While watching the ESPN documentary The Last Dance, a 10-part series on the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s, I bought a cheap Southeastern Oklahoma State University jersey of Bulls forward Dennis Rodman. It’s embroidered, a throwback for sure, and I thought it was fun.
Also I will now never wear it because it’s an incredibly racist garment that marginalizes an entire people group. It’s unfortunate that it’s taken me this long to realize that last part. Here’s how I got there:
My small group has been reading through a book titled White Awake, written by Daniel Hill, founding pastor of River City Community Church. In his book, Hill describes his journey to understanding race and privilege, from his first encounter with race all the way through the various stages we must tackle before we are awakened.
We read Chapter 4 a few weeks ago, which covers the initial stage – Encounter. Hill introduces the idea that in many ways, white supremacy has been woven into the foundation of who we are as a country. In the section The History of White Supremacy, there was a passage that led not just to the realization that I owned a racist jersey, but a bigger truth I needed to learn.
We were all taught these words from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Here are Hill’s words that follow:
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“While this was a brave and noble vision (at least for men; it did not include women), the description of people indigenous to the land was neither brave nor noble: “The Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose know Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.
Our definition of white supremacy is key at this point, because it stresses the belief (or doctrine) not only that white people are inherently superior but also that they are rightfully the dominant group.”
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Ouch. I don’t know about you, but they didn’t teach me that part of the Declaration. Look it up if you wish. It’s listed among the grievances the colonists have against King George III. They were apparently upset the king “has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers…” and then the reference to indigenous people as savages.
That brings me back to the jersey. On it across the chest is the mascot of Southeastern Oklahoma State at the time Rodman played there. It reads in all caps block letters:
After reading this chapter of White Awake and having that word, Savages, on my mind, I realized this isn’t a jersey I need to be wearing.
Yes, it’s just a sleeveless shirt, but the bigger truth I’m applying here is that I CANNOT ONLY BE ANTI-RACIST WHEN IT’S CONVENIENT FOR ME. I would be disgusted if someone wore a jersey with “Thugs” or “Criminals” in reference to negative stereotypes about black people. Why would it then be OK to call indigenous people “SAVAGES”?
I have to be more aware of times like this when I tell others, “You don’t matter.” Small or seemingly meaningless things we do individually impact culture as a whole. It’s so easy to do here, in a culture surrounding me that is mostly white, Christian, heterosexual, college degree-holding, and so on.
I’ve got to always look in the mirror and identify my own biases, so that the lives of every person in every people group truly can matter. Much love everyone.