Brian Hamilton

Jim Wallis on Racism

Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and modern-day prophet, speaks truth in his book, The Soul of Politics:

To benefit from domination is to be responsible for doing something about it. Merely to keep personally free of the taint of racist attitudes is both illusory and inadequate. Just to go along with a racist social structure, to accept the economic order as it is, just to do one’s job within impersonal institutions is to participate in racism.

To be sure, systemic racism is still pervasive in American society. And if Christianity is to be faithful to its spiritual heritage, change must start in our churches. Our congregations must shine as examples of racial unity in a racially stratified society. Our congregations must enthusiastically bring minorities (and, likewise, women) to leadership roles, even while American democracy refuses. This is our social responsibility. At the same time, we must be reaching out to the victims of this injustice, helping to treat the effects of racism, even when it might compromise our own comfort and security, and to urge the victims to overcome their situation through the power of Christ’s example. This is our personal responsibility.

The church cannot focus her energies either on the liberal call to social justice or the conservative call to personal responsibility; to deny the pertinence of either flies in the face of biblical tradition. The church must strive for a new politics, a politics of compassion and determination.

Update: In response to those still skeptical of racist influence in our society today, the BBC reports that only half of black high school students are graduating, and the New York Times points out that nearly half of New York City’s black men are unemployed.

1 March 2004 |
tags: Racism