Race

In the September 17th edition of Penn Current, Greg Johnson writes an article entitled Societal Problems, Personal Solutions. In it, he highlights the research and writings of a Penn Law professor, Amy Wax…particularly her latest book: Race, Wrongs, and Remedies. Several aspects of the article stood out to me and I’m interested in your response.

“Amy Wax…attributes the law of remedies to the issue of race, asserting that although white society is responsible for some of the ills plaguing the black community, most of what ails black America today lies outside the power of others to fix. It is, she says, up to African Americans to help themselves.”

What do you think? As we have begun a conversation about Christian community in our Thursday night large group times – is there anything we’ve learned from scripture that might have bearing on what Dr. Wax is asserting?

If the Christian church has been multi-lingual and multi-ethnic since its inception (Acts 2), what kinds of tensions can be expected as the church continues to invite all people into one community that learns, loves, worships and grows together?

Our Fall Retreat last year was about the scriptural foundation for ethnic reconciliation – Dr. Carl Ellis, Jr. taught us loads – if you’re interested in a copy of those talks, just email me (susieflood@gmail.com).

“Wax says the primary obstacles facing the African-American community include low educational attainment, poor socialization and work habits, criminality, paternal abandonment, family disarray and non-marital childbearing. And, she says, the problems are only getting worse.”

What thoughts do you have about ‘race’ – is it a legitimate means of categorizing people? If not, why not? Check out WNYC’s Radiolab’s episode: Race. If it is – would you, like Wax, maintain that communities can be distinguishably defined along racial lines? Why/why not?

“There’s always going to be people who are prejudiced and people who are biased,” she says. “There’s always going to be people who are misogynist, or anti-Semites, or the like. I just think it’s not a super core part of ordinary life in most cases.”

What do you think? Does your/others' racial/ethnic or gender identity play a part in your daily life/interactions? If not – why do you think so many people care/talk so much about racial/ethnic identity? If so – do biases or prejudice comprise a significant portion of that role? Check out Racial Microaggressions in Daily Life.

“Wax writes that the rhetorical habit of characterizing African Americans as victims of poverty, crime, failing school systems and broken families ignores the truism that people largely create their own environments. “These commonly identified conditions are not solely, or even predominately, imposed from above,” she says. “Rather, they are mostly the product of the actions and choices of participants.”

What do you think? Who creates their own environment? Do we as individuals create our own environment? Do racial groups collectively create their own environment? Do other social groups (families, regions or economic class groups) create their own environment? Do nations?

If you’d rather email or chat in person about this article – I’d love to! I’m happy to share my own thoughts too – just very interested in yours ;c)