(copied from my 360.yahoo.com blog dated 09/07/2007)When it comes to the difficulties of diversity, I have a mountain of experience. I am not a racist. No, I am not. However, I am guilty - very guilty - of stereotyping.
The topic of diversity has been on my mind lately, oddly enough, because of the Disney movies that my daughter has been watching. But let me start at the beginning. I was raised in rural Missouri, home of the hillbillies (was that a stereotypical slur?). Having grown up in a red neck (there I go again) part of the country, I was exposed at an early age to racism against African Americans. I didn't buy into the racist comments that I often heard; however, I believe I carried several stereotypes with me well into my 20's. Then two things happened that caused me to see the light. Now I view all individuals as children of God, regardless of race, religion, etc. - made in His image, all beautiful and yet all falling short of God's perfection - equal and unique. It's one of those God paradoxes I've grown to love.
One life changing event took place when I participated in a missions trip to Malawi (South Central Africa). Our purpose was to evangelize and plant new churches. We were only there one week and we saw God do amazing things! One amazing event for me was when God opened my eyes to how I see myself and contrasted that to how I see others. I had been told that we absolutely must behave above reproach in every way. We especially had to wear dresses only, cut to mid-calf or lower. Why? Because missionaries are respected as authorities from God and an exposed leg implied seductress, temptress, sinner. (God forbid I ever do this again)...I took these instructions to heart and began to assume that the people I preached to believed they were more sinful than me or that I was somehow higher than they were on the human scale. While preaching I implied this assumption and was later set straight by my pastor. I still get kind of sick when I remember all of this. Because of the gentle grace I received from my group and the people we were working with in Malawi, I was able change my attitude towards myself and others.
The next life changing event was a discussion I had with a friend who teaches racial tolerance in a Christian setting. He explained to me how his teachings are not always received well. It made me sad to think that Christians, persecuted throughout history, couldn't soften their hearts when hearing this message. Then he handed me a survey that he had given to his students full of questions about African American facts and history. For instance, when was Martin Luther King, Jr. assissinated? When is Black Heritage Month?...basic things that I should probably know, and didn't. He explained that it is not enough to just tolerate a race, or say that you love all people equally. If you really want to experience diversity, you need to find out more about other races, religions, cultures...people. Go the extra mile to have open dialogue, do research, learn about them. How can we ever be truly sensitive to diversity if we remain ignorant?
I will probably revisit this issue from different angles again and again. It is an area in my life where I need growth.
In regards to the Disney comment earlier, my daughter's favorite movies right now are Aladin and Pocahontus. Other movies that came out around that time were Anastasia and Mulan. It is obvious to me that Disney was making a concerted effort to address diversity in their productions. However, I am disappointed that each movie is filled with racial and cultural stereotypes. I don't want my daughters growing up with the same limitations I had. So, while the movies are very entertaining, I will be spending time helping my children understand these cultures in a more real way.
On that note, I appreciate any conversation about how parents can help their children understand other races and cultures in a more real way.
No comments:
Post a Comment