In an inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews in 1867, British philosopher John Stuart Mill said, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
It may be recalled that out of the estimated 250,000 people who attended the August 1963 March on Washington, about 75,000 to 95,000 were whites who joined the march. The six core planners and leaders invited four white leaders who helped galvanize the white community to accept that the concept of “one for all, all for one” also applied to black people. Also, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. acknowledged, “many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.” The destinies of black and white America have been intricately intertwined through a dark past.
Now that CRT and BLM have permeated the racial justice fabric with their ideology, will you stand up and join hands with groups that are taking back leadership based on Judeo-Christian principles?
However, over the years, white conservatives and Christians began to distance themselves from racial issues, thereby abdicating their leadership role in fighting for the cause of the racially oppressed. For the past three to four decades, their egregious silence on matters of racial injustice has created a leadership vacuum that had to be filled by someone or something else. Opportunistic radical activists have taken advantage of this vacuum and spurned the hydra-headed critical race theory, which has strategically wrapped its tentacles around all spheres of society.
One of my primary purposes of writing this ongoing series on critical race theory (CRT) and Black Lives Matter (BLM) is to awaken the good men who stand aloof in the face of racial injustice. CRT and BLM have taken center stage in the fight against racial injustice because of the leadership vacuum created by everyone who has not been proactive in confronting racial injustice in our communities.
Although racism against blacks has been outlawed, it still resides in the hearts of some white people born and raised in an environment where racism was historically promoted in America. It will take another two generations for the racism-mentality to be eradicated and more than two generations for the victims of racism to heal from its trauma. It may be forgivable for any non-black to treat the horrors of slavery as historically antiquated. Still, it will be horrendous for anyone who lived through the Jim Crow era to forget or deny the reality and experiences of segregation. Unfortunately, this is a reality that many churches are still grappling with as they remain relics of segregated churches.
The morale of this article is to call readers to introspection. Before blaming CRT and BLM, ask yourself some of the following questions. What do you know about Black History Month, and how do you participate? How many conservative circles discuss the issues of racism like they discuss abortion? How many pastors of predominantly white churches teach a series against racism and racial prejudice? How many young white children are adequately taught black history from a conservative point of view? You may not be racist, but have you asked why you attend a predominantly white school and a primarily white church in a multiracial city?
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Maybe in your opinion, discussing or getting involved in racial justice is a controversial hot topic that must be avoided. Perhaps you do not want to offend your family, friends and coworkers. Yet, you know the right thing to do. Maybe you are a pastor, or a person of influence and you are afraid of losing your flock or following. Perhaps it is out of cowardice or self-preservation that you stay away from racial issues. Whatever your reason may be, MLK has a word for you, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” (25 February 1967, Los Angeles).
If there was a March on Washington today, would you march? In the face of racial injustice, will you pass by like the priest and the Levi in Luke 10:25-37 or will you stop and help like the good Samaritan? Now that CRT and BLM have permeated the racial justice fabric with their ideology, will you stand up and join hands with groups that are taking back leadership based on Judeo-Christian principles? Sitting on the fence is not an option. Either you are among the proactive white Americans like the 75,000 to 95,000 who joined the March on Washington, or you are not. The least you can do is to support a conservative group today.
This year’s Black History Month is almost over, but you still have a chance to make a difference. You have an opportunity to connect with other good men in fighting the lingering remnants of racism in our community or even attend an event to show support.
Disclaimer:
To reject the CRT ideology or BLM, is not to deny that racism exists. I do not deny the evil that African Americans have experienced or currently experience in the USA. I have personally experienced racism as a Black man. However, there are better solutions than the methods used by CRT and BLM. There are methods that truly reflect MLK’s legacy, methods that do not only ensure social equality but promote intellectual, economic, and cultural empowerment of African Americans and all minorities. The RACS Bridge the Gap (BTG) Initiative is one of those alternatives. Click here for details.
