White Privilege in the Church

"Here are a few ways white privilege exists in the Church (most of the items below reference Latter-day Saints in the United States. Some may be applicable worldwide):"

This is taken from a blog my friend shared on Facebook. I read it last week and the logic, and subsequent "discussion", has been troubling me greatly ever since. The author shares 45 points in which they believe white privilege to exist in the church. I will only go over a few, and the author's conclusion.

• When at church, a church function, or socializing with other Latter-day Saints, White Latter-day Saints (WLDS) can, if they wish, arrange to be in the company of other white people most of the time. 

I honestly don't actually pay attention to the race of the people I associate with. Why do you?

• If they feel uncomfortable, misunderstood or mistrusted, WLDS can avoid spending time with people of color socially, at church or church functions. And, for WLDS, experiences as a minority are temporary. WLDS can usually return to a place where they are in the majority (i.e. after a mission).

Let's reverse this: why do you feel uncomfortable socializing with people of a different ethnic background? I feel uncomfortable socializing in general--hence my dislike for my munch & mingle calling. The people I do socialize with at church, since you're focusing on race, are Caucasian, middle eastern, African, Hispanic...and the list goes on. But hey, that's just me.

• If they feel isolated, out of place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance or feared in the LDS community, WLDS don’t need to wonder if their race is the cause.

Ok, if we take this out of the church and put it in society-at-large, this is something that everyone can appreciate. Especially these days, even from other white people that have jumped on the "white privilege" bandwagon to diminish others' worth for being white. (Should I feign offense at being called "white" instead of "caucasian"?) Can I understand how you might feel? Sure, but are my feelings going to change how I view myself or others? No. I will still view people individually and judged their comments based on the merit of their logic and argument.

• When moving, WLDS can be pretty sure they can move into a ward with other white people.

Again, does this matter? Granted, I have never been in a ward with just one ethnicity, so who am I to say. The only times I have sought specific wards is because of language options. (I sometimes opt to attend the Spanish ward.)

• WLDS can open church materials, or view church media and see white people widely represented. In some older church videos, white people are painted brown to portray people of other races.

• WLDS can be sure their children will be given church materials that show their race.

Ok, no disrespect, but my first thought when I read this was a black Jesus. Haha. Sorry, continue.

• WLDS can easily find religious paintings, post-cards, posters, children’s books and magazines containing images of Jesus with white children and/or featuring white children.

Yeah, I have trouble finding him with a diverse population, too. Here are two of the more commonly printed pictures of him with children. The second one is from the account in 3 Nephi.

• WLDS can see paintings of people of their race in the temple – Biblical figures will often be painted to look white.

• WLDS can see people of their race in the temple video.

• Current and former members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are all white.

• Most speakers during General Conference are white.

Of the General Authority Seventies, 1/3 come from non-european nations (aka, not white), and if you include the European nations: nearly half of that quorum comes from outside of the U.S., and I've heard many, if not all, of them speak in GC. There is much that could be said about the diversity of the quorum, sure, but I'm not one to criticize who God has called. I know there are people all over the world progressing the work in important ways--in ways that others can't do. And have you seen Israelis and Palestinians? I wonder how many you would assume are white.

• can be sure that at least one, if not all, members of their ward and stake leadership will be of their race.

Does it matter? I'd be more concerned about their worthiness to lead than their race.

• When WLDS watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform, they have no difficulty finding someone of their race. In other words, MoTab is overwhelmingly white.

Go audition, and lend your diversity.

• The contributions of WLDS are the main focus of lessons on church heritage and history.

• “Pioneer” in the Church is nearly always synonymous with a white experience.

Share your experiences, please. I've heard of a black woman's journey and ostracism, and how she maintained her faith. That was cool. There was also the black man in the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie that Joseph freed. They were friends, and as I understand it, I'm pretty sure he had the priesthood too. Which makes the official declaration something curious, but I have my thoughts on that. ...Anyway, instead of criticizing, find peoples' stories and share them. They're not unwanted.

• A WLDS can be pretty sure her/his voice will be heard, even if s/he is the only white person in a group.

Will you hear mine?

