Bruce Reyes Chow is one of those people whom I've never actually met but whom I feel I know fairly well. Ah, the wonders of the internet and social media!
Bruce was moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) from 2008 to 2010. His new book is titled: But I Don't See You as Asian: Curating Conversations about Race. I caught up with him recently and he addressed some of the issues raised in his book:
(PI) OK, Bruce. What causes racism?
Bruce: There certainly is not one easily determined answer to this one. Some would say it's the history of slavery while others might say that it is a modern outgrowth of interactions between people of different cultures as the globe shrinks.
If I had to name one reason today, I would say that it is our collective inability to see one another as individualized human beings. Now this is NOT about being color-blind or wanting people to so give up culture, but I do believe that we too often see one another as A Black or An Asian or A White that we do not allow ourselves to be empathetic or understanding to what it means to BE Black or BE Asian or BE White. When we do this, we are less likely to appreciate the nuances and complexities of each individual's experience of their racial reality.
I would also say that another cause - can't just stop at one - is our failure to see how institutions and systems can perpetuate an ongoing culture that lives certain racial groups above others.
(PI) Racism has been called the "original sin" of America. Comment?
Bruce: I have not heard this much, but I can see how this is tied to our history of slavery and exclusion, mostly around African American and Native American and how so much of our economy and culture has been build on our history of slavery and marginalization of people of color...
I think this is an untapped area of discussion to be had because, in a day and age when we want things to be solved yesterday, we must find a way to see that the impact of generations of slavery and racial exclusion will not be solved quickly. Yes, there are always exceptions to every rule, but as a larger narrative for the United States, there is great opportunity in having this conversation.
(PI) What can be done to diminish racism?
Bruce: Contrary to what some may want, it is not to STOP talking about race. I am a firm believer that deeply conflicted relationships are not served by silence. Whether a marriage or a society, unless we keep talking about and through our disagreements, we doom ourselves to further withdrawal from one another and a building up of resentment and distrust. No matter how difficult we know it to be, we must keep talking about race.
Bruce is a native Northern Californian and 3rd generation Chinese/Filipino who writes and speaks extensively on faith, politics, race, parenting and technology.
Bruce graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Philosophy, Sociology and Asian American studies (1990), earned his masters degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary (1995) and was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Austin College (2011).
A prolific blogger and sought-after speaker, Bruce's previous books include The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church (Shook Foil Books, 2012). His writing can be found on his blog, www.reyes-chow.com, as well as The Huffington Post, Patheos and The Working Preacher.
Bruce is also a Presbyterian Teaching Elder having pastored multicultural congregations for nearly 20 years. In 2008 he was elected to the highest office the 2 million member Presbyterian Church (USA).
Bruce currently lives in San Francisco, CA with his wife, Robin, his three daughters, Evelyn, Abby and Annie and one very cute canine. But I Don't See You as Asian can be purchased here.
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