Mirroring More of the One
“It is not racial differences that have led to unequal treatment but the persistence of social inequalities in societies with a commitment to equality that has led many to view such inequalities as eradicable, and hence natural, and to place people into different racial categories. Race did not give birth to racism. Racism gave birth to race.” [1]
The term “race,” used infrequently before the 1500s, was used to identify groups of people with a kinship or group connection. The modern-day use of the term “race” is a human invention. [2] As I think about the idea of racism giving birth to race and the evolution of the concept of race, as we understand it today and presented in this week’s text, I have more background into the categorization of people that became a justification for European colonization. Sadly, when I think about the categorization of people, I realize that this isn’t something new.
Why do people put others into categories in the first place? I remember in high school hearing people refer to others as “scum of the earth” (not because of race but social class) and I would cringe. Determining a person’s value based on whether or not the person wore, at that time, Guess jeans or had the coolest Swatch watch, was a regular thing. For those of us who started life in an impoverished family, we just didn’t seem to make it into the “cool” category because we didn’t have the “things”. I grew up in the Chicago area. I attended a very large elementary school and middle school. My family was a low income family that scraped by on government commodities (cheese, powdered milk, etc.), food stamps, collected pop cans for $, shopped at Salvation Army and were the recipients of numerous handouts, blessings in disguise. My closest friends were African-American, Korean-American, and Yugoslavian-American. At that time, I didn’t see our differences. I just saw friends. Is that color-blindness? Now I live in a primarily African-American, Arab-American neighborhood. We enjoy talks in the yard, meals together, and the sharing of our resources (garden/yard tools, etc.). In a recent conversation with one of my friends, who is black, she shared her frustration about the whole thing. From her point of view all of the attention was making things worse. Would that be like racism giving birth to race? In a book I read titled How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, he proposes that racist is not the worst word in the English language, but rather it is descriptive, and the only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it to then dismantle it. [3]
Everyone categorizes other people, whether it be by the cars they driven, the toys they own or don’t own, the vacations they enjoy, the house they live in, and on and on. Author and journalist Kenan Malik proposes that it is not racial differences that have led to unequal treatment but the persistence of social inequalities in societies with a commitment to equality that has led many to place people into different racial categories. [4]
Yascha Mounk, in the book, The Identity Trap, also speaks about the persistence of social inequalities noting that many people have a difficult start in life because they suffer from entrenched disadvantages. He says, “if you grow up in an impoverished neighborhood that has high crime and terrible schools, you deserve special assistance to ensure you have a fair shot at succeeding in life.” He suggests that we need ambitious public policies to create genuine equality of opportunity and make sure that every citizen who is able to make a genuine contribution to society can lead a good life. [5]
This week’s text, Not So Black and White by Kenan Malik, shares some of the complexities of contemporary debates surrounding race and identity. Malik challenges simplistic narratives and explores the nuanced nature of racial discourse, dissecting the ways in which discussions on race often become polarized. Through examination of largely Western historical context, scientific evidence, and personal narratives, the author questions the prevailing ideologies that oversimplify the understanding of racial issues. He puts contemporary issues into a broader historical frame of where we are and how we got there.
Malik argues against both color-blindness and racial essentialism, urging readers to navigate the middle ground that acknowledges the significance of race while rejecting deterministic views. The book shows how race is not simply a description of particular groups of people, but also “a lens through which many themes of modernity have been brought into focus, equality and inequality, the nature of class and class politics, the social function of science, the meaning of radicalism, the character of capitalism and the possibilities of social transformation.” [6]
Moreover, Not So Black and White advocates for open and honest conversations about race, acknowledging the complexity of human identity and the fluidity of racial categories. Malik encourages readers to critically engage with the subject matter, challenging preconceived notions and fostering a more inclusive dialogue. Ultimately, the book serves as a call to embrace the ambiguity of racial issues and move to fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics that shape our perceptions of race.
There are so many intricate dynamics to reflect on, confess, and surrender over to the One whose workmanship we each mirror. When I think about Jesus, reading the stories of how he loved others, I am challenged to open the book of my mind and heart invite the Spirit to “search me and point out anything that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”[7]
[1] Malik, Kenan, Not So Black and White: A History of Race from White Supremacy to Identity Politics. (London: C. Hurst & Co., 2023), 13.
