Identity

3 Unhelpful Ways African Americans Talk about Race

Jemar Tisby

As African Americans enter into new levels of social and economic status, the solidarity that once defined us is being shed to reveal a diversity of thought that has always existed. Unfortunately, some of those thoughts, particularly about race, aren’t always helpful.

In recent years, I have noticed a different tone and tenor from some African Americans when they talk about race. I couldn’t explain the sense of disconnectedness and condescension I detected from these men and women, but it was there. Then I read an article on mic.com called, “Some Black Celebrities Just Can’t Stop Saying Messed-Up Stuff About Racism”. The author, Derrick Clifton, talks about three ways Black celebrities enter into “troublesome territory” when talking about race. But I think his categories apply not only to celebrities, but also to many well-meaning Black people of all social strata.

1. Colorblindness

We’ve all heard this one before, except we usually use it in reference to White people. But in a misguided attempt to transcend racial restrictions, African Americans, too, can claim “colorblindness.” In the article, Clifton cites actress Raven-Symoné (“The Cosby Show”; “That’s So Raven”) and her remarks to Oprah Winfrey as saying, “I’m tired of being labeled. I’m an American. I’m not an African American. I’m an American … and that’s a colorless person.”

The positive motivation behind claiming colorblindness as an African American is an attempt at letting character and actions define you rather than merely a racial label. But when Blacks claim to be colorblind, they often become blind to the ways racism has affected us in the past and continues to affect us in the present. More importantly, it is a denial of the glorious variety with which God made all people. Skin color, culture, and context aren’t ultimate, but they are important. The dizzying diversity of humanity is a reflection of the image of God. It is an image that will be perfected in heaven, not eradicated (cf. Revelation 5:9; 7:9).

2. Respectability Politics

“If Blacks would just pull up their pants, speak proper English, and respect authorities, most of their problems would go away.” So goes the line of reasoning for respectability politics. As defined in Clifton’s article, respectability politics is “the idea that racism will subside if black people perfectly embody values that fit with mainstream norms.” We have seen this angle taken frequently in the recent cases of fatal encounters between African Americans and law enforcement officials. Every case, from Trayvon Martin, to Mike Brown, to Walter Scott and more, has been cited as a case demonstrating that if the deceased had simply been good, upstanding citizen, he’d still be alive today.

There’s a positive manifestation of respectability politics. In the Bible, it’s related to wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In Proverbs 10:13 we find that “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” And Proverbs 14:3 says, ”By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.”

In a biblical sense, many people can be accused of foolishness; that is, a lack of knowledge or wisdom about how to live in God’s world. While foolishness does bring consequences, no amount of wisdom on the part of African Americans eradicates the evils of racism. First, we have to ask, “Whose respectability?” In other words, who sets the standard for what is acceptable? Some biblical principles are universal, but some aspects of culture are not inherently better, they are just preferred. Whose preferences get privileged?

What’s more, as Clifton states, “An exclusive focus on black people ‘bettering themselves’ or appearing flawless negates their humanity, shifting responsibility for racism away from the people and institutions that sustain it. Black people can be model citizens, even affluent ones, and still face the evils of racial profiling, police brutality and other encounters with racism.” All people should strive for biblical wisdom, but no amount of respectability will shield African Americans from racism or relieve racists from their responsibility for pursuing wisdom as well.

3. Classism as the New Racism

Some African Americans claim race is irrelevant because discrimination is more about class these days. Rapper Kanye West represents this view. He said in an interview, “Class is the new way to discriminate against people, to hold people down … to somehow say this person right here means more than this [other] person.”

The Bible has much to say about the poor: “‘What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?’ declares the Lord God of hosts” (Isaiah 3:14). We are urged not to “oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart” in Zechariah 7:10. And Jesus admonishes us, “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:13).

Classism as the new racism is the least wrongheaded of the errors African Americans make when talking about race. Clearly, being rich or poor profoundly impacts your experience of life in the world. Even for African Americans, money gives you greater access to excellent education, expert healthcare, better food choices, and more. The error here is to say discrimination is only based on class. Race is a powerful factor, no matter how much money you make. Why do African Americans and other racial minorities face poverty at disproportionately high rates in this country? How does the history of race-based chattel slavery and Jim Crow segregation continue to affect the economic standing of African Americans? When it comes to classism and racism, it’s a both/and, not an either/or.

