barna | “Our research confirms the fear that the church (or the people in it)
may be part of the problem in the hard work of racial reconciliation,”
says Brooke Hempell, vice president of research at Barna Group. “If
you’re a white, evangelical, Republican, you are less likely to think
race is a problem, but more likely to think you are a victim of
reverse racism. You are also less convinced that people of color are
socially disadvantaged. Yet these same groups believe the church plays
an important role in reconciliation. This dilemma demonstrates that
those supposedly most equipped for reconciliation do not see the need for it.
“More than any other segment of the population, white evangelical
Christians demonstrate a blindness to the struggle of their African
American brothers and sisters,” Hempell continues. “This is a dangerous
reality for the modern church. Jesus and his disciples actively sought
to affirm and restore the marginalized and obliterate divisions between
groups of people. Yet, our churches and ministries are still some of the
most ethnically segregated institutions in the country.
“By failing to recognize the disadvantages that people of color
face—and the inherent privileges that come from growing up in a
‘majority culture’—we perpetuate the racial divisions, inequalities and
injustices that prevent African American communities from thriving,”
Hempell says. “Research has shown that being cognizant of our biases leads to change in biased behavior.
If white evangelical Christians genuinely care for the wellbeing of
their African American brothers and sisters, the first step they must
take is being honest about their own biases. History—and Jesus’
example—has shown that reconciliation comes from stepping out of our
place of comfort and actively pursuing healing for those in need. We
must do the same, if we really believe all lives matter.”