[2] National Museum of African American History and Culture; https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/historical-foundations-race
[3]Kendi, Ibram X. How to Be An Antiracist. (New York: One World, 2019), 9.
[4] Malik, Kenan, Not So Black and White: A History of Race from White Supremacy to Identity Politics. (London: C. Hurst & Co., 2023), 13.
[5] Mounk, Yascha, The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. (New York: Penguin Press, 2023), 214.
[6] Malik, Kenan, Not So Black and White: A History of Race from White Supremacy to Identity Politics. (London: C. Hurst & Co., 2023), 7.
[7] Psalms 139:24, NLT
About the Author
Cathy Glei
Cathy Glei brings more than 25 years of experience in teaching, leading and coaching. She currently is an Instructional Coach and loves to support individuals in discovering who God has made them to be, both professionally and personally. She has led a variety of professional development opportunities, trainings and workshops both in the fields of education and ministry. Cathy desires to support individuals in discovering the Creator's design and image within. Cathy and her husband, Steve, live in Michigan with their seven year old Springer, Otis. They have three adult daughters and two son-in-laws. Together, they enjoy the company of friends (both old and new) in their home, as well as cycling, camping, backpacking and hiking. They can be found hiking and enjoying the outdoors with Otis right alongside them.14 responses to “Mirroring More of the One”
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Hi, Cathy-
It’s interesting to me that you pulled out this quote: “Race did not give birth to racism. Racism gave birth to race,” as that was one that also captured my interest. Also, I appreciate you pulling Mounk’s work into the discussion. I have to say that his quote: “if you grow up in an impoverished neighborhood that has high crime and terrible schools, you deserve special assistance to ensure you have a fair shot at succeeding in life,” sits uncomfortably with me. I think directionally, it is correct, but I would love your reflections on his use of the word: “deserve.” Certainly, this idea of a “preferential option for the poor” is not new to my world… It’s straight out of Catholic Social Teachings. That said, “deserve” seems problematic. What are the benefits and potential risks of thinking of it in that way?
I would love to hear your thoughts!
The word “deserve” is a tricky word. Who deserves what? What is deserved? What is the extent of the “deservedness”? I think in the context of what Mounk is saying, some people have a rough start in life because of deeply rooted disadvantages. I wonder if the word “deserve” was switched with a different word, like “offered”, would it change the overall meaning. In the case of children (students), programs that offer food assistance (free and reduced lunch and breakfast) are a form of special assistance that ensures they have some nourishment to do well in school. In the state of Michigan, breakfast and lunch are offered to all students. In the state of Michigan, 100 percent of the public schools that participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs are providing free meals to students statewide for the 2023-2024 school year.
Hi, Cathy,
Thanks for your well-written post. You pulled out so many good points from the reading. You mentioned “Not So Black and White advocates for open and honest conversations about race, acknowledging the complexity of human identity and the fluidity of racial categories.” I know amidst the racial tension in 2020 so many of us encouraged open conversation about this in our churches. However, it has waned. Would you have any thoughts on how to continue to address these topics so that the church can make a difference in this divisive culture?
Esther,
Thank you for reading. When I think about your question, I think back to the ways your church is ministering to others in their neighborhoods. . . movie nights, backyard BBQs with neighbors, sharing resources, etc. At times I ponder how the church, as a whole, can live more unified and communally, to model the opposite of division, but love.
Cathy~
Many good thoughts in your post. Here’s one I am spending a bit of time contemplating:
“Moreover, Not So Black and White advocates for open and honest conversations about race, acknowledging the complexity of human identity and the fluidity of racial categories.”
In your experience, what hinders our open and honest conversations about race–especially if we all want to understand? I am curious what you see in a school setting? Also, I experienced varied racial friendships like you did as a child growing up in South Jersey–we saw one another as friend.
Pam,
I think one thing that hinders the ability for others to engage in open and honest conversations about race is fear. . . fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of being misunderstood, fear of not being accepted (canceled), fear of the disapproval of others, and more. In the school setting, I see that kids are very accepting of each other for the most part. Teachers read books and engage in conversations about the many contributions that people of all races and abilities have had on our society. . . from Temple Grandin to Amanda Gorman.
