Chapter 4
Michael O. Emerson and Glenn E> Bracey II, The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith
Emerson and Bracey argue that race has become “religionized.” In other words, racism has become “the life-giving force of a dominant group’s religion” (1).
They use the term “religion of whiteness” or (ROW) to describe a separate system of faith that distorts otherwise Christian commitments. They define the tenets of this religion as: “a unified system of beliefs and practices that venerates and sacralizes whiteness while declaring profane all things not associated with whiteness” (43). They then present data to test this.
The religion of whiteness creates betrayal trauma. In the gap between what is said—that all Christians are one in Christ—and what is done, the experience of betrayal is measurably traumatic.
Emerson and Bracey find there are two types of practitioners of the religion of whiteness: those who present themselves as not seeing whiteness at all, and who effectively defend ROW through their denial; those who are the food soldiers of ROW, who see whiteness everywhere and play an aggressive role in defending it. They also find, however, that it is possible to be a white Christian and not believe in the religion of whiteness.
Can anyone believe in the religion of whiteness? And how does one stop?
This text reveals a disheartening gap in our current reality: we are not talking about the same thing when we are talking about Christianity. So, what is there to forgive or to reconcile over if we cannot even agree on what has gone wrong?
What does de-conversion from the religion of whiteness look like? Is it impenetrable? Is there any reason to take up another belief system?
Emerson and Bracey remind readers that humans are story-tellers, and that stories of betrayal or of people who think themselves superior are powerful. These need to be told, and re-told, until they create a new counterstory filled with heroics, drama, hope, and change (154).
