It Will Cost You Something
That question you have been asking yourself as you stare at your reflection each morning. It will cost you something. The suspicion is if you are reading this, there is no need to spell out the question because since the horrible sound of George Floyd’s plea for mercy, “I can’t breathe,” echoed around the world… that question has been floating around your head and agitating your heart.
But just in case, here it is–
“What can I do to help?”
Dear concerned, unsure, Caucasian sister, that question is going to cost you something!
Before we talk price, allow me to share my cost.
Earlier in the year, I was having lunch at a popular restaurant with two Caucasian acquaintances. Moments earlier, the three of us had gathered luggage from the airport’s baggage carousel. We excitedly discussed the ministry opportunity we were about to embark on in a city that was unfamiliar to us all. Leadership had taken tender care to find a local eatery known for its delicious fare. Upon entering, we noticed five African American women gazing at the menu with the same awe and hunger we had in our eyes. One member of our group struck up a conversation. “Where are you guys from?” That question, along with, “How did you hear about this place?” was met with smiles and small talk about the excitement of finally putting the restaurant’s drool-worthy reviews to the test.
After ordering, both groups seated themselves. The African American women five tables apart from my trio. About 30-40 minutes of waiting amplified our talking stomachs over the conversation, forcing us to send a representative to investigate our order’s status. The deal was, “Give us one name, have a seat anywhere you like, and we will call the given name when the order is ready.” That call never came.
This is an excellent time to say the pick-up counter was maybe 20 feet away from our table.
Our representative returned visibly uncomfortable with the news that our food had been “stolen.”
“Who stole our food?” I held my breath. I didn’t have to be a prophet to know who the accused were.
“The women at the front table.”
The chef quickly made his way from behind the counter to our table, saying, “I called your name, but those women came up and claimed the food.” This, after he observed our trio fervently discussing the likelihood of that claim. By the way, I was facing the counter. He never called our name.
Here’s the dilemma. The women may have had our order, but whether there was a diabolical, pre-meditated plot to steal the vittles was still up in the air. I sat there and listened as the five African American women were tried and found guilty. I could have pointed out how strange it would be to eat stolen food just twenty feet away from the victims. I could have pointed out that neither the chef, cashier, nor the stock guy confronted the thieves. I could have pointed out how the women were jovially and casually eating the stolen food with not one hint of suspicious behavior. I could have stated what was obvious to me – like – “The Chef made a mistake.” But I didn’t even mumble one word! And it cost me.
First, I paid in sleep. My 5:45 AM alarm found me wide awake, bemoaning how I let the women be marked as food thieves, leaving their nameless faces forever branded in a “remember that time story.” Then, it cost personal redemption. I held power to redeem the ladies, but I didn’t want to make my Caucasian friends uncomfortable. Ultimately, it may have cost me the ability to be vindicated the next time I am unknowingly on the receiving end of a “remember when story,” in the making.
I paid a price that day. An unrecoupable price – one without accurate measure.
So, what can you do?
Learn from my mistake.
- Ask God to reveal your heart. Be honest about where you stand in the fight against racism. (Psalm 139:23)
- Refuse to hold your peace concerning racial injustice. (Isaiah 58)
- Be prepared/willing to lose some things and/or people as a result. (2 Samuel 24: 24)
- Don’t feel pressured to grab a megaphone. Use your platform. God has given you a voice in your place with your people.
- Effect change by having intentional conversations with your children. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)
- Teach your child to see color and have an appreciation for God’s diversity as displayed in humanity. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
- Refuse to spend money in businesses that approve of and/or have racist practices. (Proverbs 22:16)
- Be open to having a genuine relationship with someone of another ethnicity.
- Include African American theologians on your reading list.
In hindsight, my actions on that day contributed to the underlying racial injustices that slip quietly under the radar. The injustices that are small enough to hide behind “facts,” but big enough to help others to not give African Americans and other people of color the benefit of the doubt, leaving all of us bleeding along the roadside (Luke 10:25-37).
I leave you with this question, “Are you like me?” It’s probably, going to cost you something!
