Dear “White Savior”, I Don’t Need You Because I Already Have One!

In the increasing climate of social unrest due to the most recent murders of black lives in America at the hands of racist, many are clamoring to control the narrative or be a part of the solution. For the first time in about 60 years, the conversation on race is being framed in a more constructive and inclusive conversation on why black lives are devalued in this country. We are seeing people on both sides of the political aisle and citizens of all races and cultural backgrounds speak out on the injustices of African Americans. Most recently, one of the largest predominately white churches in Kentucky, put out a video aiming to galvanize it's members towards the groundswell movement supporting the black community. Unfortunately, the tone deafness & insensitivity of the video (which at the behest of local black pastors, was removed) was met with extreme backlash and outrage from the black community. The video cringingly highlighted all of the church's charitable contributions while listing statistics that are plaguing the black community such as fatherless households, prison population, lack of parental engagement, educational performances, poverty and more. Though the statistics themselves were true, they lacked the context and culpability of the white supremacist power structure and systemic oppression that have led to these statistics! There was no link to slavery, Jim Crow, and the fact that many people alive today can remember in the, not so distance past, when black people could not even vote in this country, and how this countries history of oppressive policies and treatment of POC have played a part in many of the challenges people in our neighborhoods face TODAY! Though I believe my friends meant well, it was just another example of focusing on the reaction and not the solution!

What is being done to end "no knock" warrants, increased penalties of police officers not activating body cameras, and other forms of law enforcement accountability? What kind of education are they providing to its adult and youth members on the history of the 13th amendment, the school to prison pipeline for African American youth, or the fact that African Americans are the most oppressed people in our country and have never received reparations? Also, why leave out other statistics such as black people being disproportionately sentenced longer than white individuals for the exact same crime? The church mentioned that our community only makes up 15 percent of the population but 33 percent of those contracting COVID, but why not focus more on the root problems of the disparities in our health care system that leaves our community more vulnerable?

Listen man... We can’t talk about poverty, health care disparities, fatherless homes, the incarceration rate, lack of educational opportunities, lack of parental involvement in schools, etc within urban communities as if that’s the current reality of ALL black folks and we certainly can’t talk about those who are plagued with these issues without taking about the systemic racism, disenfranchisement, and oppression of people of color that is the root CAUSE of all of these issues! We can’t black-ify the present while white washing this country’s history. We don’t need a “savior”, because we already got one in Jesus.. What we need is contrition, understanding, HEALING, reparations/resources, equal opportunity & equality.

To me, this video exposed the rush job we’ve engaged in, in this country, in trying to hurry up and move beyond the issue of race without first allowing healing to take place, uncomfortable conversations to be had, and REAL learning to be done. And because of that, black folk are tired. This is not a knock to this particular ministry, because I know personally, where the hearts of their leadership are and I believe them to be good people. But I think this is a grand opportunity for them to truly learn. Again, we don't need them to be our Savior, because we already have one in Jesus! What we need are well informed allies ready to support people of color, check unconscious biases at the door, hold friends & family accountable and join us in the fight to target the root causes of systemic oppression in this country!