Cathy, you brought up Yascha Mounk’s book in your post. As I wrote in my response to Kally’s blogpost, I do think Mounk’s explanation of liberalism (philosophical liberalism) and his articulation of the identity synthesis helped to provide a complement / supporting framework for approaching Malik’s book. Mounk’s belief that humans are groupish — and because we are, we tend to create us vs. them ways of thinking — is one of the reasons and ways we put others into various categories.
I also can identity with your reference to your family receiving government commodities like cheese and powdered milk — these were staples in our home for a season of life when I was a child.
Hi Cathy, you wrote, “Sadly, when I think about the categorization of people, I realize that this isn’t something new. ”
I am remembering Solomon saying “there is nothing new under the sun.” Yup people have been hating “different” since time began.
I am going to blame Adam (the first one not Harris) for the original fall. Then I am wondering out loud if the Tower of Babel was a test or an opportunity (Jenny Dooley said that) for humanity to enjoy in diversity or to enjoy slavery.
Enter the “have’s versus have nots” class argument and shazam we have a identity stew. Stir till boiling point.
Some fun U.S. Facts
1. Anti-Coolie Act (1862): Aimed at reducing the competition between Chinese laborers and white laborers by imposing a tax on Chinese workers.
2. Page Act of 1875: Considered one of the earliest immigration laws, it effectively prevented Chinese women from immigrating to the U.S. by classifying them as “undesirable,” targeting those suspected of prostitution or being brought for immoral purposes.
3. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943): This act was the first and only major federal legislation to explicitly suspend immigration for a specific nationality, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years, which was later extended.
Ending on a high note, I have lived in German, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Korea, Turkey with sideshows in Iraq.
Having participated in churches in all of those places, I have encountered the body of Christ. We all share the same Identity in HIM.
Shalom…
Russell,
What a rich menu of locations in which you have lived. . . so many cultures. What a gift! Thank you for sharing!
Great post Cathy….and I’ll join you in your prayer at the end as the first place to start (Todd encouraged us to think about lament)…both openess to the Spirit, lament for the state of things, and confession for the ways I contribute to the division and brokenness in minute and sometimes consequential ways.
Several of us have noted that earlier readings speak to our natural human propensity to be ‘groupish’. In some ways this seems necessary for both belonging and for the organization of humanity and a functioning society. And yet at the same time, there seems to be a ‘shadow side’ to our ‘groupish-ness’ that fosters division, fear, and hatred. How do you think we could differentiate between good and bad group motives or outcomes?
Scott,
I wonder if we don’t differentiate good and bad group motives for others, but go to the Father and see if there are any wrong groupish motivations in us, to start. Then as the Spirit works on us, we confess to others, and God uses His story at work in us to help others evaluate their own motives. Sometimes we just hang with people that we see the most, work with or share commonalities with. I don’t necessarily think that we do this because we are being divisive or with a bad group motive. But I do think it’s good to ask the Father to broaden our group for a greater kingdom-building outcome. Just some reflections as I ponder the question. . . Thanks, Scott.
” I am challenged to open the book of my mind and heart invite the Spirit to “search me and point out anything that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”[7]”. This is a great verse in this work to utilize. I wonder if the problem is in the speaking to what offends God…in my experience none of us want to hear that:). How do you think we can really work on ourselves and acknowledge our own humanity and that we are imperfect?
Yes, it is hard to hear correction from the Father. Sometimes I listen, remembering that He knows best, and sometimes I choose to filter and add my own interpretations to His correction for me. Only to find that it would have been better to remember that God is Sovereign and faithful. To really work on myself and acknowledge my own imperfections, requires pausing, reflecting, humility, confession, yielding, and trusting. It is sort of a rhythm that Holy Spirit invites me to participate in. . . searching, highlighting, leading.
Hi Cathy!
Thanks for your inspiring thoughts!
You write, “Moreover, Not So Black and White advocates for open and honest conversations about race, acknowledging the complexity of human identity and the fluidity of racial categories. Malik encourages readers to critically engage with the subject matter, challenging preconceived notions and fostering a more inclusive dialogue. Ultimately, the book serves as a call to embrace the ambiguity of racial issues and move to fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics that shape our perceptions of race.”
To what extent can Malik’s thoughts about honest, open, and inclusive dialogue make a real contribution to efforts to fight for racial equality and social justice in the context of increasingly massive racial injustice and inequality? What is the role of the church and Christianity in this matter?”