New Commandment Men’s Ministries Blog
An Open Letter to My Black Christian Brother, Pastor Miles McPherson
Dear Pastor McPherson:
This week I attended the annual National Coalition of Ministries to Men Conference in Dallas (which was moved to Fort Worth at the last minute due to a tornado in Dallas). During the conference I heard your message on why races have difficulty relating to each other and how they can reconcile by addressing these issues.
At least, that seemed to me to be the purpose of the message. What came across, however, was “this is the problem you white people (the audience was almost completely white) have with us black people, and this is how you can correct it.” The reason I understood it this way is because of your repeated use of the second person plural, “you,” instead of the first person plural, “us.” (I suggest you listen to a copy of your message and count the number of times you left yourself out when talking about the problematic racial attitudes others have. I’m guessing it was somewhere around one hundred.)
But black people can be just as racist as white people. Sometimes more so. The reason I know this is because I, as a white person, grew up in inner city Los Angeles in a neighborhood that was 99% black. (Stand on the corner of Angeles Vista Ave. and Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles and you’ll see where I grew up.)
I’m wondering, have you had a white teenager pee on the back of your leg while showering in a public shower? Has a white man set your house on fire? Has a white man car jacked your parents’ car at gunpoint in broad daylight? Has a white man stolen your sister’s car out of your garage and, after being arrested and jailed, called her from jail and told her he was going to rape her when he got out? Has a white man robbed and slugged your dad in the face, pulverizing his cheekbone, after he stopped to offer him roadside help? Has your life been threatened by a white gang member? Has a white man stuck a hose through the mailbox in the wall next to your front door, turned it on, and flooded your home while you were away on vacation? Has your house been invaded by a white man? Has a white man thrown a rock at you, hit you in the head, and given you a lump the size of a grade A egg?
All of these things happened to me and my family at the hands of blacks. And I’m sure that you have your own list of affronts, attacks, slights, insults and all the other things whites do to blacks. We’ve all had to work through racial pain to arrive at Christian forgiveness. The point I’m making is that racism is a two way street and only when we include ourselves as part of the problem can we move beyond being victims and become victors.
Sincerely,
Herb Reese
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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6 thoughts on “An Open Letter to My Black Christian Brother, Pastor Miles McPherson”
Herb, I would recommend you read Miles’ book on racial reconciliation. You might have a lot to learn from his message of gracing one anither.
Thanks, Steven. I appreciate the suggestion.
Deeply respect your experiences and also strongly disagree with you. If we define racism as a systemic, historical, and imbalance of POWER in our country, then its impossible to say that reverse racism exists because the minority culture (people of color) has never held the dominant power in our society (white culture). If we are defining racism as hateful acts toward people with a different skin color, then yes, you have experienced racism. But our definition of racism needs to be bigger if we seek to listen to and learn from any minority cultures generational and systemic experiences of racism. Those experiences you had were awful, yet they are different from the daily microagressions, achievement gap, and generational poverty that people of color face. Perhaps you could use your experience living as a minority in an all black neighborhood to relate to people of color living in a white-dominant culture? My perspective has changed on this over time based on reading books and talking to other people. One helpful book from a Christian womans perspective is Im Still Here by Austin Channing Brown. From a white persons perspective, I highly recommend the book White Fragility. Love you and appreciate your thoughts and experiences, just wanted to stir the pot with a different perspective.
Hi, Marietta. Thanks for your thoughtful and insightful comment. Of course, no experience of any group of whites will ever compare with what blacks have gone through in American history. But on an individual level, which is what I was talking about, it is possible for blacks to to treat whites poorly, just as whites can treat blacks poorly. Both races need to be aware of this and deal with it. Also, your perspective might be a little different if you yourself had grown up in a black neighborhood.
Yes, perspectives definitely change if were talking about racism in society vs. racism on an individual level (which might be better defined as discrimination). I think its important to enter these conversations aware of the lens were using. Agree that McPhersan couldve widened his lens by using broader terms like white culture or dominant culture rather than YOU because if we dont have terms and agreed upon definitions to talk about race, its hard to find any common ground and reach the reconciliation were striving for. I really appreciate this dialogue so I can understand your opinion. Overall my opinion is the same- maybe its my personality, but as a white person Id rather take a listening ear than a defensive tone if a person of color is addressing me about issues of race. Again, appreciate the spicy convo
Well said! We must move forward and away from racism. Let’s focus on God’s
commandments, His promises and our purpose as Christians. God bless you for sharing this personal letter. I pray blessings on your ministry.