The election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States is a monumental blow to racism in America and a crowning achievement of the civil rights movement. But it would be erroneous to equate Barack Obama's election with the end of America's racism. The towns and cities that confronted the civil rights marchers with police dogs and fire hoses of racism two generation ago never truly integrated. Instead, the white residents simply emigrated to the suburbs. Even in the areas of the country deemed less racism-prone, some who happily work next to African Americans and admire them on television still shy away from engaging them socially and personally, and even resent those who move into the neighborhood. Ever since the civil rights movement forced America to confront its racism in the 1950s and 60s, racism has been receding from certain sectors of the society, including entertainment, sports and the workplace. The election of Barack Obama to the nation's highest office is a major setback for racism in the political sector and far beyond. But racism persists in the hearts of many, including Christians. The existence of churches of racial minorities whose first language isn't English is understandable; those of English-speaking churches divided along racial lines, however unintended the division is claimed to be, points to racial division that betrays Christ's desired unity within His flock: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23) Image of America Marriage in America |
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