Tearin’ Down the Walls
“I have a dream that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The topic of race has always been something that I’ve been aware of for as long as I can remember. Even though I have grown up as the dominant race in America in a community that is mostly white, I was reminded by my parents from a very early age that there was racial injustice in our country. This was highlighted by my interests in the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, two critical moments in the history of our nation that were largely shaped by racial injustice and race-related tensions. Even one of my favorite bands growing up, DC Talk, had a popular song called, “Walls” that shaped my worldview around issues of race:
“Gotta live by example, show brotherly love
We’re together on Earth, we’ll be together above
So we’re
Tearin’ down the walls
Of segregation”-Walls, DC Talk
I was further inspired by the life and leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I have a dream” speech. One of my favorite places in Washington DC is the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where there is a plaque that marks the spot where King stood when he gave that speech.
But it wasn’t really until I began ministry and started seminary that racial injustice in today’s world came into sharper focus. I had believed that racial injustice was mostly a thing of the past and that, while there were still inequities to be worked through, we were making good progress. But digging deeper into the history of inequality, chattel slavery, and resistance to racial equity in evangelicalism, I realized there is much more work to do.
The events and responses of the killing of black persons by police in 2019 and 2020 brought to the forefront what had been occurring for many years and raised awareness, and division, around how we as a nation are dealing with our “original sin”. What saddens me further is the way that the church has allowed political polarization and identity politics to damage its witness to be a muti-ethnic picture of what Heaven will one day look like.
It is still my most deeply held conviction that the church, and the kingdom of God, is a people that works to “tear down the walls” of racial segregation and injustice. No matter how complicated, this is something each local church must work towards until we reach the day, “when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the Old Negro Spiritual ‘Free at Last, Free at Last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”
Engaging Coleman Hughes’ book, The End of Race Politics with this lens and background helped me further explore and learn about a topic that is important to me as a pastor and follower of Jesus. It’s ironic that before even examining the book I highlighted my connection with the “I Have a Dream Speech” as this seems to be a central concept for Hughes and his book. Hughe’s main thrust can be summarized by his statement, “I think race is irrelevant to the things we care most about in life, and dividing people by race is an obstacle to realizing this dream. In my ideal future, the people of this country would be so busy pursuing the things that really matter that we might go weeks or months at a time without ever thinking about the concept of race.” (15,16) This affirms one of my beliefs that, ultimately, this is the end goal. Where I continue to struggle is how a lack of awareness of racial injustice or my own privilege has prevented me from working towards equality for others that are empirically less privileged then I am.
What was new to me was the concept of neoracism and how it can be potentially harmful to racial justice. Only seeing people, or primarily seeing people, through the lens of their race does the exact opposite of what we are working towards in racial justice. Hughes states that, ““The obsession with race often causes us to ignore the things that truly matter about individuals—things like character, intelligence, and abilities.” A critique of Hughes text would be a need for more engagement with the inherent inequity, often around race, that exists in current structures, not just in individuals or communities.
Overall, I found this book compelling. It resonates with my heart to, “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24). May it be so in me, may it be so in us.
About the Author
Ryan Thorson
Follower of Jesus. Husband. Father. Pastor. Coach. I am passionate about helping people discover the gift of Sabbath and slow down spirituality in the context of our busy world.8 responses to “Tearin’ Down the Walls”
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Ryan,
My son was talking about DC talk this evening, debating what their best song was. One of the activities I have students do in one of my classes is to consider all the various social identity groups they belong to and then consider on any given day, how much time do they think about their membership to each identity group. Where I live, days could go by and I would never think about my race/ethnicity. Students then write a paper discussing how/when they became aware of aspect of their identity. I don’t think I’ve ever had a student make the same comment you made, “The topic of race has always been something that I’ve been aware of for as long as I can remember. Even though I have grown up as the dominant race in America in a community that is mostly white, I was reminded by my parents from a very early age that there was racial injustice in our country.”
You quoted Hughes “In my ideal future, the people of this country would be so busy pursuing the things that really matter that we might go weeks or months at a time without ever thinking about the concept of race.”
As a pastor, what “thing” would you want your church to be so busy pursuing that they would not consider the concept of race?
Hi Ryan,
How has Hughes’ perspective on a colorblind approach influenced your own views on addressing racial injustice within your role as a pastor?
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for your thoughts on the book. Regarding Christians in the pacific northwest, how do you think they might respond to Hughes’ book?
Ryan, it’s interesting that your recognition of racial issues in the US increased when you became a pastor. Were there any specific events or conversations that contributed to this? How have they shaped your perspective on this issue?
Hi Ryan, I was pulled by your title and comments that the church of God should be about tearing down walls of racial segregation and injustice. I absolutely agree with that yet wonder what steps would move us closer to that reality. It seems that engaging relationally with others needs to be part of the process, what might that look like in your setting?
Hi Ryan, I’m thinking along similar lines as Christy. How would you describe the appetite that your congregation may have for addressing racial inequities? What factors play in to their interest or disinterest?
Ryan, you express both a deep conviction for racial justice and an appreciation for Hughes’ vision of a colorblind society, yet you also wrestle with how systemic inequities still persist. How do you think the church can navigate this tension—both working toward the goal of a world where race no longer defines us, while also acknowledging and addressing the racial injustices that still exist today?
Hi, Ryan, thank you for your post. I appreciate your take on the racial issues and how you encourage us to live-well throught it. As a pastor, how would you ‘mirror’ these concept to your congregation? Thank you once again, Mr. Thorson.