Here’s another one for the “Racism Is Stranger Than Fiction” files. In fact, I briefly wondered whether this story was a prank. Unfortunately, it’s true.
A white Baptist church in Gaston County, North Carolina, made local headlines when a group of men from the church lip-synched and pantomimed to black gospel hymns during a Mother’s Day banquet—while dressed in blackface.
This sad report raises all types of questions: Are blackface performances ever appropriate? Is a particular action racist if the individuals involved are unaware of the historical implications of the act? When is it okay for members of another race to appropriate symbols and imagery from different cultural groups as a form of entertainment? Is it possible to have a constructive dialogue with a person across racial lines without a knowledge and understanding of that person’s racial and cultural history?
Beyond the blackface event itself, I was even more troubled by the readers’ comments following the article. Once again, as with the Michael Richards and Don Imus fiascos, many of the white readers were more offended by the idea that African Americans and “liberals” were raising concerns about racism than whether the actions of the blackface performers were inappropriate.
I can only speak anecdotally on this, but there seems to be a growing movement of white people—including Christians—who feel so victimized by political correctness (and how it’s robbing them of their rights) that they’ve hardened their hearts to any suggestion that racial injustice is a factor in our society today. And they’ve become cold to how their privileged words and actions might affect others. That defensive mindset and callousness could be the biggest obstacles to true reconciliation in our churches and nation.
What do you think? Is there hope for a substantive dialogue in the face of such fiery defensiveness? As an African American who desires honest and constructive communication across racial lines, what can I do to defuse such recalcitrant attitudes?
Reconciliation Blog 
I think you are correct, Ed, in pointing out that a defensive mindset and callous posture when these issues surface is difficult to overcome. I encounter this most times I broach the topic of racism or race reconciliation in the church. And usually it is the white males who respond most angrily when their privilege is challenged. Rank pride must be uprooted.
John Strausbaugh’s _Black Like Me_ renders a powerful cultural history of blackface, and so sets some of the article in a wider context. Nevertheless, it seems to be that the folks at Pilgrim Baptist church knew quite what they were doing dressing in blackface. To claim they were not trying to “make fun” of black folks is simply dishonest. Consider Mr. York’s comment at the end, that he has some “real good black friends.” If so, I’d like to hear what they are saying at present. Mr. York seems also to be somewhat aware of the history of blackface, though he claims his actions in now way portrayed stereotypes. When will the dishonesty stop?
I’m hopeful for reconciliation, but reading stories like this leave me shaking my head, and disheartened, and offer another instance of how far there is to go. Nevertheless, I, with you, press on.
What’s the answer? How to diffuse the attitudes the article reflects? First, I wonder what the black family at the church said about all of this (I wonder if the comments section is accurate on this score)? Discussion and dialogue with a historically-minded, biblically grounded, race conscious white person, Lord willing, could maybe open some eyes and unlock some hearts at a place like Pilgrim Baptist. Would the congregation dismiss as “liberal” a white voice of holy indignation at racist actions?
I think that as white persons become more willing to engage in honest dialogue about their own perceptions with black persons, they can better expose which fears and insecurities truly lie at the heart of their defenses and prejudices. Nothing relates like relationships, and if white Christians continue to even subconsciously maintain a “buffer” between themselves and their brothers/sisters of color, they will never truly seek to understand and will be left to their own ignorance. That is a lose-lose proposition for the white person and the black person.
What can you do, Ed? Keep being real and reaching out to those white persons who indicate a desire to grow and understand, and strategically engage them in dialogue that peels back the layers. Those who are like-hearted will respond to you, even if they are still shaking off some of those vestiges of ignorance. Thank you for being a bridge builder.
Please go to http://www.gastongazette.com and click blogs to see what this community is saying about this incident. Your mouths will drop open to the floor. I am not joking.
Ed,
This is precisely the argument of Carol Swain, in her fine book White Nationalism in America — or a title like this. Her argument is a backlash of whites against political correctness. May God help us.
Thanks, everyone, for your encouragment and helpful insights. And Scot, thanks for calling my attention to Swain’s book. It’s interesting that you should mention it. I was cleaning my office just a couple of days ago and discovered that book on my shelf. I found it after I had published this June 7th post, and as I browsed the book, I realized it did, indeed, speak to this idea of a white backlash that I had been trying to articulate. Now I have another book that I need to read this summer.
By the way, there’s an update on the Gaston County blackface article here: http://www.gastongazette.com/onset?id=5611&template=article.html.
