“I
have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached
the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride
toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but
the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a
negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the
presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal
you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; who
paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's
freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to
wait until a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more
frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm
acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
MLK
Today was America’s first full day of church services
since candidate Trump became president-elect Trump. The outcome of the election
has been received quite differently depending on the racial makeup of a church’s
congregation. The data shows 80% of self-described White Evangelicals voted for
Donald Trump while Black support for Trump was between 8-10%. The old aphorism
about 11:00am Sunday morning being America’s most segregated hour was evident in
the way Christians voted.
As I walked towards the lectern in the pulpit this
morning I knew the words I chose wouldn’t and couldn’t do an adequate job of
placing this moment in a proper biblical or historical context. This election
magnified the racial divide in America’s churches. The truth is: many churches haven’t
made any substantial progress in desegregating that segmented hour of our week
dedicated to worship. As I prepared and meditated on my remarks, I was (once
again) forced to face the reality that due to our aging congregation and the
racial demographics of our area the only way our church can survive is to bring
more of our white brothers and sisters into our fellowship. We are one of the two
historically black churches left in our county. I often find myself wondering how
can we grow our church in a Republican enclave surrounded by Christians who don’t
understand why Donald Trump is anathema to a majority of our members?
Since Tuesday, I’ve read social media posts and watched
videos by White pastors who have likened the election of Donald Trump to an Old
Testament prophecy coming to fruition. As an ordained member of clergy and a
student of human history I find myself questioning what matters most to some of
my fellow Christians: nationalism or their membership in the kingdom? I don’t
know how so many pastors were able to overlook the obvious racial undertones, xenophobia, misogyny,
and overall vindictive rhetoric Donald Trump uses. I can’t understand how the
Christian right was able to so easily embrace a candidate who embodied so many of
the actions they’ve spent decades worth of lip service fighting.
I’ve been assured by close to a dozen of my fellow
Christians that their support for Donald Trump wasn’t based on any racial,
religious, or national calculus. They assured me they want “real change”. I’ve
been told that Donald Trump won’t govern the way he talked on the campaign trail.
I was told that we need to give him a chance. I was told that Donald Trump isn’t
a racist, “he just puts Americans first”. I was told all of this by people who assured
me they aren’t racist. I had someone tell me how bad they feel that so many racist
organizations have aligned themselves with their movement. I’ve come to the
conclusion that none of their reasons really matter to me. I don’t have the
time or energy to analyze each and every motivation people used to make their
decision. It almost feels like some of them are looking for absolution. I know
all Trump supporters aren’t racist, but that won’t help me if, and when, I’m
subjected to state sanctioned discrimination.
It’s deeply upsetting listening to pastors provide
religious cover to a man who hasn't shown the ability to engage in civil
discourse with anyone he disagrees with. Donald Trump speaks worse about his
political opponents than Dr. King spoke about the people who were trying to kill
him. Let that sink in! The Religious right have turned ecumenical back flips finding
ways to forgive Donald Trump for behavior they would have crucified President
Obama for. I can’t help but question what makes family value conservatives embrace
a man with 5 children by 3 women, or his womanizing ways. Legendary
conservative womanizers like Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani think the Donald
has had a good run.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the
enlightenment caused the disenchantment with the church. In the 20th
and 21st century it’s been our hypocrisy. What it means to be a
Christian and who decides is a trap civilizations and cultures have fallen into
since the church was founded. The church has survived crusades, inquisitions, reformations,
and countless other existential crises; as an institution, it will always be
here. I don’t question whether the church will live, I wonder how many people
will want to be affiliated with it after we’re done?
I started this post with Dr. King because he has simultaneously
been the best tool America has produced for the destruction of systematic racism
and for shaming civil unrest. There’s much to learn from his sermonizing and writing.
He possessed the ability to weave secular and religious texts from the past into
road maps for an egalitarian future. No figure in American history has had
their legacy more distorted to the detriment of the people he died advocating
for than Dr. King. He has been reduced to the role of Black America’s principal
or daddy. The moment there’s racial unrest America would rather dismiss than
engage Black people are bombarded with images of MLK and told how we should or
shouldn’t conduct ourselves. Almost fifty years after his assassination America
has convinced herself and three generations of her children that she loved him
when he was alive.
The protesters in our streets have very real issues
they’re concerned about, yet the inexcusable actions of some knuckleheads have overshadowed
their pleas for help. The electoral process has yielded a President-elect who’s
caused some in our country to question how safe they are moving forward. Many
of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters don’t have to worry about the kind of
collateral damage that can come from draconian immigration policies or a
national stop-and-frisk campaign. When members of the LGBTQIA community talk
about losing civil liberties based on the religious beliefs of others they are
dismissed as drama queens (double entendre intended). The left and the right
are equally guilty of dismissing the concerns of the other side. When we ignore
or diminish the pain others are experiencing we don’t make their pain go away;
we only show them how little we care about it. Now would be a great time for some
understanding and resolve. Maybe we can talk about how we got here without
yelling at each other?
