Understanding Racism Today

Understanding Racism Today: A Dossier

Introduction

"We must not allow the manifestations of racism, which has not changed, to be swept under the carpet. We must be vigilant to the changing faces of racism and deal with it whether or not it is popular to do so. We must desmystify all the laws, declarations and charters etc., from fancy words (...) We must confront the government for programmes that will rid our country of racism, otherwise, it will go underground...".

Racism has been a concern of the ecumenical movement for at least 70 years. However there has been an special focus on the issue of racism since 1968, thirty years ago, when the IVth Assembly of the WCC set its face against the scourge of racism and thus gave impetus to the creation of the Programme to Combat Racism. Since then the WCC has played a significant role within the international anti-apartheid movement and extended solidarity and its resources to thousands of Indigenous and racially oppressed communities and organizations, and those who work in support of them, in almost every part of the world. This has been one of the major ministries of the WCC. But racism continues to be a gross scandal to the Christian faith.

The common calling of the WCC member churches includes a commitment to refuse "to turn away from the judgement that every form of racism, also in their own life, is contrary to the word and will of God". (CUV).The 1995 Central Committee noted that "institutional racism and the ideology of racism, in their most pernicious forms, continue unabated in contemporary societies and still affect churches dramatically while ongoing social, political and economic trends are producing new expressions of racism".

With its three decades of experience and insights the WCC is now challenged, not only to continue and strengthen its commitment, but to bring new energy and analytical skills to the many emerging manifestations of racism. It was in answer to these challenges that this paper has been prepared. Input was sought from each region of the world and a number of small international consultations were held.

It is important to note that, in spite of the relevance of issues of ethnicity and ethnocentrism the oppression of ethnic minorities, most significantly in Europe and Africa, ethnic issues are not directly addressed in this dossier. They must continue to be important for the WCC member churches and further studies are needed. For instance a study on Ethnic Identity, National Identity and the Unity of the Church, is being undertaken by Faith and Order and Justice, Peace and Creation team. However the focus of this present dossier is racism and its impact on the lives of African-descent, Blacks, Dalits and Indigenous Peoples.

Racism as a Sin revisited

At the core of the struggle against racism there are some essential elements which relate to the very basic anthropological and theological understanding of humanity.

The ecumenical movement, the WCC and its member churches, have produced many and unambiguous statements which condemn racism. These are based on the belief that human beings are created in the Image of God (Gen. 1.26) and that all human beings are created equal. But as the new millennium approaches that belief is in danger of foundering. It seems there has been a loss of restlessness, the costly engagement, and the creative energy of indignation which comes from knowing that racism hinders the Image of God.

Therefore, racism is a sin, not only because it separates us from God and from our fellow human beings; or because it is a blatant denial of the Christian Faith and thus incompatible with the Gospel; or because it is a flagrant violation of human rights. Its sinfulness is not only because it is contrary to Galatians 3. 28, in that racism assumes human beings are created unequal before God, or even yet because racism is a denial of basic justice and human dignity. Racism is primarily a sin because it destroys the very source of humanity - the Image of God in humankind. Thus, it repudiates the Creator God; it repudiates the Creation and its goodness. We are truly human only when the divine flame of God's Image shines within us to dissipate evil, as individuals, churches and societies.

At the time of the VIIIth assembly's call to "Turn to God, Rejoice in Hope", the cry of those who are oppressed by racism is to (re)turn to true humanity. Their demand is that the divine flame of God's Image should be expressed through what is and what is yet to be. Their call is that we should turn away from the sin of racism and repent. We are confronted with the need to experience conversion, to turn and change direction, not as an intellectual exercise but as a heartfelt realization that the mission of the churches cannot go on as usual. We must acknowledge that the actions of individuals, churches and societies have to be transformed by the powerful flame of God's Image in humanity and the transforming power of God' grace in Jesus Christ. The eradication of racism is the restoration of the Image of God in humanity, when Life is lived abundantly in accordance with God's will.

To turn to God is the challenge and opportunity of recovering and reclaiming humanness. It is to re-establish communion with God and with one another. It is a commitment to pursue 'Our Ecumenical Vision'.

Towards an Understanding of Racism Today

The remaining years of this century are a time of transition. One of its characteristics is the shift from very visible and clear-cut white racism, seen throughout the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, to a time in which racism is alive and well but, in many places, is disguised or even assumed to be non-existent. For this reason, racism, whether overt or covert, needs to be continuously analyzed and combatted.

A distinction has to be made between 'individual' and 'institutional' racism. The former refers to personal prejudice and behavior. The latter refers to procedures and regulations that may not even be racist in their intent but which are discriminatory in their impact or outcome and which reinforce racial inequality. A problem with the distinction of 'individual' versus 'institutional' is that it places the individual outside the contexts in which regulations and procedures are made, whereas structures need to be understood as the outcome of individual human activity.

From a macro point of view racial discrimination can be described as a set of economic, political, social, and ideological relations. From a micro point of view, the reproduction of racism is a systemic process