Let me state 2 facts you may not be consciously aware of:

1.) Almost everything in the United States is catered to White culture, conveniently named simply “American” or “Popular” culture. This is why there is no preface for things targeted towards White audiences. There is no White Entertainment Television (opposed to BET), or Historically White College/Universities (opposed to HBCUs) because in the United States everything can be assumed White unless otherwise specified. The United States is not as inclusive as you might have been led to believe. For the same reasons, every minority has the disclaimer of the hyphenated “American” except for White people. They are simply American. In America, even though I am many generations removed from Africa, I am and may always be referred to “African-”American.

2.) Every minority group must adopt White Culture, but not vice versa. What I mean is most White people do not have to interact with minorities if they do not wish. If they do, it’s almost always on their cultural terms. However, avoiding White culture is virtually impossible for minorities especially if there is desire to advance in a career or any other platform. And like snowcapped mountains, the higher you go, the whiter it gets.

So what does this mean for me as a Christian? Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, those who believe in Him have been adopted by God (John 1:12). Thus, regardless of culture, we are family and there is an expectation of unity (Galatian 3:28). However, because of the nurtured white ethnocentrism of the United States, relationship unfortunately and unintentionally inherit this expectation as well. I often have the unspoken obligation to consciously consider what my white brothers and sisters will relate with to maintain conversation. The inverse is rare. There may be some attempt to try to relate to minority cultures, but if the cost is too high, there is quick disengagement.  On a small level, this is why if my small group has a movie night, it will almost never be a movie I identify with. Most of my jokes and allusion fall flat, unless specifically catered to the culture.

There’s also a short tolerance for cultural deviance. Metaphorically speaking, other cultures are great accessories, but never worthy to be the main outfit. This is how Black Lives Matters turns into All Lives Matters. Another people group holding the spotlight exclusively for an extended period of time violates White Supremacy and it is met with extreme aggression. I’m often pressured to abandon my culture because “Christianity” in the United States has become White ethnocentric and any challenge to the culture can be mistaken as challenges to the faith itself.

For similar reasons, Christianity has been handcuffed to political conservatism, U.S. patriotism, and Republicanism. It seems like disrespect to the United States is taken as blasphemy to Christ Himself. People are eager to burn Colin Kaepernick’s Jersey for not standing for the National Anthem, but Bruce Miller jerseys stay intact after being arrested for allegedly beating an elderly person.

Surprising fact: The United States has been catastrophically evil toward Black people since being brought here in chains. America, today, is the best this country has ever been for Black people, so understand why “Make America Great Again” terrifies me and why I have criticisms of those who identify with the phrase or the political stance behind the phrase. For this reason, I have a REALLY hard time trusting White Evangelical Conservatives. Some of the most historical evil things done toward Black people has identified with this group. Some of the most racist, hateful, uncompassionate things I have seen have identified with this group. I’m off Facebook because my heart can’t take the onslaught of hate that is ubiquitous on the internet toward Black people from people who identify with this group. I’m anxious passing churches in small towns and rural areas. I sometimes envision crosses burning on front lawns of black families right after Sunday service. I think, “What would happen if I walked through those door”. Sadly, I’m unsure if I would be greeted as a brother, or another one of “those” that makes this country not so great.

I face the tension of having to tip-toe around racial political issues with evangelical friends with strong conservative affiliations because I risk them becoming defensive of criticisms of the consistent racism and conservation of White Supremacy in the Republican party. Despite countless historical accounts, I am met with an enthusiasm to defend a political system and party that has perpetuated the mistreatment of Black people. Among other Black people, I don’t have to be coy when I say people who vote for Donald Trump have lost their mind! Among most Black people this is “preaching to the choir”, but my honesty is reserved among loyal Republicans, making Trump a viable consideration for them. Unity with me means dealing with Black problems. Black problems mean facing the ugly political historical and present practices of the Unites States, especially in “conservative” systems.

Political tension does not end with the struggle with conservatism. I’m also hated by extreme liberals because I’m unapologetically a Christian. Feel this tension with me for a second: I’m hated by extreme Republicans because I’m Black and hated by extreme Democrats because I’m a Christian with varying degrees of disdain toward me along the spectrum. I argue there is no specific political party for Christians, but this is especially true to the Black American Christian.

My pastor asked me the question “How do you think the Gospel should impact our understanding of race and how can the church engage in racial reconciliation?” If I am honest, my answer really depends on who I am talking to.

If it is to my fellow Black brothers and sisters, the Gospel acknowledges our backgrounds, and in the same sentence minimizes it in light of our new race made in Christ. So there is no need to become like our oppressors and deify arbitrary attributes such as skin color or heritage. Your skin color and heritage is rich, bountiful, and beautiful, but it does not give you your worth. We are all equally valuable being made in the Image of God. That said, without Christ’s atonement for our sin, we are all equally condemn in the eyes of a holy God that shows no partiality. Let the fight for social justice be a catalyst to preach ultimate freedom through the Gospel. We can practice forgiveness because our Savior suffered a similar corrupt system like our own, but He sacrificed so that we can be reconciled with Himself. Go and do likewise.

To my White brothers and sisters, as you attempt to do the same, PLEASE do not be willfully blind. Acknowledge how your skin color has been deified in the world. Many things you believe to be normal has been rooted in White Privilege. Tragically, scripture has been used in horrible ways to keep this status quo. Use your privilege to right these wrongs as they are MONUMENTAL stumbling block for Black people. Do not feel guilty for being White. Your culture, too, is something to be cherished. Use it to fight for political social justice of all people. Be willing to cross cultural bridges to be able to relate to minority brothers/sisters in meaningful ways, even at high costs. Have a loose grip on your political views, and be willing to challenge them.