The New Black

I agree with Derrick Clifton when he says that these “statements appear out of touch and even dismissive of how many other black people deal with racism on a daily basis.” Attitude is important, but a change in mindset is insufficient to substantively reduce racial discrimination. Not only that, colorblindness, respectability politics, and classism as the new racism can shift responsibility for racist attitudes from the racists to the recipients. Everyone, especially Christians, has the command to love their neighbor. But in the attempt to focus on our own agency and potential, let’s not ignore the reality of imposed sin (i.e. oppression).

To counteract the mindsets described above, Clifton offers a final word of advice: “Lived experience, while irreplaceable and important, is but one part of the equation. The other part is a commitment to remaining educated and informed about issues that affect black people…More than anything, it’s a call for nuance, improved education and, ultimately, accountability.”

5 thoughts on “3 Unhelpful Ways African Americans Talk about Race

  1. PC

    I just saw this article as a post for the top articles for 2015 on RAAN. I read your reply and wanted to thank you for taking the time to write it. I like your comment ‘If we want black people to overcome the sting of racism, then point them to Christ’. Likewise, if we want white people (or Hispanics, Asians, Indians, etc.) to overcome racist attitudes, point them to Christ. Because of adoption, my 3 (grown) children brought Scots-Irish, French, German, Norse, Choctaw, Blackfoot and African American heritages to our family. As a mother, I am colorblind in that I see their hearts foremost. As a human living in this culture, I see evidence of both the caring attitudes and prejudices of others, and how my children are perceived. As a Christian, I am able to see my children as individuals who are wonderfully made in the image of God, who both sin and are sinned against. And because of our shared fallen nature, Christ is the one Who emancipates us all.

  2. Ryan

    You say that just trying to be respectable will not stop racism and this is true. You bring up that this argument is made when incidents between African Americans and police turn deadly. Then you bring up the Trayvon Martin case which was not law enforcement related and you also bring up the Mike Brown case. This issue I have is that it’s not racist for someone to say these two would likely be alive if they hadn’t made poor choices on their respective days. Those cases weren’t racial in nature. If a white man attempts to rob someone and the victim shoots and kills the white man, is it racist of someone to say that the white man would have lived if not for his actions that day? It’s true that someone’s poor actions are not an excuse for someone else’s racism, but I fear your argument comes off like it’s not okay to criticize the wrongdoing of any African American.

    The other issue I have is your argument against colorblindness. In full disclosure, I am a white male. I personally feel that your point is almost like saying, “If we give up our color, we give up every reason to feel bad for ourselves”. I believe Voddie Baucham’s is linked to on this very site. I have not read if he has made any posts or statements on the racial issues in the country lately but I have heard sermons from him highlighting that there is one race, the human race. I fear you argument is that African Americans should force themselves to be offended instead of rising above.

    I realize that being white it will seem like I just can’t understand the oppression African Americans go through. That’s fine, but I did want to post my honest thoughts on this. The blog is just troubling to me.

  3. george

    Always good to here from you on these things.

