Opinion: America's movement toward true multi-ethnicity has been filled with resistance
I grew up in China where I was part of an ethnic minority. Many of the people there called us “foreign devils” wherever we went. But there was a good reason for this. It was not so much our color and the shape of our eyes. It was because people who looked like us had taken advantage of China for over a century. They had been forced to buy opium in the name of “free trade” even though the Chinese government outlawed the use of opium. This was accompanied by enforced treaties opening certain cities for trade and foreign residency. All the Chinese children had learned about this in school. It is significant now that in lower Manhattan at Confucius Plaza in New York City there is a statue to the Chinese government official who led the fight against the drug trade, even though he was defeated in the “Opium War” of 1842. It is ironic that now in our country we are fighting the terrible effects of drugs, even worse than opium, on our people, especially our young people.
As a Christian, I observed and was taught that the church was a universal society made up of all the people of the world. Yet, I am very ashamed that during the Civil Rights struggle when schools were being integrated, I saw white people blocking the way of African-Americans who attempted to enter church buildings for worship that included the sacred service of Holy Communion. That sacred service should represent the celebration of the oneness of all people in God’s love. Yes, the movement toward true multi-ethnicity has been filled with resistance, even by the representatives of the oneness of humanity in God’s love.
America has the honor and privilege to have the opportunity to demonstrate the unity of humanity, but we still have some distance to be able to fully demonstrate this unity. The days of slavery and legalized racial segregation are past, but the effect of those dark eras when America failed to live up to its creed that all people are created equal are still with us. America has been a highly diverse multi-ethnic society for a long time, yet many of our citizens seem to resent it and are not open to ethnic diversity in their lives. We do not have a truly healthy multi-ethnic society yet when the various ethnic groups are thoroughly at home with each other. This involves a deep cultural change that has begun, but is still underway.
One of the important steps that should be taken is for the American educational systems to be open and honest about the history of America with its failures to maintain racial justice in various ways. Unlike the claim of those who believe that this will cause self-loathing among white people and a rise in racist attitudes, the telling of the dark history along with the real efforts to overcome racial injustice will inspire people to continue the progress of America toward becoming a truly just multi-ethnic society. The progress of America toward becoming such a society will contribute toward America continuing to lead the world toward peace and justice in international relations, as well as provide a model for successful multi-ethnicity within other nations.
Truly multi-ethnic societies are best able to create peaceful and prosperous nations. Their cultures are enriched by the diverse peoples and creative initiatives are encouraged that make a society able to deal with its problems, including both social and ecological problems. The climate crisis is affecting all the nations of the world and is a challenge to offset the various destructive effects of climate change. In addition, democratic governments will be advanced in the world and these governments are best able to bring peace, justice and prosperity to the populations of nations. Also, democratic governments are motivated by their people to work with and encourage other democratic nations to constantly improve the life of their peoples.
The enriched life in multi-ethnic societies is an encouragement to all societies and organizations, including religious bodies (which claim to be universal fellowships), to make deliberate efforts to move in the direction of multi-ethnicity. The great value of multi-ethnic societies will be demonstrated to the world and contribute greatly toward forming just and prosperous societies. They will form a good basis for healthy democracies where all people are treated equally under the law and can contribute to better futures for their lands.
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Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: America has failed to maintain racial justice
