The Darkness of White Privilege

Yesterday, Pentecost, offers an image of flame in our darkness. We live in the daily darkness of death. But the reality of death resulting from the darkness of white privilege threatens the light from that flaming Spirit.

Covid-19 has invited us to ask what will be the new normal. And therefore, we have heard hopes expressed of lessons learned convincing us that we are interconnected. We have also been encouraged to believe that we are in this together.

But the wrongful death of another black man forces us to ask how our new normal can survive the collapse of justice. For communities of color and those awake in the white community, the death of justice is not an option.

The Unjust Price Paid

The  virus has already shown that people of color worldwide are more likely to succumb to death. Because of the unavailability of health care and the inability to practice social distancing in poor crowded apartments  people of color are more vulnerable. And death by violence is an unjust reality of life for the same people.  What do we learn from the fear of a black father who knows that merely walking alone can be dangerous?

The Spirit Disturbs the Darkness of White Privilege

Can the flame of the Spirit enlighten us and shine a light on the darkness of white privilege? Are we willing to be disturbed by the privilege that is ours because of our skin color? Are we open to the Spirit’s stirring in our hearts to live in equal justice? Will the Spirit’s flame inspire in us the courage to speak truth?

Change only results when we are willing to face our discomfort in admitting the reality of white privilege. Being white gives white people unearned advantages. For the sake of understanding privilege in another way, consider these other unearned advantages. Being male is an unearned advantage not available to a woman. The young in today’s culture have an unearned privilege  unavailable to the elderly. Being wealthy opens advantages not available to the poor. Yet all these advantages falter in comparison to the unearned advantage of skin color.

Come, Holy Spirit, renew the face of the earth!