{"id":9701,"date":"2022-02-04T13:38:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T20:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/?p=9701"},"modified":"2023-08-09T23:26:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T05:26:36","slug":"an-anti-racism-that-unites-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/dialogue\/racial-healing\/an-anti-racism-that-unites-us\/","title":{"rendered":"An Anti-Racism That Unites Us"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"notes\" style=\"font-style: italic;font-size:0.9em;\">Is there a way to better welcome all to the \u201cagainst-racism\u201d team? This first article focuses on an alternative anti-racism inspired by classical liberal political thought and restorationist religious teaching\u2013and the power this might have in uniting people across political divides.<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a social experiment, I recently asked three of my college students\u2014bright, savvy, and informed\u2014if they were anti-racist. Here is what they said:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUm. Yes? I think?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat do you mean when you say that?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c(Hesitatingly and slowly rising in pitch) Yeeeesssss??\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their hesitation really made me think.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, they did not hesitate when I asked about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechurchnews.com\/leaders-and-ministry\/2020-10-04\/general-conference-october-2020-sunday-morning-session-president-nelson-race-prejudice-equality-194725\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">President Russel M. Nelson\u2019s call<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to \u201clead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice.\u201d While some may want to protect their own sins or defend their biases, I feel totally comfortable vouching for these students. They\u2019re serious and committed to answering the prophet\u2019s call.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this, each hesitated when invited to identify with \u201canti-racism.\u201d So, I then asked, \u201cwhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ve never been to a protest, but I want to end racism. Do I count?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt depends on what you mean. I want to see an end to racism, but isn\u2019t \u2018anti-racism\u2019 more of a political thing?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI hold anti-racist views, but I\u2019m uncomfortable aligning with a group whose loudest voices I don\u2019t agree with in important areas.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We discussed further. I asked probingly, \u201cSo what you\u2019re saying is \u2018I\u2019m anti-racist, I\u2019m just not on the political left?\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My students despise racism. They harbor concerns about the anti-racism on offer: the anti-racism of the political left, of political activism, and of the culture wars\u2014and they\u2019re not alone. My fear is that we\u2019re passing up the opportunity to bring more people into the cause of anti-racism because of its political associations. Is there a way to help those who feel this way to parse out the political tribe from the deeper moral position\u2014a moral position they clearly hold? Is there a way to better welcome all to the \u201cagainst-racism\u201d team?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Progress and Hesitance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the wake of President Russell Nelson\u2019s call to action, my wife heard of a Latter-day Saint stake that got really serious about anti-racism with multiple events, training, and talks on the topic.\u00a0 President Nelson\u2019s call was answered in this area by earnest and sincere attempts to live up to the very best of what the gospel teaches about respect for all the human family. These good people are heeding the prophet\u2019s call in every way they know how.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to celebrate progress like this. It\u2019s also important to admit that we\u2019ve got work to do. As an educator and a Latter-day Saint, I was disheartened to see the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksl.com\/article\/50267260\/doj-investigation-reveals-serious-and-widespread-racial-harassment-in-davis-school-district\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">struggles of Davis County schools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Utah with racism. We must be clear-eyed about the work we still have to do. It costs me nothing to say that I want to see racism end in my community. To the contrary, I feel spurred by my faith to do what I can to end it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That brings me back to my students\u2019 hesitance\u2014and the possibility that the association of anti-racism and left-wing politics is keeping some from more fearlessly opposing racism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I really can\u2019t blame them\u2014I have my own deep, substantive concerns about contemporary anti-racism. Those differences are real and serious. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And yet, focusing on the disagreements is counterproductive\u2014it distracts from getting to the real work at hand, especially compared to a proposal that feels so hopeful: finding a place where people of different political stripes can come together and agree that racism has no place among us. To that end, I\u2019d like to try\u2014however imperfectly\u2014to highlight some areas of potential common cause. I speak as a Latter-day Saint, but I\u2019d invite any of goodwill to join this cause and conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Latter-day Obligations<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the political association with progressive anti-racism is one about which good people can have differing opinions, the moral virtue of anti-racism seems to me to be a non-negotiable for disciples. Let me say that more directly: I think you can be a good follower of Jesus from all over the political spectrum. I don\u2019t think you can be a good Christian and ignore the moral necessity to work against racism. This is doubly true for Latter-day Saints, as we have obligations to follow our prophet\u2019s call on the matter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But how can we unite on this matter when\u2014like so many other things\u2014culture war politics appears to be getting in the way? Maybe by building an anti-racism that transcends politics. My purpose in this essay is to weave together threads from classical liberalism and restorationist theology, and explore a little more the contours of a different kind of anti-racism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s a daunting task, even for an expert\u2014and I\u2019m no such thing. I\u2019m a middle-class white guy from Utah\u2014without academic expertise in political theory, and even less in sociology or political activism. It\u2019s okay if you\u2019re skeptical. My only real credential as a lay person is that I\u2019m sincere and trying in earnest. Fortunately, it strikes me that more &#8220;normal folks&#8221; trying is exactly what is needed right now. From my admittedly limited perspective, I feel morally bound to do certain things, and I wonder whether they represent a common ground many more could appreciate:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I feel an obligation to teach my children to value all others as children of God.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I take seriously the charge to end racist attitudes and prejudiced thinking. This includes, at a minimum, racist comments, jokes, and stereotypes\u2014but extends to outdated thinking and ignorance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the context of church classes, university classes, and family discussion, I feel an obligation to direct such events within my jurisdiction with care so that racist language is not used\u2014and if it is, to immediately and forthrightly address it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I believe there is a moral necessity to stand against oppression and racism, both as a moral matter and as a matter of following the prophet. And I feel that no amount of progress is justification for complacency\u2014that Zion, as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/scriptures\/pgp\/moses\/7?lang=eng\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defined in scripture<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, will have no poverty\u2014and no racism\u2014among them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I do my best to be aware of racism and default away from denial. As such, I consider the effects of historic racism\u2014and how it reverberates today\u2014as a call to action, not a threat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clearly, there are other general principles like this we might consider\u2014and many other smaller practical steps that could follow from all of them. A friend of mine has started quietly, sincerely celebrating Juneteenth. He says \u201ccan you think of anything more American than celebrating the end of slavery?\u201d A different friend has begun to talk about black believers in history\u2014Jane Manning James, Green Flake, and Elijah Abel particularly\u2014in discussions of church history. Another person I know has begun to teach their children explicitly about race in a thoughtful and deliberate way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Some inspirations<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I suspect an appreciation of other rich forms of anti-racism could do a lot of good. I\u2019m not picking a fight with my progressive anti-racist friends. I\u2019m suggesting that a new, potentially broader anti-racism could help them achieve a noble, worthy, and shared goal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m not the first to raise such a possibility, of course. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3rZkv_prTOk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chlo\u00e9 Valdary&#8217;s work <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on what she calls the \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/theoryofenchantment.com\/about\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Theory of Enchantment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d is an intriguing alternative to the prevailing models; her writing and thinking are about making anti-racism compassionate and effective. In a similar vein, the new Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) is gathering together an impressive array of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairforall.org\/about\/board-of-advisors\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairforall.org\/resources\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aimed at \u201cadvancing civil rights and liberties for all Americans, and promoting a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.\u201d <div class=\"perfect-pullquote vcard pullquote-align-right pullquote-border-placement-left\"><blockquote><p>Most people are <i>already deeply opposed to racism<\/i> and we should trumpet that success.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/span>Additionally, I recently read Rev. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2022\/01\/20\/amos-c-brown-follow-lds\/\">Amos Brown\u2019s comments<\/a> to the Salt Lake Tribune. (If you haven\u2019t read them, stop what you are doing now and do so. His letter is well worth your time.) His vision is hopeful, transcendent of politics, and deliberately willing to emphasize progress.