Don't Call Me White

Don't Call Me White, by Dean J. Seal

So I'm filling out a form somewhere, and it seems it's the same thing every time. When they get to asking for demographic material, they ask are you African American, native American, Hispanic American, or.......White?
Here's what bugs me about that. It implies, very strongly that White is Normative. Normative is a technical term that means this is what is normal. It is normal to be white, and we are just tracking the rest of you non-whites to try to be fair, because you are not Normal.
What is that about? Why can't they say European American? BEcause us Whiteys don't want to think about the fact that we Came Over and stole this land from the Native Americans. We hate to be reminded of it, because we are taught that the natural progression of history was that European culture improves and progresses and is a gift tot he world, and we came over from Europe so that wee can make peace with each other and create freedom of speech and press and religion.
Well, we denied freedom of speech and freedom of religion to native Americans. We actually made it illegal for them to practice their faith from about the 1880's to the 1970's. That's pretty un-American, if you ask me.
The assumption was that these "poor" people would be happier if they were like the White Man. That' why we stole their kids and put them in boarding schools, to take their language and culture away from them because it was "pagan" and "uncivilized" and "backward" and "ignorant."
Why do I bring this up on a church website? Well, ladies and gentlemen, for most of Christian History, Christian institutions have acted the same way. We are Christian, Christian is normative, anyone who isn't needs to be converted. There is nothing of value in "pagan" "heretical" non-Christian wisdom, they have nothing to teach us.
This means if Indians ( it's okay to use that word, if it is said with respect. As a technical term, it originated in the description of anyone west of Spain) say a place is sacred, the courts of the US do not recognize it because there is no Anglo documentation for it. Well, what if the indians don't write stuff down? Are they automatically assumed to be lying about it? Read "God Is Red" if you want a long list of harrowing stories about how the White Christians have kicked native Theology into the mud for several centuries. Even now, if an Indian is killed, it is not in the news. They are invisible. But if a white woman age 17 is killed, it is headline news for weeks.
Let's bring this back home. How do we feel about people who are non-Christian? Do we think jews should go to hell because they don't accept jesus as their lord and Savior? That's not what Paul says. Paul says they have their own deal with God. Read through Romans 9-11, where Paul is discussing the Jews who do not accept jesus. He talks about them as missing out, but they are not condemned. "In 11: 26-29, he says this:" And so all of Israel will be saved....As regards to the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake, but as regards to election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." It is not for us to decide who has what deal with God. Paul saw it as rebellion, but he also saw it as another opportunity to show God's mercy to the jews.
o. If the Jews are okay not being a part of the Christian faith community, how far can we read that out? Paul does not talk about Hindus are Buddhists, or anyone else. Bu the implication, in my reading, in my interpretation- and you will have to make your own- is that we shouldn't worry our pretty little heads about anyone else. We should focus on being the best followers of Jesus we can be, focus on bringing the word to whoever is interested around us, and live by example, so that we bear witness in our actions. Jesus says, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16). We can allow him a mixed metaphor here and there; this is a famous sayiing. Jesus is teaching about good and also false prophets; he is telling us to pay attention to what is said and to what is done. Dr. King looked to Gandhi for wisdom, and Gandhi looked to jesus. So, who are we to say gandhi is going to hell because he was not a Christian by profession?
We have better things to do than assume we are right because we are Christian. We have better things to do than assume that European-Americans are normal. Being a Christian is not normative, any more than being white is. Let those of us who are white, and those of us who are Christian, and especially those of us who are white Christians, move forward with a sense of humility, open to learning from all people, from all faiths. In my humble theology, it makes us better followers of Jesus.