User:Charlescookman/sandbox

October 12, 2021

White Anglo Saxon Myth and Religious Racism in "What's Faith Got to Do with It?” And “Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God"

The readings What's Faith Got to Do with It? And Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by author Kelly Brown Douglas focuses on ideologies of Anglo Saxon Myth and Religious Racism that revolve on the issue of racism and violence against the black community in the United States. This author is an African-American priest, and she was the first black woman who was ordained in the diocese who has consistently used her religious position to fight for the rights of the African-Americans and, most importantly, against the unnecessary death of blacks in the United States as a result of racism. White Anglo-Saxon Myth and religious racism are some of the central theological concepts that the author centers on seeking justice and equality for black Americans. In most of Kelly Brown Douglas's sermons, she constantly preaches about overcoming the aspect of racism, at school, at home, and at all institutions. She calls people to embrace income equality for all and justice for every person, irrespective of their color, gender, religious affiliation, or ethnic group.

White Anglo Saxon Myth is coined by the English and the American authors, and it refers to the unreal narratives on white supremacy. Thus, this is an ideology that refers to various types of racial prophecies of white subjugation. In history, Anglo-Saxons were pagans before converting to Christianity. In the book "What's Faith Got to Do with It," the author was inspired by one of her students who could not understand how a black woman could possibly be a Christian. The book is a replication of the historic immoralities of Christians, mainly the responsibility of white Christians in tolerating the brutality of African Americans, and this causes the reader to question the aspect of Christianity and its relationships with racism and in the introduction of Christianity was indeed a blessing for the black race. The author states, "they are morally obligated to maintain the free space as a white space" Systemic injustice and prejudice have historical origins in the United States(Douglas, 2005). The fight against racial injustice matters in America is evident in events such as the infamous murder of George Floyd. On the one hand is the democratic vision that America is founded upon, with freedom and justice for all. On the other is the actual foundation of America, with its embedded ideology and practice of white supremacy. It is the responsibility of religious leaders to fight racial injustice in the United States and endeavor in the direction of God's vision of impartiality, which justly does give fairness to all citizens. From the start of the slavery days, White culture or the White Anglo Saxon Myth promotes the idea that Black individuals were intrinsically scandalous, thus protecting the dignity of white supremacy and their sexuality and the notions that African -Americans should be controlled and the harsh dashes of realism of slavery only reinforced and fuelled this ideology. The second book, "And Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God," by Kelly Brown Douglas, is based on the 2012 murder of Trayvon Martin, an African-American youth in Florida, and the exoneration of the killer. Douglas clarifies that stand-your-ground regulations that protect civilian killers from trial and being convicted essentially manifest as an obvious ethos of racism. The author states” a significant assumption of this book is that Christianity’s involvement in human injustice is not as obvious as Christians directly calling on their faith to support their crimes against humanity” (Douglas, 2015). The White Anglo-Saxon Myth leads to the development of a social climate that spreads a systemic disaster to hold criminals accountable for racist violence and murder. Religious racism refers to the discrimination of people based on their religious affiliations at work, school, and other institutions. In an era with the increasing consciousness and debates about the numerous facets and types of racial discrimination, such as religious bias, the responsibility of religion as an inspiration for racism is regularly under-examined. A closer reading and analysis of history established that we white Christians considers themselves as the most dominant cultural and religious power, and in the book "What's Faith Got to Do with It? by Kelly Brown Douglas" progresses a blues intersection theology, which tolerates the black church to endure its realism and relevance in black lives. Limitations on religious independence also regularly result from racial bias. For instance, guidelines that ban specific categories of haircuts, head-coverings such as the hijab, or other religious outfits in learning institutions and public places are regularly a major concern on the minority such as the blacks. The author states” a significant assumption of this book is that Christianity’s involvement in human injustice is not as obvious as Christians directly calling on their faith to support their crimes against humanity” (Douglas, 2005). Correspondingly, growing restrictions on specific religious procedures, like the spiritual slaughtering of animals as well as circumcision of girls and boys, and these events have an incongruent impact on racial or ethnic subgroups (Douglas, 2005). The other book by "The book offered a religious and historical analysis of "stand your ground" regulations as she seeks to comprehend the reasons unarmed Black youths like Martin can be alleged as threats to the majority groups. The author states” during the trial of Trayvon’s killer, it was as if Trayvon was being charged for his death, and this is a good example of racism and injustice.  Douglas, in the book "What's Faith Got to Do with It? And Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God" further expounds on how to ensure children's wellbeing and how to avoid racialized and long-standing violence(Douglas, 2015).

Justice refers to the action of being fair, irrespective of factors such as gender, color, ethnic groups, and moral aptness. Justice refers to a concept of ethics and regulations that implies that members of society are supposed to behave in a precise manner that is fair and balanced for all people. The events of killing black youths based on racism are extremely unfair. White supremacy is an unfair concept that seeks to undermine people of specific ethnic origin. My ideas of justice are conveyed by God, who is our Creator, whereby he is a loving, empathetic and kind God "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4). I also believe that religion is one of the best platforms for expressing justice, and this is because of its powerful impact on the development of ideas that are affiliated with social justice, domination, and freedom. Thus, religious totalitarianism, with the help of religious leaders and activists, helps to campaign for major issues such as racism and inequality and to persecute wrongdoers. Social justice is considered an ethical imperative in various religious convictions. The scriptural positions of justice mean making things right, and this is accomplished by achieving a close connection with God and understanding the natural creation whereby all people were created equal, with the image and the likeness of God, and thus concepts such as white supremacy are myths that should not be tolerated in the society. An instance of justice is somebody being set free from jail after substantial evidence confirms that they are innocent. This also involves the prosecution of criminals, notwithstanding their color. For example, in the case of George Floyd, justice was served when the police officers involved were prosecuted. Justice is the ethic of upholding the law.