The Difficulty in Identifying Systemic Oppression

 

Something I wrote last year but just now posting.

 

There are privileged whites who believe the welfare state is a good means of dismantling the systemic oppression of blacks. There are black economists who suffered persecution under Jim Crow who believe the welfare state is a means of oppression that has disproportionately affected blacks. Who is right? One group either supports a system that oppresses blacks or the other group opposes a system that supports blacks. One group is contributing to the problem; the other is contributing to the solution.  One group needs to confess and repent. Which is it? I mean, both groups want to help blacks, but one group is unintentionally supporting their oppression. More importantly, as a Christian (white or black), with whom do you side? What is the truth? Because, depending upon the side you choose, you will either be a part of the problem that oppresses blacks or a part of the solution, regardless of your intentions. Furthermore, regardless of which you choose, the other group will accuse you of oppressing blacks. If you are white, they will accuse you of unrecognized privilege. If you are black, they will accuse you of false consciousness. And here’s the thing: in this specific instance, there’s a 50% chance that they are right. Again, what do you choose? How do you avoid committing an unintentional sin?

 

Now I’ve used the welfare state as an example in a dichotomous manner, lacking nuance. However, I could use those same two separate groups (privileged whites and black economists) and supply similar examples that would make the same point: gentrification, cultural appropriation, minimum wage, reparations, the drug-war, policing methods, the justice system, racial quotas, affirmative action, school choice, abortion, identity politics, micro-aggressions, and the list could go on.

 

In recent weeks I’ve read a number of Christian leaders talk about racial reconciliation and the need of confession and repentance. Alright, the examples just mentioned are at the forefront of the issue of race in America. Please tell us where we should side on each of these issues. Please tell us which is oppressing blacks and from which position we should repent. This is no time for sitting in the safe position of spouting generalities about race and repentance. We need particulars. If, like me, you believe in systemic oppression, specifically in the racial category, let’s be specific in our identification of the structures that dominate. Otherwise, this is all virtue signaling, ethical preening, and empty theological posturing.