Privilege Says...

The church through the centuries in America - especially the white church - has convinced itself that it is not racist. This is what privilege does - it convinces us that it doesn’t exist so that it can’t be critiqued or challenged.

And our past and our present reveal a different story. For example, the largest denomination in our country (the Southern Baptists) are so named because they refused to give up slavery, therefore splitting with Christians who did. And still to this day, white evangelicals are twice as likely as other Americans to think that it’s wrong to marry across racial lines. And yet all the while we love to say that we are not racist.

Scripture teaches, “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves” (Galatians 6:3). It is time for all of us to face reality and to acknowledge the role of white privilege in our churches and our country.

Christena Cleveland, a contemporary prophet, calls us to face reality. Listen with your head and your heart and your soul. Can you hear God’s invitation to see differently?

Privilege Says...
Christena Cleveland

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they offer practical solutions to the problems that they describe.

Privilege says learn my language, my customs, and my particularities -- so we can all enjoy unity.

Privilege says the world's problems would be solved if everybody were just like me.

Privilege says I can dress unbecomingly but still be perceived as edgy, unique or not materialistic, rather than homeless.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they communicate in a way that's easy for me to understand.

Privilege says I have no cultural identity.

Privilege says diverse people should come to my spiritual community, on my turf, in my comfort zone.

Privilege says I've earned everything I've got.

Privilege says the characteristics of the divine that are most evident in my culture are the most important ones.

Privilege says why are people who experience oppression always talking about oppression? Why can't we all just get along?

Privilege says your perspective is tainted by your culture. I speak pure truth.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they describe their negative experiences in a super hopeful way and I leave feeling super hopeful.

Privilege says that reverse discrimination is real.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they come to my institution/conference/social space. I don't see that in doing so, they risk being further marginalized by me.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they possess the kind of credentials that I value.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they listen to me.

Privilege says people who disagree with me are angry.

Privilege says I choose a spiritual community based on what is comfortable for me and my family.

Privilege says I would listen to people who experience oppression but they see everything from their unique cultural viewpoint. I, on the other hand, can see the big picture.

Privilege says I'll be friends with people who experience oppression, as long as they never call me an oppressor.

Privilege says your perspective is important, just not as important as mine.

Privilege says my culture naturally embodies more of the characteristics of Jesus.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they remain calm (in the way that calm means to me).

Privilege says let's plan a conference/roundtable/anthology and then after the fact invite diverse people to "add flavor."

Privilege says this cross-cultural encounter is uncomfortable. I'm leaving

Privilege says this person who experiences oppression’s story is such a downer.  Why can't they be more hopeful and grateful?

Privilege says I'd definitely follow a poor/trans/person of color leader.  I just never have.

Privilege says I should get brownie points for being friends with people who experience oppression.

Privilege says I don’t see color.

Privilege says I'll only listen to people who experience oppression if they repeatedly affirm that I'm a good person and not like other privileged folks

Privilege says this is the land of equal opportunity.

Privilege says I don't have a cultural identity, but people who are different than me do.

Privilege says I'm not privileged.`