White Supremacy is Bad

I can not believe that in 2020 it is difficult to condemn white supremacy, and every time I hear someone support the ideas of white supremacy I am shocked. I realize that I have the luxury of not experiencing it in my every day life, but if you’re hip to it, it shows up everywhere. It shows up in our laws, our systems, and even all the way to the top of our government.

If you’re reading this, you probably know that in the first Presidential debate, President Donald Trump could not condemn white supremacy outright. It was an event that has spurred such elequont posts such as “Proud Boys can’t be racist because their leader is black,” “Proud Boys aren’t a white supremacist group,” and other garbage arguments. And I would like to quickly point out that none of those arguments or memes you see are addressing white supremacy, just that the Proud Boys aren’t white supremacists.

I want to address a few of those arguments that I am seeing.

When President Trump was asked to condemn white supremacy, he immediately said “sure”, which is an affirmative.

This is not a condemnation, this an agreement to give the condemnation. It would be terrible if my wife asked me to do the dishes, and I said “sure” but never did them. I don’t think I could win the argument that followed by saying “but I answered in the affirmative.”

President Trump has condemned white supremacists before.

I don’t care if Donald Trump has condemend it one million times before that moment on stage, he didn’t do it there. People have put together their 5 minute montage videos of President Trump condeming white supremacy, but in all honesty, I don’t need other people telling me what he really meant. I simply want the person that is supposed to represent all of the citizens of the United States of America to repeatedely and without hesitation, condemn people who seek division through hate.

The nation was watching that moment, and when it mattered most, he choked. So either he’s not consistent or truthful in his willingness to condemn on a large stage (which I believe he has a history of acting in the interests of white supremacy and surrounding himself with people who do the same), or he can’t handle the pressure of having his feet put to the fire. I can’t think of which one is worst coming from the President.

But the Proud Boys aren’t even a white supremacist group!

Ok, if we go by the definition of the Southern Poverty Law Center, then they are only a “General Hate” group. So congratulations, you have successfuly won the argument that they don’t technically hate a specific group of people, just everyone. That’s like arguing which turd is stinkier without acknowleding that in the end, you still have to smell all the crap.

If we’re going with the argument that the Proud Boys aren’t a white supremacist group, I think the lack of condemnation is even more apalling from the President. Not only did he not condemn white supremacy, he couldn’t even properly condemn a hate group. And it still took him 48 hours to figure out where he actually stood in terms of white supremacist groups.

I think one has to ask themselves, does the President support white supremacy? At the very least, he is indifferent or unwilling to quickly condemn the idea when put on that spot, and he should be better. If you are unwilling to hear that his interaction at the debate was awful, then you should be better.

Condemning white supremacy does not mean we won’t mess up and do something stupid, or we won’t particpate in something that supports the ideas or structures of white supremacy, but if we are told we messed up, we need to be quick to address the issue, quick to apologize, and then steadfast in educating ourselves so not to repeat the same mistakes again.

White supremacy is a sin that has a deep rooted hold on many people, and when it is pulled at, our natural reaction is to become defensive, engage in whataboutism, ignore the issue, or deflect.

Don’t.

Seek forgiveness, seek understanding, and seek peace.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Micah 6:8