The Ball's In Our Court--What Are We Going to Do?

I get so tired of people saying we have solved the race issue in America.  We haven't.  We really, truly haven't.  And this past week we've seen to very high profile examples of the reality that racism simmers just beneath the surface of our national life. 

No doubt you've heard about Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher who first came to public attention because of his struggle with federal authorities over unpaid grazing fees.  In an interview with the New York Times, he went off-topic, if you will, and started talking about a public housing project in North Las Vegas.  He commented on the African-American residents.  "I've often wondered are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy?"  (www.chicagotribune.com)

Would they be better off as slaves?  Would they be better off living in fear of torture and rape?  Would they be better off never knowing from day-to-day if they would be allowed to stay with their partners and children?  Would they be better off being sold like cattle at an auction?  You're kidding me, right?  He can't really mean what he said--can he?  But, apparently, he does.  He has not offered a retraction.  But we've solved the racism issue in America.

I know, you're saying that's just one misguided rancher in Nevada.  But what about Donald Sterling--owner of the LA Clippers basketball team, who allegedly got in a verbal argument with his girlfriend over posting a picture of herself with Magic Johnson on Instagram.  "It bothers me that you want to broadcast you're associating with black people," he reputedly says.  And later, "Don't come to my games.  Don't bring black people, and don't come."  (www.tmz.com)  Yes sir, we've solved the problem!  There's no real racism in America!

I imagine there will be a fair amount of sputtering about both of these situations for a week or two.  Maybe the National Basketball Association will take punitive action if the allegations against Sterling prove true.  Bundy has already alienated those who were supporting him in the grazing fees fight.  But then we'll probably just sweep it all under the rug and go on as usual.  Content to let the problem simmer without really addressing it.  But we can't let it go--we only fool ourselves when we do!  Rather we need to promote a national dialogue.  We need to get the issues out on the table and be honest with ourselves about the horrors of the past (slavery was just that, a horror) and recognize the long lasting impact it has had on American life.  And then we need to repent.  As a nation.

In Greek the word for repent, metanoia, means to turn around and go in a new direction.  That's exactly what we need to do. But first we need to acknowledge where we've been.

The ball's in our court--now what are we going to do?