Racism in America

I teach an interesting living history program at work to help illustrate the concept of racism and injustice to students.  The American history of racism is heart wrenching and repetitive.  Just think how these groups were treated - with dignity and human rights?
Native Americans
Africans captured and brought to American as slaves and subsequent generations of African Americans
Irish immigrants on the east coast
Chinese immigrants on the west coast
Japanese immigrants on the west coast
Hispanic immigrants
Arab Americans
Lots of images come to mind....

 In particular right now I have been reading a book about WWII and the Japanese internment.  Here's some facts:
"Courage is something strong within you that brings out the best in a person. Perhaps no one else may know or see, but it’s those hidden things unknown to others, that reveals a person to God and self." - Yuri Nakahara Kochiyama
  Diary entry, May 3, 1942


President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the mass incarceration of over 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

Two-thirds were American citizens. Over half were children or infants.
Their "crime": their Japanese ancestry.

Forty-six years later our government officially apologized for this "grave injustice" and paid reparations.

Could it happen again to another group of Americans?


information from - http://www.asianamericanmedia.org/jainternment/


Sigh.  People are quick to judge and slow to change.  I'm glad I'm learning about it though.  Too many of us "Americans" grow up thinking that America is this wonderful place of opportunity for everyone and it's just not true.  American is a wonderful place of acceptance and opportunity for those who are of caucasian decent.  For centuries we have prosecuted and put down those who aren't.  Even in recent history!  We talk in our history classes about the horror of German concentration camps, yet we forget to discuss or even bring up the fact that during the war - yes 1944, President Roosevelt signed an order and all those of Japanese decent living on the west coast were evacuated and moved to internment camps.  Lost almost everything they owned trying to prove they were loyal citizens (many were second or third generation American citizens).  All in the name of homeland security.  


In the past 10 years we have seen racism and fear again raise it's ugly head with the terrible September 11th attacks.  Many Americans are fearful of Arab americans and there is a distinct hatred and distrust of people who simply "look" Arab.  Many of us are so ignorant we don't even know what ethnic group people belong to and we are judging them as possible terrorists.  


In the book I'm reading "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" the main character as a child is forced by his father to wear a button on his jacket proudly saying "I am Chinese".  Because of the fear he could be mistaken for Japanese.  sigh.  


Brothers and sisters we need to continually work everyday to diversify ourselves, make friends with those who look different than us, see a person for their humanity not just their nationality!  Christ often gave examples of God loving and accepting foreigners, often enraging Jews.  We must remember that our community is global and every person we meet is a member of our family.  


I know this is something I have to actively work on.  I tend to be drawn to those who act and look like me.  But I pray for God's eyes and heart to help build bridges and heal divisions within my family.  


In peace with love, 
your sister in Christ~Erin