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another: several months ago, Public Square Magazine published a pair of articles titled \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/dialogue\/honest-question-about-race-for-fellow-disciples\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honest Questions About Race From Fellow Disciples<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d (focused on concerns about contemporary anti-racism) and \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/dialogue\/yes-we-really-do-need-to-talk-about-race\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, We Really Need to Talk About Race<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d (which focused on the urgency of working to end racism).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps most importantly, during Black History Month, I\u2019ve made some quiet, private commitments to listen more carefully, read more widely, and focus on practical steps. I\u2019m not big on invoking civil rights heroes\u2014it can be so easy to lapse into performativity. And at the same time, I can\u2019t seriously claim to be listing my inspirations without including Civil Rights heroes like Dr. King, John Lewis, and Elijah Cummings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>A Classically Liberal Anti-Racism<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now let me be clear: I do not speak for anyone but me. But as I read and consider, I am recognizing the contours of an anti-racism that resonates deeply with me, but which differs in meaningful ways from contemporary efforts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Politically, I\u2019m an old-style liberal: enlightenment, rationality, the inherent worth of the individual\u2014those kinds of things are really my jam\u2014I\u2019m a little less Marx, and a little more Hume, Smith, and Locke. I\u2019m also inspired by restorationist teachings of personal agency and personal accountability, and have a strong tilt toward metrics, pragmatism, and getting it done. And all that seems to be reflected in this alternative\u2014one that resonates with American liberal values, and may well eliminate some of the residual hesitance out there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What I\u2019m attempting to describe is an anti-racism that aligns naturally with the worldview and values of many Judeo-Christian believers. I want an anti-racism that transcends politics, and in fact one that becomes a part of our national \u201ccivic religion.\u201d I want a patriotic, easy, even palatable anti-racism\u2014because I want as many to come on board as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine with me:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have noticed\u2014as you may have\u2014that progressive anti-racism often seems more concerned with keeping some out than it does welcoming all in. This new anti-racism would define itself by how warmly it welcomes the new recruits, not how stringently it keeps the novice out. Only read one book? Welcome! Love quoting the very-well known MLK quotes especially? I used to too, not a problem! Are you a fiery conservative who is a little nervous to be seen in a group of anti-racists?\u2014that\u2019s perfect, we need more people just like you! In the camp of liberal anti-racism, we are excited (not irritated) by new proselytes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To the degree that contemporary anti-racism is a political vehicle of the progressive left, this new anti-racism must deliberately aim to be apolitical. Too often, it feels that the goal of contemporary anti-racism is to advance progressive politics; by contrast, the goal of liberal anti-racism is to have Trump supporters and communists arm-in-arm, agreeing that while the other is wrong about so much, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at least we can agree on the important things<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism feels no threat when anti-racism conflicts with progressive political priorities precisely because it is not a progressive enterprise. Liberal anti-racism particularly does not fear raising issues like family structure, school choice, public sector union reform, or welfare reform, because the question is one of effectiveness, not one of ideological purity or vote-whipping. While many opinions will be tolerated, the driving question will not be what <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sounds <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anti-racist, but rather what <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pragmatically<\/span><\/i> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">achieves <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anti-racism most effectively; as just one example, increased (and targeted) policing will be viewed as another policy option, not a de facto sign of implicit goodness or badness. Parenthetically, this kind of discussion, it seems to me, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/01\/18\/briefing\/crime-surge-homicides-us.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is sorely needed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism is open to good policy ideas, let them come from whence they may. When the issue of strong families is raised, for example, the liberal anti-racist will be careful to ensure that no one blames the victim\u2014but will have equally little patience for anyone who would hide the ball on the very clear social science findings (wherein family structure clearly shows immense promise as a means to reduce poverty) in order to impress the cool left-leaning kids. Similarly, the issue of school choice can easily be raised in the liberal camp with no fear of offending left-leaning types, precisely because liberal anti-racism isn\u2019t about maintaining political alliances with the labor left.