I’ll be honest. Racial reconciliation may never happen on this side of Heaven, but we’re foolish not to still fight for it. You can’t love God without loving your neighbor (1 John 4:20-21). So as the Church, let us show the world the passion of a just God who loves us all with no reservation.

Grace & Peace family,

j. Harrison

I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s on the near South Side of Milwaukee. Our city has since become known as possibly the most segregated city in America. Though my neighborhood is now home to Hispanic, Black, and Hmong families, when I lived there it was primarily Polish and German. I can’t say that I was raised with my “head in the sand” with regard to race, it’s just that it didn’t impact any aspect of my childhood years. I didn’t know or have experience of anyone who looked different from my family or neighbors until I entered high school.  In my home, race wasn’t discussed.  I didn’t hear any disparaging comments regarding people of color or any other ethnicities.  It was almost as if we were on an island separate from the rest of society because we lived a very homogenous existence.  I don’t even recall my family ever going north of the Menomonee Valley except maybe once to visit Wisconsin Avenue and downtown.

High school was the first time I had seen or talked to an African American in person.  During those years I had yet to appreciate how one’s race affected any of us differently, because we all seemed to be on equal footing, new to high school and influenced by the dynamics that every new student encounters.  (I expect some black students hadn’t yet known anyone white either).  So while we were all placed in this melting pot of an environment, it was still removed from where we actually lived day to day.  I didn’t see and therefore didn’t understand that there was actually any cultural difference in our homes or how people were treated differently in the larger society simply because of their ethnicity.  Call me naïve, but that was the environment in which I was raised!  After school it was always back home to 14th and Beecher not seeing anyone who wasn’t white until the next school day.

Not long after graduating high school, I got a job at Miller Brewing Company. This was at a time of workforce expansion in the plant and nearly half of the people who were hired were people of color.  Even then, while I encountered other races daily, when I moved from my parents home it was to predominantly white communities.  These included staying on the South Side, Greenfield, Pewaukee, the lower East Side and eventually Wauwatosa.  I had friends from work who were black, but we all had parallel experiences through work and were economically equals.  These relationships usually didn’t take place in our homes or in black or white communities, but on “neutral ground”, usually public settings such as restaurants, bars, or certain events.  I didn’t really see how the “other half” lived.

Since retiring from Miller, I’ve taken a part time job at Miller Park where again, it’s a very integrated workplace.  Individually I desire to get along with everyone I meet and not show partiality to anyone regardless of ethnicity, economic status or education.  Still, like most people, I realize that my perception of race has been flavored by the dual influence of media and my upbringing.  The result has been to be more comfortable and trusting of people of my own ethnicity and more suspicious, and guarded with people of color, (except my brothers and sisters in Christ of course).

As a Christian, I know that we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us, but only until relatively recently have I been made more personally aware of the cultural differences and disadvantages that people of color have, not only locally but internationally.  I’m more aware of my white privilege within the majority culture, but also as an American, the resources we have which are unavailable to most of the rest of the world.  I’ve had my eyes opened by a couple of significant events in my life which have revealed to me how privileged I am.  

First, was a short-term mission trip I was honored to take to several countries in Africa.  In South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi, I saw poverty such as I’d never experienced before.  I saw the effects of disease like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, but also how unemployment, corruption, and the ravages of the civil war in Rwanda had affected people.  At this time I also became more aware of how our society has been blessed and cursed by affluence.  I saw parallels in systemic injustice both in South Africa and the U.S. I came to recognize that it wasn’t only a feature of some far away place.  Arriving back home three weeks before Christmas really opened my eyes to how materialistic our society is.  A visit to the mall to buy presents nearly sickened me physically.  In Africa I met Christians who had nothing materially, but because they had Christ they displayed more joy than anyone I knew in the States.

Second, another event that has helped me to recognize societal injustice was learning about the Imago Dei church plant and its vision to become a multicultural church that would seek to “serve the city” in the name of Christ.  

In Christ, we need to nurture the same attitude as God toward one another (Gen. 1:26, 27; John 3:16; Deut. 10:17; Acts 10:34; Ro. 2:11; Eph. 6:9 and James 2:1-5). We need to reflect God’s love, compassion, and desire to bless others through His church, and need to put aside all forms of prejudice and partiality.  God has gradually made me aware of the fact that I needed to repent of my “sin of omission”, which is knowing what I ought to do, and not doing it.  

The events of the last few weeks and months in our nation and city have slowly awakened the possibility for change by putting a light on the underlying causes of unrest and distrust by our minority brothers and sisters toward the police and civic authorities.  As we seek to understand the issues involved, I see a need for the white church to repent of turning a blind eye to the problems of minorities in our cities.  The Church, both white and black, needs to join hands in addressing the injustice in our community “together”.  It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week.  How sad!  Hearing about the events around the Sherman Park area of late, it’s exciting to see how the need to change is beginning to be at least discussed by all sides.  I just pray that the momentum isn’t lost with the next news cycle!

I don’t know how I personally can make a difference in the culture at large, but I know that as part of this community of faith that God has placed in this part of Milwaukee, we can start to listen and dialog with each other, start to build trust toward one another, work with one another and possibly, in time, learn to love one another.  In the process, we will Glorify God who created each one of us in His image.

Tony Kusy