Aaron Lake: A litmus test for (white) racists News Sports Opinion Life Obituaries eNewspaper Legals CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Lake: A litmus test for (white) racists Aaron Lake View Comments View Comments Most people don’t want to be a racist. The fact is racists do exist. There is extensive debate as to whether or not blacks and other minorities can be racist but for the purposes of this column I will focus on white racists. Over the past two years, the words “I’m not a racist” have come to dominate the American lexicon. Celebrities from Roseanne Barr to Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus to Liam Neeson, have all had to, as a result of their own words, actions or affiliations, declare, “I’m not a racist." Other, not-so-famous folks have echoed the same refrain. Grocery store clerks, Sunday School teachers, school administrators, chief executives, grandparents, police officers, secretaries, students, construction workers, stay-at-home parents, politicians and Uber drivers have found the need to proclaim, “I’m not a racist." Unfortunately, just saying, “I’m not a racist” or having your mother, neighbor, friend or colleague declare it on your behalf doesn’t make it true. To borrow a line from another columnist, just because you never asked a person of color to hold your torch while you poured gasoline on their feet doesn’t mean you are not a racist. However, if you find yourself wearing blackface or KKK attire, well... Very few people are self-aware enough to ever consider the possibility that they might in fact be a racist. And since most of us surround ourselves with like-minded people who love and care about us, they might not be able to see our flaws, thereby rendering us oblivious to the fact that we are a racist. The real tragedy in our blindness is that we never get help and therefore live our entire lives unwittingly hurting others and depriving ourselves of the joy that comes from sharing and experiencing the richness that diversity adds to one’s life. Having been employed my entire adult life surrounded by and large with all-white intellectually and socially enlightened critical thinkers who profess to be free from (racial) prejudice, I’ve come across several clues that have forced me to accept that some of the people I know are in fact racist. In an effort to help diagnose a racist so that she or he can get the help they need, I have modified a litmus test I stumbled across on the internet that might assist you in determining if you are a racist. If you say things that make people think you are a racist. If you do things that make people think you are a racist. If you only do things so that people won’t think you are a racist. If in the course of a year you find yourself having to say "I’m not a racist" on multiple occasions. If you feel compelled to point out what you consider to be unusual characteristics or behaviors associated with “those” people or people from “that” area. If you have a black friend, coworker, in-law or one who goes to your church and you parade her or him around like a trophy. If the only time you interface with a person of color is to conduct business or they are providing you a service. If you only engage with a person of color when it’s necessary to do so. If you avoid a person of color because they might have reason to think you are a racist. If every person of color you know is in your life because you were/are her or his boss. If you have a go-to person of color to help you understand when you have been told you are a racist. If upon reflection of an event or episode you realize you would have handled the situation differently if you were dealing with a white person. Scoring: If you fit three or more of these descriptions, you’re probably a racist. Four, you are one! While this litmus test for a racist is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it is critical for each of us to examine our hearts and determine the areas in which we need to grow. It is not enough to focus on our strengths and goodness; the bible teaches that the comely parts have no need. Remember, James Earl Ray undoubtedly had good qualities but that didn’t make him any less a dangerous, racist assassin. There probably isn’t a good test to detect a racist and you might not be able to identify one by looking, but a leopard can’t help but reveal its spots. Being a racist is a matter of the heart and is revealed by how you treat others. The best way to identify a racist, even if it’s you, is by the way she or he communicates, interacts with or avoids interacting with people of color. I typically ask myself this question when engaging with my fellow human beings: how would this interaction go if this person were my wife, my mother or my child? We are all flawed, which is why we all need a forgiving God. If your flaw is being a racist, I suggest you follow this simple recovery plan, admit it and repent it. The one way to ensure that you are not a racist is to make sure that all of your interactions with others are AWL (always with love). Aaron Lake is assistant pastor for Greater Grace Church, Muncie. 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