Cultural engagement
Institutional affiliation
Racism exists as the oppression of the one race by another in different perspectives and levels. Racial abuse and segregation started in the 1600s by white, making the Africans trade commodities to their countries. As per Medlock et al. (2018), In the United States, slavery was abolished 150 years ago following different amendments of the constitution. However, its effects still affect the position of the African Americans until today through racism. Data from various organizations shows that racial inequality exists in American culture hence black people never receiving equal opportunities and white counterparts (Gee et al., 2019). Racism in the United States started during the colonial era, whereby white Americans received sanctioned rights and privilege while minorities and other races denied the same. Until today, other races like blacks suffer segregation in various social issues such as education, immigration, criminal procedures and citizenship as well as land acquisition (Gee et al., 2019). As results, the African Americans possess limited chances in engaging the country’s activities such as politics, economic and social freedom as witnessed from the socioeconomic inequalities (Medlock et al., 2018). For instance, African Americans face high chances of being arrested and convicted and receive lengthy incarceration as compared to the whites even when they commit similar crimes.
Claims and Meaning of Racism in the United States
Racism exists as a complicated topic in American history and continues to get more complex based on various factors. The primary cause of the racism originates from the ideology of slavery experienced in the early days by the Americans. Gee et al. (1019) posit that The Atlantic slave trade by the whites marked the beginning of the racism in which black existed as an inferior society as compared to the whites which persist until now in American communities. From that time of slavery, black Americans experienced various racial segregation and limited chances to access and associate with whites which continues in the current society (Medlock et al., 2018). current trends in the United States occur as learned behaviors from the generation to generation hence acting upon them in the communities. Being woven in American history by the whites, the current population of blacks still experiences disparities based on the belief of the whites that they exist as a superior race than African Americans.
Racism in Modernism and Postmodernism Concepts
Modernism comprises various philosophical movement, cultural changes and trends causing multiple transformations in the western societies in the late and early 19th and 20th century respectively. As per Kirk (2016), apart from the focus on the development of the cities and development of the modem societies, racism issues emerged as a significant aspect in American communities. During the modernism period, various individuals and organizations formed multiple movements across the United States, raising the concerns of the issues of racism more so among the African Americans (Kirk, 2016). Furthermore, the development of industrialized societies resulted in more racial discrimination leading to the concerns by different organizations that advocates for human rights and equality for all races. Moreover, post-modernism marked the departure from the modernism in the mid to late 20th century accompanying movement related to criticism, philosophy and arts (Kirk, 2016). The postmodern era comprised and addresses various social issues such as racial discrimination among the blacks in the United States hence advocating for equality and inclusion of the black Americans.
Influence of Racism among African Americans
Racism significantly influences the African American culture in different social, political and cultural aspects. According to Medlock et al. (2018), the black American feels segregated in various life aspects hence forming multiple movement top advocates and fight for their places in the society. Furthermore, most of the black American develop negative attitudes towards the whites based on several incidences of racial discriminations in private and public places. Equally, racial isolation directly or indirectly impacts the social and economic developments of African Americans due to various reasons. Gee et al. (2019) explain that, due to racial discrimination, African American access limited education opportunities as well as employment. The education disparities experienced in this culture negatively affects their entire life system. As a result, the community suffers low income, high level of poverty and living conditions (Medlock et al., 2018). Such factors make the African Americans get involved in some unhealthy activities such as drug abuse and crime since they feel neglected and isolated by the society which critically affects their health and engagement with white counterpart as well as with government.
Christens Response
Based on personal understanding and point of view, racism exists as ethical acts in society and should get prevented and eliminated at all cost. Based on biblical understanding, all human beings exist equal before God since He created people the same in His image. ” Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and overall the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” So God created man in His image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.” Gen 1:26-27. All races should treat each other equal without considering the superiority of particular race or ethnicity backgrounds in society. Based on the Christina principles and bible teachings, we are all equal before God hence no needs to practice racial discrimination and segregation in the society.
Missional Church
The topic material expresses a partnership between God and His people who exist as Christians who performs the redemption mission on the earth. Furthermore, the church exists as the people of God playing significant insight roles just from the stories of the call of Abraham (Boren, 2018). On the same note, material explains all the events from the time of creation involving God and his people. God created humanity with responsibilities to partner with Him in carrying out His work on earth. Based on the topic, God exists as the first missionary, and seeker from the time he created the human being in the Garden of Eden. God works through various people, as seen in the story of Abraham as well as building partnerships for different purposes. Moreover, God’s mission persists as a redemptive mission, as seen in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Notably, the missional church recognizes all the dimensions of redemption through partnering with God. Nevertheless, the missional community gets held together by the church hence mixing and matching from different backgrounds.
Most valuable aspects of the topic exist as hanging together as the missional community in the churches. The cohesiveness would enable teamwork in different evangelism mission around the world as sty focused on the same strategies and goals in conducting the work of God. Moreover, partnering with God exist as an approach to incorporate in daily practices. The idea helps in knowing God as the first missionary and we as a human being the church and his people, we should continue with His missionary work in the world.
Cultural Context of Modernity to Post-Modernity
Modern culture significantly upheld most of the traditional cultural practices of various societies. Modern cultures maintained the community traditions, customs and values without influences of the external factors such as the development of the technology in post-modernism (Kirk, 2016). Moreover, the post-modernism era critically influenced the cultural system of many communities based on various factors (Kirk, 2016). In the postmodern era, as well as upcoming generation culture gets affected by the mass media due to technological development and growth experienced around the world. Mass media offers different interaction leading to cultural fragmentation, erosion and contamination hence most of the societies unable to maintain the purity of their cultural life.
Reverences
Kirk, J. A. (2016). The future of reason, science and faith: Following modernity and post-modernity. Routledge.
Boren, M. S. (2018). God’s Beautiful Mission: Missional Church and Leadership in the Light of Theological Aesthetics.
Gee, G. C., Hing, A., Mohammed, S., Tabor, D. C., & Williams, D. R. (2019). Racism and the life course: taking time seriously. American journal of public health, 109(S1), S43-S47.
Medlock, M. M., Shtasel, D., Trinh, N. H. T., & Williams, D. R. (Eds.). (2018). Racism and Psychiatry: Contemporary Issues and Interventions. Springer.