Ed G.
I’m speechless. Really. It boggles my mind that white folks really don’t get it. I mean, wasn’t the Confederate flag dust up a few years ago enough? Or the hate crimes we don’t read about that still occur. And they’ll again ask us why are we so sensitive?
I had one forward a story to me recently about a brutal crime perpetrated on whites by blacks and asked where was Jesse and Rev. Al now? They miss the point and I think that’s why we’ll always have racism. I’m sorry, I don’t think it’s up to black people to educate whites on why racism is wrong. It is time for well meaning whites to rise up and change the culture. We’re tired of carrying the torch.
Ed C,
Thanks for your comment. I empathize with your exasperation.
I heard similiar remarks made about the “reverse hate crime” incident. I’m curious, what is your response to whites who would ask, “Where’s Jesse and Al in those situations?”
Ed G.
First of all, we’ve got to get out of the mentality that we need a spokesperson. I submit that, whatever their intentions, Revs. Jackson and Sharpton serve some role in at least bringing some issues to light. That being said, sometimes the very mention of their names brings discredit to the cause and does more harm than good.
I think when people say “where’s Jesse and Al ” that is a red herring and it really deflects from the issue. I tell folks that those guys would be more respected and accepted if they spoke out against ALL injustice in whatever form or color, but Black folk have so much against them that I can’t blame them for sticking up for the underdog. If they changed their approach in this sense that would defuse this argument.
The world isn’t colorblind, sad to say, but justice is supposed to be. If only we could everyone in the same room to discuss this. I find it amazing that whites don’t see how insenstive they are to the rest of the world around them. That to me is the real issue that gets clouded because people are looking at political correctness and Revs. Al and Jesse. Do you think that if more white people stood up and said “enough” it would change? Because I don’t see them listening to us — it’s a continual case of victimizing the victim.
Ed C.,
Thanks for your perspective. I want to affirm and agree with your comments that one piece to the puzzle of reconciliation involves white people educating white people about the particularities of race and racism. It is about “discovering” whiteness and its meanings. It involves becoming a critical race theorist. It involves a lifelong committment to helping white folks to decode all that which is white, see how and where it operates, and seek to understand it from a new vantage point and live a life that reflects this new understanding.
This is an inherently risky venture for white folks, and one that I’ve taken and take regularly, and I hope and pray more will do it. Some of this re-education, in my estimation, involves delving into a whole new branch of literature, reading it deeply, and simply listening to the voices of black folks who know white folks better than white folks know themselves (paraphrasing James Baldwin here). I wish more white folks would admit this, and would publicly say so. It’s true.
My own practice of this kind of thing, reading habits, discussion topics, and reframing social settings — ironically (and seriously) has led white people to tell me that my words and actions make me “sound like an angry black man” (seriously, this is a direct quotation). The perception is that by challenging whiteness and white privilege, I have become a race traitor. If this is what is takes to prompt people to think about and hopefully embrace shalom, and if this is what it means for me personally to live a life of reconciliation, then I willingly embrace it and pray for the continued grace to do so. Personal change does not equal institutional change, but it is an integral part of the whole.
Thanks for this particular challenge, Ed C. and let’s continue the dialogue and discussion.
Phil,
Thank you for your perspective! I think I needed to hear that. I get so frustrated with the lethargy of the white people that I know and I forget how hard it must be for you as well. I keep praying that we all come together and create a new unity — true integration and not merely assimilation (paraphrasing the authors of United by Faith).
If we could only see and appreciate that we all have something to bring to the table — that’s the key — mutual respect would foster harmony. Then we would be more sensitive to each other — as the Body, we wouldn’t hurt one part because we know the pain it would bring to the whole.
I’ll keep you in prayer, brother, as we stand together for the reconciliation that Christ died for.
Grace & Peace,
Ed C
There are many Christians (of all races) who do not want to embrace true reconciliation. It’s just too hard.
I haven’t been called an “angry black man,” which I’m grateful for since I am neither angry, black, or a man, but I have been called a “kill joy” and told to “lighten up.” Honestly, how long will white people sit passively in a room and listen to racist jokes and stories? And blackface in a church? You’ve got to be kidding me?
White people, myself included, become very uncomfortable when the word “racism” is spoken out loud. We want to believe that we’re past all of that. But are we? Apparently not.
When I was a young adult I worked for a florist for a number of years. As I got to know the owner and his family, I began to hear the stories of their internment during WW II. As a graduate of public school in one of the most diverse areas of the country, I had never heard of the internment of Japanese people during the war. I was shocked, embarrassed, and appalled.
