A Day Late- But Still Important
As I sat down last night to read my Sunday (morning) paper, I realized that it was the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson taking the field as a Brooklyn Dodger, striking one of the great blows for democracy in America. His number, 42, is the only one retired by all major league clubs in honor of his courage and deep humanity.

Yet, in spite of all that Jackie Robinson did- and in spite of all the changes in awareness over the years- the Don Imus affair still happened. An over-inflated radio person who thinks he can say anything to get a laugh or make a wise-remark can still, 60 years after Jackie and the Dodgers proclaimed racism un-American, make a racist remark and think he is just being funny.

Edward Gilbreath, author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity and an editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine had some relevant thoughts posted today by CT. Admitting that Imus has traditionally spared no one from his barbed comments he goes on to say:

Truth be told, Imus was just one of many talk-radio hosts who push the envelope with racialized, politically incorrect bluster. Sometimes it seems as if talk radio is the last bastion of cranky, narrow-minded white men.

Beyond the racism and sexism, for me the truly disturbing thing about the Imus affair is that, after numerous national conversations about Rodney King, O. J. Simpson, gangsta rap, Michael Richards, Barack Obama, and any number of Chris Rock comedy bits, we're still stuck in the same gear when it comes to addressing race relations.

But that is not the real problem. The problem he believes (and I agree) is in the heart.

"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks," said Jesus (Matt. 12:34). What Don Imus needs—what we all need—is a heart change.

Racism is a sin. And sin, despite our best efforts, continues to dog us. Without honesty, without grace, without vulnerability, without humility, without the spirit of Christ from all sides, we cannot rise above our present dysfunction.
--Source: Christianity Today

He then goes on to tell how Youth Specialties and their parent Zondervan Publishing did the right thing when they discovered a racially insensitive skit in one of their books. They recalled the whole press run, reprinted it and offered to replace any that were already purchased.

We are, thankfully, not where we were on that April day in Brooklyn. But we are not yet where we need to be as an open, democratic nation that believes in the rights of all our citizens. Nor are we yet free from sin. No law, no regulation can ever change that. But people like Jackie Robinson and organizations like the Brookly Dodgers can go a long way.

Where is the church? Where are people of faith? We are the people and the institution that has such an understanding of humanity at the very heart of who we are. Or so we say. We can also understand the power of sin and offer ways to repent of the sin of racism and move to new levels of understanding.

May it not take another 60 years!