I have benefited from my status as a white person. I don’t have to worry about how the police or others will treat me. I can walk into a store and wander around without worrying about being followed. I can walk through a house under construction without worrying that someone will call the police because I look suspicious. I can walk down a street without worrying that someone will call the police because I’m out of place, I don’t belong there. These are just some examples of what is known as white privilege.
The hard truth is that people of color are not given the same considerations. This is heartbreaking! This is wrong! This is an injustice that needs to be undone.
I’m the Grammy of three beautiful grandchildren who are people of color. One is a 14 year old young man who loves to dance, twirl, and leap everywhere he goes. He’s tall, lean, and growing up so fast. My middle grandchild is an 11-year old pre-teen girl who loves to sing, dance, run, and jump. She loves to create things and has a mind that can organize anything. My youngest grandchild is a 3.5 year old little girl who is curious about everything. She loves to read, play, jump, and gives the biggest hugs.
My grandchildren love to be outside. They enjoy walks around the block, walking their dog, and riding their bicycles and scooters up and down sidewalks. They use chalk to draw hop-scotch and beautiful pictures in our driveway. They do cartwheels in the front yard. They laugh and giggle as they play.
Every child should be able to do these things without fear. They should be able to enjoy life without worrying about someone shooting at them, bullying them, or threatening them with hurtful words and life-ending actions due to the color of their skin.
I’m afraid for my grandchildren and every person of color. I’m angry that the threat of violence against them is becoming a new norm. I see clearly how their fear is affecting their sense of well-being and safety.
My grandchildren wonder why people of color are treated so badly by police. They receive mixed messages about police. On the one hand, they’ve been told that they can trust the police. At the same time, they’ve been told that they need to be careful about how they behave around the police so that they don’t anger the officer. These mixed messages make it impossible for them to trust law enforcement officers and feel safe.
My grandchildren wonder why white people seem to be so afraid of people who look like them. There are simply no words that can explain or excuse the behavior demonstrated by some. I hang my head in shame and sorrow, recognizing that people who look like me are the cause of so much confusion and fear in their lives.
The other day I saw a billboard with these words from Joshua 24, “as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Serving the Lord is so much more than throwing some words on a billboard. Serving the Lord means loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength and loving our neighbor, that is everyone with whom we share this world, as we love ourselves. Serving the Lord is about aligning our thoughts, actions, and words with how God calls us to live in this time. Serving the Lord means loving like Jesus loved. It means being on the margins, standing with those who are oppressed, speaking out against injustice.
As a white woman who identifies as a Christian, has benefited from her whiteness, and claims that she will serve the Lord, I have a responsiblity to make sure that people of color know that they are loved, that they are loveable, that they have value. I have a responsibilty to treat people of color with respect and dignity. I want nothing less for my grandchildren and every child, every person, of color.
I call on my white brothers and sisters to stand with me. Let’s be people of peace who unite our voices and our actions to undo the harm that’s been done against people of color. This is how we serve the Lord and love our neighbors.
I will no longer be silent about the injustices against people of color. Silence is a form of acceptance of the status quo and I don’t accept what is happening against people of color. I will not only stand with them and stand up for them but will raise my voice and do what it takes to work for unity, peace and justice in my commununity and world.