Racism - A White Perspective
Steve Chalkley
Like most white people, I have led a life largely unaffected by racial prejudice. I really didn’t think too much about it other than to think what a shame it is that it happens, and that it is wrong. I didn’t think it was anything that I needed to consider much – let alone speak up about, or do anything about. However, that changed a bit when I met and married Marcia, who is black, and thereby also gaining black relatives.
Since then, I have thankfully not experienced too much personal discrimination other than the odd shout of things like ‘Get yourself a white woman’ when I am out with Marcia, but I have been aware of prejudice affecting my wife and children. Most of all, I see the real distress that the murder of George Floyd and many similar ‘tragedies’ has caused. I very much hope that, this time, with the momentum that the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has gained, we may see real change – but I very much doubt it, as change has been so slow over the last 400 years of bad treatment of black people.
You may think that there is no racial prejudice problem in Pyrford, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Both of my sons suffered from what was probably unconscious racial bias when attending Pyrford Primary. One son was placed in all the bottom sets, and used to come home crying – asking why he had been put in the bottom sets when he could do everything that the children in the top sets were doing. I could not let this situation carry on, and had to be very assertive with the teacher before she reluctantly agreed to give him a try in the top sets. After he was moved, he was much more happy, and never looked back. As he now has a Master’s Degree in Physics, I cannot explain why he was placed in the bottom groups, other than racial prejudice. My other son had an unhappy time with his reception teacher. It was very noticeable how she would stand at the classroom door every morning and greet every child with a smile, a wave, or a pat, but a scowl was reserved for my son who used to slink past her into the classroom. As my son could, by no stretch of the imagination, be described as a nasty boy, I have no explanation for this other than racial prejudice. Thankfully, after leaving reception, he got on well with his other teachers.
There have been other incidents involving my family that reflect well documented police stop/search prejudice, but I will leave it there. I hope that the vast majority of police are well intentioned in this country, even if sometimes misguided.
It saddens me that the Church has lost the moral high ground on the matter of racial prejudice, because of the ongoing suffering of black people that I have witnessed with my own eyes. The anti-slavery movement in Britain started with a committed Christian taking a beaten slave, who had been left to die in the street, to Bart’s Hospital in London where he recovered. The mantle was taken up by other Christians. Now, with some exceptions, the Church largely does nothing and remains silent. Meanwhile, secular organisations like the Premier League and F1 racing start every event with a symbolic BLM demonstration, so they are putting it in the forefront. However, it is encouraging that our church has had a day of prayer on racism, and Mark has made an online statement on racism, and there has been mention in our Sunday morning services, but perhaps more could still be done. We must strive to keep racism in people’s consciousness, holding it up in prayer, and not lose the momentum the anti-racism movement has gained since the death of George Floyd.
I want this country to be a better place for my sons, and hopefully future grandchildren. This will only happen if the issue of racism is kept in the forefront, and we all examine ourselves for any bias – conscious, or unconscious. Most white people don’t even think about racism, and by default fall into the ‘silence is complicity’ category without even realising it. Without my exposure to black people in the last few decades of my life, I think I would fall into this category too. This shows how important it is to mix with people that do not look like ourselves, or have the same culture or religion etc. and build relationships. It is very difficult to empathise with people that you don’t know.
The Bible makes it very clear that all people should be treated equally. It says in Colossians 3:11, “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilised, slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”
There is much on the internet that helps to inform us on these matters. There is a very worthwhile interview of Bishop T.D. Jakes on youtube ( https://youtu.be/HYku4vlwnTQ ) that gives great insight.
Finally, I will quote from an article from a white minister in this country, Rev. Richard Coekin, entitled ‘George Floyd: A White Christian’s Response’ (https://co-mission.org/article/featured/george-floyd/) which finishes with, “Let us pray for courage in presidents, and in civic, community and church leaders, to speak and act for change. Let us pray for yet more patience in those who are weary of being ignored. Above all, let us pray that in this darkness, the glory of Jesus, the ‘light of the world’ (John 1) might shine ever more brightly!”
-Steve Chalkley
