Race Around the Web
Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : August 28, 2008
I direct your attention to two somewhat related posts regarding race and ethnicity.
The first post (on Emergent Village) by Anthony Smith challenges those non-voting white folks who encourage black folks to abstain from voting. Here’s a snippet:
Voting, as it is oftentimes seen by historically marginalized groups, is a precious gift. It is not seen, within the language game of the prophetic black church, as a form of violence. That voting is seen as means of violence can only come from Christians who don’t know what it is like to be without the gift. This is why the loudest voices for political disengagement on Gospel grounds tend to be of lighter hue. It is another form of advantage to eschew voting. I profoundly agree with Christians engaging in anti-imperial practices or pro-kingdom activities that give sign to another world in our midst. But understand my suspicion. I am postmodern, after all.
This is a great issue worthy of serious consideration. I’m thinking of a response to Anthony’s weighty and compelling article.
The second post is a forum conversation taking place at Submergent’s website regarding the ethnic mix of folks involved on that social website. The post is raising issues of unity and diversity, privilege and oppression, etc. In the comments, Eliacin Rosario-Cruz offers the following insight:
It is not enough to wait until gender diversity/multiculturalism just simply happen. To wait on that is to perpetuate the “Luxury of Obliviousness” in which white males can afford to be oblivious to the injustice and the marginalization of women and people of color. Women and people of color cannot afford to wait until the mono-cultural/mono-gender group decide when to “include” them. The embrace of the “other” need to be intentional from the beginning. If gender diversity and multiculturalism is not part of the DNA, then is a later add-on. Women and people of color are not accessories to be added later on. Many of us believe God’s Kingdom will be formed by a large multicultural multitude, if so, then we are called to represent that multitude and live in that reality now…The lack of voices/participation of women and people of color in the church represents a chromosomal disorder in the Body of Christ.
How do we meaningfully address the social/economic/racial/ethnic/gender within our communities, organizations, and movements?
How do we foster diversity among websites and web networks when a majority of users are still, it seems, white men?
Mark Van Steenwyk is the editor of JesusManifesto.com. He is a Mennonite pastor (Missio Dei in Minneapolis), writer, speaker, and grassroots educator. He lives in South Minneapolis with his wife (Amy), son (Jonas) and some of their friends.Print This Article
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