Like everyone, I am guilty of having biases about people I do not know, but I want to share a story of a time when I was the victim of people having biases against me. At my current place of residence in Washington, DC, there are no sufficient washing and drying units I can use to clean my clothes. One day I decided to leave directly after work and go to a laundromat. I placed my laundry in a duffle bag and I put a book in my book bag for me to read while the clothes washed. Upon arrival to the laundromat the store owner informed me I have to use cash and the nearest ATM is in a CVS down the street.
Courtesy MFSA
Deontez Wimbley
Deontez Wimbley
I quickly found the CVS and as I walk in the cashier calls to me and asked if I need anything. Slightly perplexed, I reply "no" and focus my attention to see which aisle has laundry detergent. She called to me again and asked if I need any help and I once again reply "no". At this time the entire store is focused on our interaction and I started to become a little embarrassed. She then said I would have to leave my bags at the counter if I want to proceed with shopping in the store. At that moment I looked like the epitome of respectability. I am still in my business casual work clothes, a fresh hair cut, and nothing about me was being rude or disrespectful. She comments on my bags again and after noticing that no one else's bags were at the counter I immediately knew I was racially profiled.
I stood there completely humiliated as everyone in the store is focused on me anticipating my next move. I hear a lady in the line mutter in disapproval of how the cashier has insinuated that I came into CVS to steal. I opened my mouth to say something, but all I could do was drop my head and walk out the store.
After much reflection that regarding the situation evening, I knew that it would be best for me to share how this experience is not a random, isolated incident. This is happening in businesses in everyday interactions throughout this world and it needs to end immediately. Biases such as racial profiling are morally reprehensible, and to those who are being profiled there are no words to describe the dehumanization that is felt.
Is there any hope in addressing biases, prejudices, and stereotypes that oftentimes seems fixed into our society’s social fabric? I believe the encounter of Nathanael and Jesus sheds light on how to deal with such evil.
In the John 1, Jesus calls Philip to be his disciple. Philip informs Nathanael that he has found the one who was written about by the prophets and that the one is Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth. Nathanael inquires in a biased way, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” To which Philip replies, “come and see.”
A gem is found in this conversation regarding ways we as a society can confront the issues of biases and prejudices. The first is that we must take responsibility for dealing with the biases we hold. Philip could have easily responded “Of course good things can come from Nazareth; however, he made Nathanael responsible for seeing it for himself. No longer can we hide behind the shroud of ignorance in regards to the assumptions we have about people. It is time for us to go and see that the ways in which we think about those who are different than us is completely wrong. This is a call for the Church to truly be a community of diverse people who struggles through our prejudices and see that we are all created in the image of God. For those of us who have biases, which is everyone, we must heed Philip’s call to “come and see” that we are often times wrong and need to take a responsibility, to not just change our thinking, but develop an entire new way of understanding and loving our neighbor, even if our neighbor comes from Nazareth.
And, it’s not the responsibility for black and brown bodies to have to shape shift and make everyone else comfortable with our presence in certain spaces. It’s the responsibility of the law enforcement, business owners and those who have negative assumptions about black and brown bodies to rid themselves of their negative perceptions.
The Good News is that Nathanael was able to experience change when he was willing to go and see that he was wrong. Where is God calling us as a world to go and see?
Deontez Wimbley is a graduate of Claflin University where he studied sociology. He is pursuing a Masters of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology. He is an Ethnic Young Adult Summer Intern with the General Board of Church and Society for the United Methodist Church. He is placed with the National Council of Churches of Christ (USA). His home church is Trinity UMC in Orangeburg, SC.