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism believes that the best way to teach history well is to teach history well. Twisting the teaching of history into either jingoistic patriotism or progressive activism are both injustices\u2014and most culture wars are wastes of time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas anti-racism can often be a graceless enterprise\u2014unforgiving of those who have made mistakes\u2014liberal anti-racism sees the need for grace, and views even the \u201cvilest of sinners\u201d as potential converts; and while the path to grace cannot be an easy or cheap one, insists that there must in fact be a path. In point of fact, it is precisely the ones struggling with racism<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the most<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that we want to engage with most!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast to contemporary anti-racism\u2019s thin-skinned allergy-to-criticism, liberal anti-racism takes critique with a smile and a thank you. Liberalism is the spirit of earnest debate, rich discussion, and harsh feedback\u2014and that applies here. We are trained from a young age to spot mistakes more readily than we spot gems of truth. We\u2019re also trained to argue, debate, and use deliberation as a tool for mentally processing difficult concepts. These things are normal and natural and should be encouraged\u2014or at least not discouraged. Annoying sometimes? Sure. But hardly evil\u2014and certainly not racist. People will argue about these things, and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that\u2014so long as it progresses past the argument and gets to application!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas anti-racism can be joyless, (and even, if I\u2019m honest, occasionally condescending or indignant) anti-racism is happy to be happy: cheerful, optimistic, and fighting the good fight with a smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This anti-racism would derive its happiness in part from taking seriously the progress that has already been reached; whereas contemporary anti-racism cannot speak of such things for fear of being labeled complacent, liberal anti-racism views progress as fuel for future successes. We appreciate that most people are <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">already deeply opposed to racism<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and we should trumpet that success\u2014and use it as the starting point for future gains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new, liberal anti-racism would replace style with substance. Shunning performativity, liberal anti-racism concerns itself with clear metrics for improvement. To the liberal anti-racist, the answer to posturing is practicality. Rather than condemning the work of the virtue signalers, liberal anti-racism simply asks them to put their money where their mouth is\u2014to get down to brass tacks, and in a hurry: What are your goals? What are your metrics? Are your methods working? How can we make progress?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism is highly prioritized. A friend of mine recently apologized profusely for an awkward-but-innocent faux pas associated with race. The apology was good\u2014but it was clear to me that anxiety like this is just silly. (One friend called this \u201cracial hypochondria,\u201d in which well-meaning white people worry more about innocently saying the wrong thing than getting to work on the important things.) The solution is prioritization and a sense of proportion\u2014if we\u2019re serious about racism, we need to take questions seriously revolving around Chinese Uighurs and improving the lot of foreign immigrants to America\u2019s shores\u2014and weigh those against still-serious, but lower-priority actions. Perhaps taking cues from the burgeoning \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IZgItfi4eJ4&amp;ab_channel=Science%2CTechnology%26theFuture\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effective<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/online.princeton.edu\/node\/216\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">altruism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d movement, imagine what an \u201ceffective anti-racism\u201d would look like, carefully tuned to what will make the biggest difference, not just the biggest media splash.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism prioritizes ideas and individuals above group identity, and abhors purity tests; no more \u201cyou haven\u2019t read enough\u201d (or you would agree with me) and no more \u201cyou don\u2019t listen to enough black people\u201d (who happen to share all my political views). If you\u2019re here, that\u2019s enough\u2014and we\u2019ll do what we can with you while we have you. (By the way, reading more from black authors is highly recommended\u2014particularly during Black History Month. My concern is not about reading, or encouraging to read; it is about gatekeeping out those who most need to be welcomed in).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism feels an aversion to bemoaning <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just how awful<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we are (or America is, etc.). I don\u2019t believe in original sin; it doesn\u2019t align with my liberal values or my restorationist ones. I don\u2019t believe in human depravity either, and certainly, not depravity that is inborn. I do not want people to become anti-racist because <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they are bad<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but because <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they are good<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. On a practical level, the self-flagellation is a sack of sand and doesn\u2019t exactly do wonders for morale. More fundamentally, liberal anti-racism is about action, not talk. If we aren\u2019t doing enough, then we should admit as much with clear-eyed determination and grim urgency. It\u2019s time to get to work\u2014not talk about the urgency of it. Mistakes\u2014which will come\u2014should be admitted to directly, addressed deliberately, and then, and this is imperative, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not wallowed in.