  4. Pastor Dix

    My Responses to “3 Unhelpful Ways African Americans Talk about Race”
    • “Skin color, culture, and context aren’t ultimate, but they are important.”
    o To what degree are they important? Is the importance of these things tied to us trying to place some value upon our flesh through our ethnic distinctions? I was raised in the “black is beautiful” era, this being the direct result of years of actual and systemic racism that degraded skin like mine. I understand the attempt of this movement to humanize black people who were far too often dehumanized in the eyes of the world. However, for the believer-ethnicity is one of the things that reflect the image of God, but not to the point that we should glory in the distinction. If any glory, let it be that whatever our ethnicity or skin hue, we were made in the image of the Almighty God. The fact that it is not eradicated in heaven does not give skin color any special status on earth.
    • “What’s more, as Clifton states, “An exclusive focus on black people ‘bettering themselves’ or appearing flawless negates their humanity, shifting responsibility for racism away from the people and institutions that sustain it. Black people can be model citizens, even affluent ones, and still face the evils of racial profiling, police brutality and other encounters with racism.” All people should strive for biblical wisdom, but no amount of respectability will shield African Americans from racism or relieve racists from their responsibility for pursuing wisdom as well.”
    o While I agree with your point that wisdom is necessary. Focus upon your words “no amount of wisdom on the part of African Americans eradicates the evils of racism”. The essence of what you are saying describes the problem with how we are approaching racism in America, specifically in the black community. Racism is a sin. Most any believer would readily admit that truth. So why are we trying desperately to treat racism as if it was only a social problem that legislation and/or identification will cure? The only cure for sin is the gospel. Every sin, including racism, is a heart problem and any heart problem/sin left unchecked, eventually becomes a social problem. Pointing out racism, whether systemically or in individual circumstances, will not cure racism because it begins in the hearts of people. It will however, get us on television and make money for those who profit from pain and division. Where, pray tell, is the call for churches in the urban community to return to the gospel as our primary message?
    o “All people should strive for biblical wisdom, but no amount of respectability will shield African Americans from racism or relieve racists from their responsibility for pursuing wisdom as well.” This is true, but only stating this truth lends to the belief that we should do nothing to improve our character; which by the way, is a much better word than respectability. Character is far more universal and biblically defined than respectability, which has many cultural nuances and social influences. For example, saying that no amount of respectability can shield African Americans is akin to saying that getting hit by a car in a busy intersection is painful or deadly. It is true, but does not focus on why or how we got in the busy intersection. We should pursue wisdom for sure, be we must pursue the character of Christ and its reflection in our own lives.
    • “Why do African Americans and other racial minorities face poverty at disproportionately high rates in this country? How does the history of race-based chattel slavery and Jim Crow segregation continue to affect the economic standing of African Americans? When it comes to classism and racism, it’s a both/and, not an either/or.”
    o This statement and those like it often leave me baffled. We are quick to assume that chattel slavery and Jim Crow segregation have tentacles reaching across generations into the African American community and serving as weights that prevent black uplift. This position ignores the successful black families that persevered in a post-slavery 20th century and even within the dynamics of a Jim Crow defined legal system. During Jim Crow, 80% of our families stayed together, as in nuclear. Even post slavery, former slaves sought wives and children sold by their former masters to other plantation owners, and upon finding them, restored their families. Even in the Jim Crow era and immediately after, education was a high value in black families. Does chattel slavery explain a 50% dropout rate for black young men? Does Jim Crow explain how drugs and drug related issues continue to plague our communities? I agree that classism is not the only means of segregating; but to say that a community of people who in the years where equal opportunity was growing, saw a shift from family life to single parenthood and the resulting loss of education as a value, to say that our community is still victimized by slavery and Jim Crow is simply ignoring other extremely important factors that prevent our uplift.
    • “I agree with Derrick Clifton when he says that these “statements appear out of touch and even dismissive of how many other black people deal with racism on a daily basis.” Attitude is important, but a change in mindset is insufficient to substantively reduce racial discrimination”.
    o Here again is where your reasoning is problematic. While a “change in mindset” may not reduce discrimination substantively in regard to the minds of those who discriminate; a change in mindset is the very that reduces substantively the effects of discrimination on those who are the target thereof. For example, a person who feels discriminated against, or believes there is a high level of discrimination against blacks in America, in today’s culture is far more likely to give up and fail to take advantage of opportunities presented. Once again our efforts to substantively reduce discrimination and racism mean changing hearts and minds with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the primary responsibility of Christians. In addition, the Bible is clear about the positive effects of a renewed mind. When one moves from a mind shaped by the realities of sin in the world (including racism) and sin in our own lives, toward a mind shaped by the reality of being a new creature in Christ; that person is now a victor rather than a victim. The gospel clearly shapes us toward being victors. What happened to that message? What happened to being able to do all things through Christ? What happened to being an overcomer? If we want black people to overcome the sting of racism, then point them to Christ. Do not assume that because a person speaks as one freed from the victimization apparent in a life defined by skin color, he or she is “dismissive” of those yet struggling to be free. The Civil Rights movement in America would never have been possible without those willing to speak as though they were free to those who were not. The courageous ones spoke like free persons, even though they too were considered less than human and not worthy of basic human rights by the oppressors. So please, be careful in your assumption that the black celebrities quoted are insensitive to the suffering of others. It is difficult to discern how you might know such a thing.

  5. Joey

    Umm this could be applied to Whites as well.

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