Can Black Folks truly engage White Folks as partners?
In my continuous involvement in social issues from a clergy/activist standpoint; I tend to, from time to time, receive requests from White people about partnering on community projects or initiatives. That’s fine. I’m open for true partnership with most anybody who is serious about social change. However, it’s been my experience that the soils of the souls of White people need to be tilled so that a true foundation for cooperation can be established. Frankly, I’ve wasted a lot of precious time in conversation with some White people who weren’t prepared to engage the world from another’s perspective. This inability or unwillingness hampered any efforts to sincerely seek solutions. Once that was realized, I would walk away choosing to devote my energy to those people/organizations/causes that were primed for engagement. Perhaps that’s why I can count on one hand the number of White people that I’m in budding partnership with. I’ve learned my lesson. I can’t waste time with people - in this case White people who seem to mean well, but who aren’t comfortable surrendering the illusion of their superior positioning in the world…who aren’t willing to peer through the lenses of “minority existence” in the world…who aren’t courageous enough to look in the mirror and see how their people group has oppressed other people groups for generations. So as not to waste anybody’s time, I cut right to the chase. I tell White people where I am, what I believe, and what I think about them. If they get offended and walk away - no harm no foul…no ones time is wasted. If they engage in productive dialogue with me and take actions to show that they are serious about LEARNING and DOING - then I explore the possibility of next steps. For those who are interested, Bro. Malcolm X presents his position on this issue as well.
Where’d this come from? Good question. I had lunch today with two people who are looking to establish partnerships with members of the Black Community. I thought it was a pretty good initial conversation. They emailed me after lunch and I responded a few moments ago. I share this edited version of the email because I believe it provides insight on how I feel about the prospect of interracial partnerships.
Hello,
I appreciated meeting both of you today and look forward to our continuous search for common ground. Obviously we come from very different worlds and engage the world based on our experiences (both individually and culturally). That notwithstanding, if we push hard enough and are willing to agree at times and agree to disagree at other times, I believe we can do what most Black and White folks don’t do in this city (or this country for that matter) - engage in honest interaction.
I can tell you that most Black people in this country are experts at telling White people what they want to hear - our physical safety, academic achievements, corporate standing, health, and indeed our very livelihood has been and is predicated upon our ability to keep White folks who are often our supervisors, police officers, elected officials, business leaders, judges, doctors, bank executives, deans, professors, and lawyers - pleased with us. Our minority existence forces us to become experts in navigating a Power Structure designed to withhold power from us. How interesting this dynamic is particularly in a city like Baltimore where Black folks are the demographic majority, but the political/economic minority! (I can almost hear you coming through the screen rebutting that point, but the perception is and careful analysis supports the presupposition that there is a network of corporations, foundations, and pseudo-government agencies that dictate the direction of Baltimore City regardless of what Black person might hold office.)
Ok so why type all of that? My hope is that the process that you are engaged in will continue to shed light on why you have only received tepid support to this point from the Black Community. I believe that your intentions are pure and that you are genuinely trying to partner, however, the relationships that you establish with those in my community will be superficial unless there is honest engagement on the issues of crime (both street violence and socially acceptable violent policies like gentrifying Black neighborhoods and underfunding Black school systems), politics, economic development, and institutional racism.
As may be obvious by now, I tend to stray away from “politically correct” conversations with those outside of my community. What happened to Isaiah Simmons, Zachariah Hallback, Edward Hunt, Zach Sowers, Jacoby Fagan (my cousin), and the approximately 1,000 other human beings that have been murdered in this city over the past 4 years was/is extremely tragic and we owe it to them to - with great courage - seek out some remedies to prevent these types of occurrences from happening to someone else’s husband, father, son, daughter, mother, friend, etc. We must also challenge a society that helps brew the “perfect storm” that provides safe haven for anti-social behaviors. Personal AND Social responsibility must be on the table.
Peace,
Heber Brown, III
February 21st, 2008 at 10:38 am
Malcolm’s description of the white liberal hits it on the head.
I find white-cultured Americans (and I stress that, since race isn’t the ultimate factor in this: there are a great deal of other races who subscribe to this culture, and also some whites from other cultures who don’t) have the hardest time with empathy in it’s sincerest form.
What’s even MORE interesting is that the opposite isn’t true, for the very reasons you stated: “Our minority existence forces us to become experts in navigating a Power Structure designed to withhold power from us.”
I’d gather that part of the reason why the Black Power movement evolved from the relatively non-violent Civil Rights movement (aside from the assassinations) is because of the realization and resentment that many of the white supporters wouldn’t (couldn’t?) go all the way and actually take a lesser role than the black leaders. Ego took over and killed what might have been a good thing.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Who underwrites and has supported the N.A.A.C.P. financially for decades? Which group for all intents and purposes underwrote, financially, the march on Washington? Who funded the 1920’s Harlem Rennaissance? When American Baptists turned their backs on Dr. King in the early days of the marches, which ministers risked life and limb to march with and support Dr. King.
And as I recall, El Hajj Malik El Shabbazz evolved upon his return visit from Mecca.
I would suggest that care should be exercised in terms of cutting off the hands of those in other communities that are sincere supporters of social justice issues. There are a lot of them. Andrew Goodman on June 21, 1964, in central Mississippi’s Neshoba County, along with fellow civil rights workers Michael Schwerner and James Chaney, found a way to work and to die together.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Great point, Rev. The intent of this post was not to dismiss any White person who wishes to work for social change. I’m very clear that throughout our complex history in this country White benefactors have aided the struggle at crucial points.
I simply was pointing out that there are some issues present that need to be addressed when walking the path of interracial partnership if the collaboration is to be mutually beneficial and a honest engagement. We have enough of those superficial, “kum ba ya” coalitions that only work because parties involved have unconsciously (or consciously) agreed to refrain from addressing the particulars of what William Edward Burkhardt DuBois called the problem of the 20th (and now 21st) century. If a prerequisite of joining the coalition is that I agree not to talk about racial issues (of course the assumption is that the cause of the coalition warrants such discussion) then that’s not a true partnership.
Interestingly enough, I just returned from a lunch meeting with a dear White sister of mine who has demonstrated her commitment to social justice for all. She’s put her neck and body on the line on numerous occasions to secure economic justice for day laborers. Her commitment is tangible and without words she articulates her willingness to suffer and sacrifice for right. Therefore, the partnership and even relationship that I have with her is real and appreciated. I wish there were more White sisters like her in this town. Perhaps there are and I just haven’t found them yet. Seems like a small sorority though.
P.S. - I’m aware that Brother Malcolm experienced a dramatic transformation post-Mecca, however, I think that his comments in the clip linked above wouldn’t be edited too much. I agree with Ben about it being a pretty accurate analysis.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
P.S. - the folks that inspired this post in the first place have decided not to work with me any further or follow my suggestions in establishing real relationship with those in the Black Community. They instead, reiterated their desire to see me join their plan on what “Black Leaders” should be doing.
I’ll pass.
Well - gotta go shake the dust off my feet now.