Enslaved African Americans were often resistant by disobeying their “masters,” whether by neglecting their work when not supervised, feigning illnesses, or pursuing education. African Americans in the North were “free,” but without voting rights, full participation in society (the North was heavily segregated), or economic mobility, such that their “slavery” was in nearly all but name.
Many of today’s churches continue to oppress communities of color by operating from a Euro-normative stance which assumes a common Western, white experience. We continue to use symbols of light and dark and avoid serious confrontation with our biblical texts that have been used to promote slavery, sexism, and other forms of injustice. Until we make mainstream a serious, anti-racist approach to our texts and commit ourselves to a balanced, intentional engagement with all members of our communities that seeks to elevate and listen to voices which have remained unheard or underprivileged, this will continue to be the case.
In today’s world, education can still be a major weapon against oppression, especially in the Western World, which values “empirical arguments” and information over emotional pleas. Economic success can also be a weapon of resistance, since in our capitalist society, money often earns one a voice and influence (unfortunately). Our churches can also resist oppression and discrimination by seeking out and lifting up minority voices which have been traditionally ignored in favor of the dominant, Eurocentric narrative, and taking seriously their perspective and engaging the emotional, spiritual weight of our histories. We can also promote biblical literacy in ways that resist oppressive interpretations of our scripture and lift up the liberating power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ radically inclusive ministry, we can find precedent for a world in which all have an equal, valued, loved voice at the table.
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