Reverse Racism?

“Great books give you a feeling that you miss all day,

until you finally get to crawl back inside those pages again.”

--Kathryn Stockett

Something that I've loved about my life in Uganda is the ample time I have for reading books. Because we're usually home by 5pm, rarely have plans after dark, and are often without electricity (read: computers), I've been able to fill hours of the week by immersing myself in all kinds of books. Fiction and nonfiction. Novels and theology.

I most recently finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, a novel about the relationships between black and white women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's and how racism affected their lives.

“Write about what disturbs you,
particularly if it bothers no one else.”
 -Stockett, The Help 

Not only was this book an entertaining and humorous read, but it also dealt with many issues and mindsets that are interesting to reflect on in light of being here in Uganda. It provides a realistic reminder of our nation's ugly and not-so-distant past and a glimpse into what was done in our country, to humans created in the image of God, in the name of Christianity and equality. Reading about, reflecting on, and remembering this history stirs up something deep in me. Something that I usually sum up in 3 words: I hate racism.

I've talked about racism in a variety of contexts, heard sermons about it at my multi-ethnic, multi-cultural church in the Twin Cities, read books and took classes in college that discuss the issues surrounding it, but, honestly, my personal experiences with racism are few and far between. And they've always been on my terms and in a country or setting where I wasn't a minority.

Now I'm living in Uganda, where I'm an extreme minority, and I'm daily experiencing a type of reverse racism… for lack of a better term. The more people I talk to and the more places I go, "separate and not equal” seems to be a common mindset.

People are enthralled with whites because of our skin. No cut, bruise, freckle, or sunburn on my fair skin goes unnoticed here. We are treated differently because of our skin color. People often want to be friends with us, marry us, give us an unfair price, or have our business because we’re white. Because having a white person around is a type of status symbol, we are often invited to weddings and give-aways of complete strangers. We’re often placed on a pedestal and treated like we know everything because of our skin color or because we’re from America. We’re given special treatment and places of honor, but it's not flattering. It doesn’t make me feel special or honored. I still hate racism.

One day I had a boda boda driver ask me if I knew how to drive a boda. I laughed and told him no and that it seems like it might be hard to learn. He said, “Sure?! But Americans know everything.” I quickly tried to dissuade him of this opinion telling him that, no, in fact there are many, many things Americans don’t know. His response: “Well, you know all of the big, important things.” And that’s the problem… We all too often don’t know the big, important things. But people sure think we do (Americans included!).

Of course, I’m not trying to use this as a sweeping, blanket statement about how everyone treats white people here. That would be so far from the truth! We have met and become friends with some of the most genuine, kind-hearted people you’ll meet anywhere in the world. They accept us unconditionally and see beyond the exterior. They don't have any ulterior motives in the relationship, they want to learn from us as well as teach us, and they're a joy to pour into and receive from.

I guess what I’m experiencing and learning here is that racism isn’t skin deep. It’s a mindset. It’s a worldview. It’s cultural. Family culture. Community culture. National culture.

And all these issues don't necessarily boil down to racism, either. Often it goes wider and deeper into classism. In many places, discrimination now stems from socioeconomic status rather than skin pigmentation and ancestral lines. The haves versus the have-nots.

Rather than going around pointing out the differences between people in the world and how we live, what if we went around telling people, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important,” (Stockett, The Help) regardless of who they are, what shade of skin they have, or which side of town they're from?

Effrem Smith, an internationally recognized speaker and pastor dedicated to transformational racial reconcilation to change the face of the Church, has listed these ten ways to live as a reconciler:

1.) Don’t avoid conflict.

2.) Find biblical and prayerful approaches to anticipating and resolving conflict.

3.) Practice forgiveness daily.

4.) Embrace “dying to self” as a daily spiritual discipline.

5.) Find mentors of a different ethnicity, gender, and race.

6.) Acknowledge that we still live in a society influenced by issues of race, gender,  and class.

7.) Work towards a more missional and multi-ethnic church.

8.) Extend grace to those that you would normally extend judgement.

9.) Find space to experience God’s love daily.

10.) Listen more.

And in the words of Jesus Christ:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27