Did the men who wore blackface at church have any idea what they were doing? I’ll venture a guess and say no. Does their ignorance excuse it? Absolutely not.
We need to tell our children these stories. We need to teach them another way.
Keep fighting the good fight, Ed. Your message will never be wildly popular among white people, but it is right.
[…] 6. Virtual Rome. 7. “A postpolitical leader”? 8. Boomers and Retirement. 9. Thanks Ed Gilbreath for making this issue more public. 10. Newspaper article, with pro and con, on therapy to help […]
[…] very idea that these kinds of things still happen in our day and age. I came across this story via Edward Gilbreath’s blog about a church in South Carolina where white members of the church performed in blackface — […]
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I posted some comments at:
http://provocativechurch.blogspot.com/2007/06/is-blackface-at-church-ever-appropriate.html
I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on it.
bill
This is quite a hot issue, and I feel nervous just to respond to it. I do feel pressure as a white person not to offend and make sure I use the right words.
I don’t want to sound all woe is me or anything like that, but white people do face some difficulties when trying to figure out race relations.
For example, I did student teaching in a predominately black high school. This was my first experience where I interacted day to day with African Americans. One thing that troubled me is that it seemed like it was assumed that I was racist before I even opened my mouth. I was accused of racism for telling a student to quit talking, for example. I was young and had a hard time figuring out how to handle it. I was told that I had to do things a certain way to not seem racist, which restricted what I could do to help my students.
I must admit that my teaching experience and other experiences are frustrating and it’s easy to get defensive.
I know that I personally am hesitant to bring up race with any African Americans I know because many are hesitant to “speak for their race.” I’d probably be annoyed with white people asking me silly questions all the time too, but how else are we supposed to learn?
As far as the example in this story of some people in a church using black face, I sincerely doubt that they were trying to be offensive or racist. They were white people portraying black people. It also illustrates the fact that many whites are positively ignorant and clueless when it comes to certain acts and words and how they’re perceived by African Americans, and the cultural baggage that comes with using black face and other things.
An honest question: Is it possible that African Americans give whites too much credit in a way, assuming that whites know exactly what offense they cause when they use blackface or other things? I try to be sensitive to these things, but many whites are very naive about race issues and I could see them causing great offense unintentionally. I still fear doing it myself even though I try not to.
I think white people that offend while meaning no harm need gentle correction. Explain why blackface -or whatever the offending act may be- is offensive, and ask that they refrain for the good of their brother in the future. And pray that their defenses are softened by the Holy Spirit before hand.
Thank you for bringing these things up.
Wow. This is crazy. Ed I appreciate your creating the forum. I have been involved in indepth conversations around these topics for a number of years with several close friends and our ministry staff.
To your question at the end: I think that the notion of the body of Christ needing each various part is key here. At each stage of the discussion I believe we must have black and white folks in relationship and in discussion. At the initial stage there are certain things that will best be heard from someone of the same race and other things from someone of the other.
As an example: most white people think that the concept of colorblindness is pure virtue. (this was true of my parents) Yet I have come to understand colorblindness as a cover for racism. In my experience of discussing this issue with whites it takes my emphatic words (as a white guy) to get the concept into the mind of the person by setting the process within my own family history. But for it to take on real meaning they need to hear directly from the experience of black americans who deal with the injustices and crap that comes with people and systems that are purportedly colorblind.
My point here is that in the process of racial reconciliation (which is long, slow, and painful) it absolutely requires whites and blacks to be in relationship and in the conversation. Many of the observations on both side of the divide in this conversation are so incredibly important. None of us can speak entirely for our race, yet each of us can interpret things across the race line that are oblivious (or not-believable on the face of it).
In this entire conversation the turf remains unfair. The reality is that whites know FAR less about the entire subject. I think it was DuBois that made this observation in a way that first stuck with me. So, unfortunately, this means that for reconciliation to happen and include whites, blacks in the in the conversation must endure far more ignorant questions and bigoted presumptions. For this I personally have a sense of agony — and increased appreciation for my friends like Ed who stick with us.
[…] of the “black” Downey, simply hilarious (since I frowned upon a white church’s blackface fiasco last year, I suppose I’m opening myself up to charges of hypocrisy on this one). But the […]
[…] and callousness could be the biggest obstacles to true reconciliation in our churches and nation. Ed Gilbreath, emphasis […]