• WLDS can be casual about whether or not to listen to a person of color’s voice.

• WLDS do not have to educate their children about systemic racism in the church to protect their spiritual, emotional, and physical safety.

I'm pretty sure you are helping to propagate this perceived racism.  

• WLDS can choose whether the Church’s legacy of institutionalized racism will affect their religious experience.

Ask questions, find your answers. Everyone gets asked about blacks and the priesthood, and polygamy, and all sorts of things that are difficult to face. Ask questions, Heavenly Father will give you your answers, and hopefully you can find peace with who you are as a child of God. Because that's what matters after all.

• WLDS will not be told their skin color is a result of sin.

Ok, I've got nothing for this one. It's an uncomfortable question when people ask me about it, too.

1. If WLDS are set-up on dates, they don’t need to wonder if race was the connecting factor.
2. WLDS don’t need to worry if race is the reason they are single, and/or rarely date.
3. When a WLDS marries a WLDS, no one assumes they met while one served a foreign mission. In contrast, if a person of color marries a WLDS, many assume the couple met while the WLDS served a foreign mission…because how else would they get together?

 This. This just makes me laugh. 1.) I have been set up on some awful dates just because of my height, or because we both speak Spanish (the couple of dates were hispanic), but race has never been a part of it. (I'm actually wondering where the author is from. Even in Rexburg--the whitest place I've ever lived, this did not seem to be such an issue.) 2.) Because I'm still single, and rarely date, but that's because I'm more selective in who I date. Instead I'm constantly bombarded with questions of, "Why aren't you married yet? What's wrong with you?" I'm an RM, talented, educated...and still single. Que horror. But that's my own doing, as I said, I'm selective. 3.) Well, the interracial couples I know did meet on missions...so... haha

• WLDS usually do not need to worry about the racial attitudes of their children’s church leaders, teachers or peers. 

Sure I do. If you're defensive, I'm more inclined to be defensive even if I'm unaware of your perceived threat. If you're good, I'm good. It's natural survival instincts.

• WLDS parents can easily arrange playdates with children that share the same race and religion as their own.

Why does it matter if they're the same race or religion?! That seems narrow-minded to me. If language barriers were the problem, that's one thing. But you know those videos of the cute little kids that speak 7 languages? How did they learn them? Playing with a diversity of friends! Novel idea, really. And how does one appreciate other cultures if you are sheltering yourself from them? Raise your kids well, and you will have nothing to worry about. They will gain an appreciation for the diversity around the world...and isn't that the idea of your whole post? To remove ill-feelings toward others? ...or was it to just further expand the social divide?

The author goes on for quite a bit with other examples of "white privilege", but I will skip to their bottom line.

For me, the Church can be a place of paradoxes. It is where I experience racism espoused by good-hearted, loving people. Over the years, and particularly in our current political and social context, it has become increasingly difficult for me to reconcile these two opposing realities.
I’ve come to the conclusion that ignorance can no longer be an excuse for perpetuating racism. It can no longer be an excuse for unintentional micro-aggressions. More and more voices are speaking about and against racism; ignorance is now willful and destructive. It upholds racist people, policies and systems. See: current events.
We cannot teach love and unity between all people without a willingness to do the work required to get there. Professing “I love everyone; I don’t see color” is just another form of racism; it negates the voices and experiences of people of color, and perpetuates the status quo. We can only pray our way to love and unity after we do all that we can do.

The author's whole post was an article that enlarges racism. How can one say "I love everyone; I don't see color" is racist? Yet, continuously drawing a line between groups of people will bring unity? Well, author, I don't see color. I see experiences and cultures; I see my brothers and sisters. I see the trials that people pass through, and have passed through, individually and as groups. But maybe my experiences and thoughts don't count for much because I'm a WLDS.

I think my biggest upset with this whole post, was how people are doubting the church organization because of this. They are starting to see shadows where there were none. The political and social climate of the country is starting to infiltrate the faithful, and that worries me. We are in the last days, and many false prophets shall arise. Do I think this author means to lead others away? No, not at all. But she is creating a distraction that will turn people from truth. ...man. I have so many thoughts on this, I could go on, but I won't.

The author's post though...I don't support it.