or resources that are not available to others.
I tend to not agree with our culture’s definition of equity because it provides disadvantage to some while privileging others. This is the form of neoracism that Hughes is referring to.
Graham, reading your post leads me to reflect on the harms of typecasting, stereotyping and othering that are embedded in the landscape of race-relations.
In expanding on your underlying cause of sinfulness, if you were to put your finger on what contributes to these, what would you say is going on in human hearts or minds?
Joel, it seems that fear is a great driver of racism. I often reflect on 1 John 4.8, “Perfect love cast out all fear”. Fear of the other, fear of our own failure, fear that we will lose position and power, fear that our culture will be over taken etc. Fear exists because love has not taken root fully in our hearts. I really believe that the root of all racial hatred is fear of the other.
Hi Graham, Thank you for sharing your experiences. I completely agree with your thoughts on the need for reconciliation—a process made even more challenging because it requires genuine relationships. Having navigated race-related challenges in both South Africa and Canada, how has reconciliation taken shape in your experience?
Elysse, I first had to deal with my own heart. I have wounds that need healing and that’s only possible through my relationship with Christ and rooting my identity in him.
Secondly, I have to stop judging. I tend to be a judger, rather than curious. I am training myself to be more curious about people and the differences of culture. I want to learn from other cultures rather than assume I know. I realize that I don’t share the same experience as others, so I ask others about their experience. It’s been a long process.
Hi Graham, Thanks for your post. I appreciate you articulating our need to face the sinfulness of racism and redemption and reconciliation through the power of the Gospel. From a practical standpoint, how do you think this becomes the norm in local churches which could be a likely place for it to start?
Thanks, Diane, prayers of confession, repentance and forgiveness. We need to continue to live into our identity as new creatures in Christ.
Secondly, building friendships with people from other cultures, involving them in our community, and learning from them. True reconciliation means that we treat others as brothers and sisters in Christ. An Indigenous brother once said to me, “Nothing about us without us”. He was referring to the fact that the church often treats indigenous people as a problem to be solved or a project to work on. We tend to do things for them and to them rather than with them. What he desired was a relationship in which we could work on something together.