I am replying to JD Ten’s comment in which he tells the story “… a well known church reverend named Rev. T.D. Jakes went on a trip to Africa claiming he wanted to try and reconnect with our people, so to speak.” As Ten tells the story, The Reverend “was astonished to find that even though he was Black, the people there didn’t like him because he was AMERICAN!”
Mr. Ten — whether you intended to, or not, you have introduced religion into a discussion about race. While it feels like a mine field — and the coward in me yells “run” — I am glad you did. It feels like a mine field to me, because here in America, Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by people of every color, from every nation of origin and every socio-economic measure. I am glad you brought up religion, because here in America, no one can tell another person’s religion by the color of their skin.
Over the last 3 years, I have taken refuge in my skin color and let people assume I am something I am not. At work, I struggle to remain silent as Christians tell me, at least once every week, what I think, feel, know and believe. Clearly, I am in possession of privilege for I can “pass” as white, but my skin color cannot pass the test of conscience.
My internal conflict is horrendous. I am filled with excuses, rationalizations galore and the awareness of self-loathing building up inside of me. Over the last 3 years, my fellow citizens’ traditions that have made them targets, have been beaten and murdered, their places of worship have been defaced and burned and their families have been threatened, mocked and excluded. Christian protesters pride themselves on displays of swastikas and recntly, flags bearing welcome to Auschwitz slogans. Christian Preachers, Priests, Reverends and Pastors have assumed the right to decide who is and is not a Jew — and their politicians have shamed and bullied us into silence.
It is, in this frame of mind, that your use of languages struck me — hard. If I am projecting, tell me and I will believe you. Until then, I am about to rip two of your sentences apart.
Sentence 1. “… a well known church reverend named Rev. T.D. Jakes went on a trip to Africa claiming he wanted to try and reconnect with our people, so to speak.”
- “Church reverend” tells me you wanted me to know that this man is a Christian.
- “claiming he wanted to try and reconnect with our people, so to speak.” sounds tongue in cheek, as though, you wanted me to know, that you did not believe the reverend.
Sentence 2. You write, the Reverend …. “was astonished to find that even though he was Black, the people there didn’t like him because he was AMERICAN!”
- you capitalize AMERICAN as though you strongly agree — or
- you are using sarcasm to express your rejection of the reverend’s take on things.
I have heard and read the exact, same story from Christians many times. I have not believed their stories — not even once — for I have heard the other side — the side told by the people that these Christians went to convert.
American Evangelicalism almost had almost died out completely and saved itself by a marriage to politics that gave rise to a massive resurgence. To feed the marriage, billions of dollars were channeled into evangelical’s pockets and in return their churches delivered votes. Good works was so much easier when billionaires paid the bills, the marriage seemed heaven sent.
Off the preachers and their followers went to foreign lands to convert the poor. Thanks to billionaires, the Evangelicals carried food to starving people, medicine for the sick and dying and tons and tons of money to build churches and little houses for all the homeless people.
If you are hungry, said the Evangelicals, accept Christ and we will feed you. The people ate and felt the way I feel today. If you are sick, said the Evangelicals, accept Christ and we will cure you. The people took their medicine and knew a new kind of sickness. If you need a home, said the Evangelicals, accept Christ and we will house you. The people went inside their new homes and found the homelessness of the soul.
Sometimes, the people said no and the American Evangelicals were astonished to discover some people cannot be bought. The Evangelicals made all kinds of excuses for themselves, then sat in judgment and condemned the people of evil. Once upon a time, before the billionaires, the evangelicals were hungry, sick and poor and they had sold their souls. Surely, good people everywhere were just like them.
Simply put, the reverend of your story was disliked because he was selling politics in the guise of religion. The reverend was not serving G-d. He was serving the millionaires and billionaires who paid for his services.
