Throughout the ages of intelligent and civilized human presence on our planet, history has always been written and preserved by the conquerors, by those who have dominated others. Over 400 years of the enslavement of Black people, the white race has shaped the narrative of history to preserve our dominance above other non-white people.
History of Deliberate Exclusion
We have legally and socially changed the definition of white over the years to include others who are non-white and to deliberately exclude every shade of Black person legally and socially. The Latino community, suffering just a taste of the prejudice and systemic racism against Black people over the years, may eventually be included under the protective cover of whiteness, again to the ongoing exclusion of our Black brothers and sisters.
Recent history in Florida and other states seeks to rewrite, exclude and bury the full history, raising up the good that whites have done, but excluding the bad and the ugly ongoing history of systemic racism in our country. Criticizing those who want the whole history brought into the light, they call us “Woke.”
This “asleep” crowd prefers to be blind to the harsh history of oppression and genocide of Black people. Heaven help them if they might be uncomfortable with that part of our nation’s history. After all, it was just those white men who met in Philadelphia back in 1776 who founded our nation.
Forget What’s Important
Let’s forget about the free Black, the enslaved Black, the indentured white, the indigenous Native Americans, and the poor and middle-class white families who prepared the way for those meetings to happen.
Additionally, let’s forget about how the enslaved and indentured Black and white people built many of our national and state buildings without receiving a dime for their hard labor.
Let’s forget that Thomas Jefferson drew inspiration from the structures of governing in some native tribes in order to craft our own three-branch government and bi-cameral legislative branch.
Protecting Historical Memories
It’s important to note that the Black community itself has buried some of its history, but for different reasons. Some of the horrors of that history were so painful and horrific that the generations who experienced them felt the need to protect the next generation from the horrors.
It is great that we are encouraging our students in The News School and our other programs working with youth and families to learn their full history: the horrors inflicted on them by the white community and, yes, sometimes, but in much smaller numbers, by other Black people; and the history of resistance, persistence, holding hope, preserving family and celebrating faith.
One part of this history that the Black community must study, reflect upon and reclaim is the history of “How faith got us through.” They also need to think “How God made a way — and continues to make — a way out of no way.”
Organized Religion
As I have studied the trends in regular Church attendance in Christian churches in our community of North Lawndale, I have discovered that in the last 15 years, regular church attendance has gone from 70% to 30%. This was prior to COVID and the further decline during that period.
Current generations have turned their backs on organized religion, yet I find many who are still very socially and morally conscious. Plus, there has been growing distrust in societal institutions, including our churches.
It has become ever more evident that few of the children and youth we work with have ever been exposed to church. Agreed, this may be different from faith in God and Jesus Christ. I do believe very many non-churchgoers still hold faith.
Recovering and Discovering Historical Facts
As we recover the full history of our nation, as we uncover/rediscover the history of oppression, resistance, and resilience of Black people and other non-white groups in our country, we cannot afford to not study and reflect on the underpinnings of faith and faith communities that fortified, strengthened, and continues to fortify and strengthen many in the Black community to face the challenges of daily life and systemic oppression, yet strive to preserve their families and the values of family and community brotherhood and sisterhood.
We may study the missing, buried history of our Black sisters and brothers, but this will not serve us fully for the future unless we uncover the incredible history of lived faith that got our ancestors through and can do the same for current and future generations of Black people. Such study and reflection by us white people can also help us to renew our faith in a way that will help us, united with our Black brothers and sisters, to navigate the chaos of life and hold firm in our resolve to oppose the forces that would seek to divide us.
By Father Larry Dowling
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of U.S. Embassy Romania‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