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism is committed to more than being the cynical naysayer\u2014we are engaged in the far harder work of becoming the impossible-to-satisfy but totally-committed citizen; not only to critique the status quo but to build a better world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberal anti-racism critiques America as a patriotic act, not as a subversive one. While contemporary anti-racism flirts with critique as a means to undermine institutions, liberalism obviates the discussion altogether: reform is the goal, not subversion. We want better institutions, not fewer. Liberal anti-racism holds suspect those who are merely interested in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/existentialcomics.com\/comic\/376\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flipping the table and crying \u201crevolution!\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Liberals are fully bought-in when it comes to the values and promise of the grand institutions, and are wary of those who appear more interested in destabilizing than improving them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is my new anti-racism just a way for people like me to feel comfortable? I don\u2019t think so. But if this list is good for no one other than me, it\u2019s still worth it. If there\u2019s even a chance though that we can end some of the hesitance on the part of our fellow disciples\u2014so that they can be deliberate and courageous and say \u201cyes, of course, I\u2019m an anti-racist\u201d with gusto\u2014then wouldn\u2019t that be worth it?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Allies in the Cause<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s an old tradition among the Maori that I have always found moving. When meeting a band of foreigners, the Maori warriors perform a specific haka to tell if the visitors are friend or foe. The climax of the war dance comes when the warriors present a token\u2014often a leaf\u2014as a peace offering. If the visitors take the offering, it will mean peace. If they stand on the token, it means war.\u00a0 <div class=\"perfect-pullquote vcard pullquote-align-right pullquote-border-placement-left\"><blockquote><p>I do not want people to become anti-racist because <i>they are bad<\/i>, but because <i>they are good<\/i>.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/span>I have offered real critiques of my progressive anti-racist friends. I hope they\u2019ll see my real goal here\u2014and see that I\u2019m no enemy. This essay is a peace offering\u2014or more precisely, a proposal of alliance. Yes, there are real, deep divisions between us. We really are different camps\u2014but perhaps we can appreciate ourselves as different camps with shared goals. We could work together. The question is whether we are mutually willing to lay aside those concerns for a common purpose.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For me, the answer is yes. For some, the answer will be no. I hope they\u2019ll hit pause before writing this off. Some will see this as a threat; others will bristle at the criticism\u2014or the competition. I fear that some are too committed to fighting to lay down their weapons. Others may similarly be unwilling to give up the rhetorical and political high ground\u2014not realizing that they\u2019re passing up the moral high ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever this prompts in you, I hope you\u2019ll consider thoughtfully and see that I\u2019m in earnest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>An Aspiration Powerful Enough to Unite<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To close, I return to the words of Rev. Amos Brown, a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2022\/01\/20\/amos-c-brown-follow-lds\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">his Salt Lake Tribune letter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, he speaks of a unique teaching of Joseph Smith that is close to my heart, too:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In April 1830, Joseph Smith began building \u201cZion.\u201d Latter-day Saint scripture says this is a real place where people are \u201cof one heart and one mind, and [dwell] in righteousness; and there [are] no poor among them.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of the love of God in the hearts of the people, we know that Zion will be a place with no poor; they will lift each other until poverty is banished. It seems obvious to me, once again, that this will be a place devoid of racism, too, and that implies that our duty to build a just society and our duty to end racism are part of the same project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter our political leanings, we are being called to build this &#8220;beautiful&#8221; or &#8220;beloved community&#8221; and this \u201choly city.\u201d Perhaps it is time that we set down our arguments about how best to wield the shovels, and get to digging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first in a series of articles on unity, belonging, and striving toward the just society\u2013known in restorationist doctrine as \u201cZion.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":9713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[500],"tags":[834,597,1198,128],"coauthors":[729],"class_list":["post-9701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racial-healing","tag-christian","tag-critical-race-theory","tag-progressive","tag-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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