Racism is Alive and Well in the United States

https://apnews.com/article/florida-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-veterans-ku-klux-klan-fa0ec4120b1457f56c527108074795b5

This article needs to be read, especially by many of the people I know who believe that racism is effectively a dead issue. In their middle class suburban-shaped minds, the claims of racism made by today's Left are akin to showboating, a case of dog whistle and identity politics that play to a base.

While there's little doubt that politicians are at their core manipulators, and that many contemporary political angles are rooted in (and even feed) decadence, the truth is that while some things have changed since the 1960's, in other respects things are very much the same – and yet are now quickly degenerating.

The testimony of this FBI informant belies their claims of denial and demonstrates that racism lives on. And let's be clear, this is but the extreme form, a kind of racism that is too extreme for polite circles. I have many acquaintances and relatives that I would describe as racist. They would not join the Ku Klux Klan, nor would they wish to see them marching down the streets. But they are racist. The difference is this – they're not extremists, they are unwilling to force their views on society through the utilisation of violence. But there are many other ways in their daily life that they express and exhibit their prejudices. The state can't fix this. Decades of public school indoctrination have failed. My concern here isn't for society at large – which we cannot fix, but for the Church. At the very least we as Christians can wrestle with these issues and hold people to account. But there can be no wrestling as long at the Church is held captive to Right-wing thinking and the rhetoric and propaganda of its demagogues.

The kind of 'soft' racism I'm describing is widespread but many of these same folks believe the more extreme forms (revealed in the article) are very rare if virtually non-existent. Now it must be granted that today's Klan is but a shadow of the organisation that existed in the 1960's or even the 1920's, but it's still there and the fact that it has infiltrated and overlaps with state institutions shows the problem is a little more serious than many would imagine.

Additionally, it must be said that few understand the history of these movements (the Klan being but one among many such groups today) and how widespread they once were. There's a history here that's been largely forgotten or never learned to begin with but it's one that minority groups (especially American Blacks) remember well.

The informant reveals that various figures from law enforcement are involved. And this is on the local, county, and state level. It's not just the 'Bubba' cops of small town Florida and Georgia but figures employed at the state level – presumably with more education, advanced training, and responsibility. There are also prison guards involved which immediately drives one to inquire about their role and relationship with White Supremacist groups in the prison system.

The report is limited to Florida and Georgia and yet the Klan is a nationwide organisation. It will be granted that beyond the Mid-Atlantic States it has little presence in the Northeast, but it has chapters throughout not just the South but the Midwest, and certainly the West. Their numbers are small but they overlap with other groups – with outlaw motorcycle groups (as the report indicates) and I have little doubt that there's also overlap to be found with the growing militia movement.

These groups are relatively small but growing and all the evidence indicates that they have friends, allies, and collaborators among not just law enforcement but the government and business communities. The Trump presidency gave them a significant boost and as 2022 dawns they're still riding that wave.

And once again there's one other place these groups can be found – churches. History testifies to this as well. And that's where we had best be vigilant and had better make sure that these people are denounced and separated from. Some would consider this unlikely but I've already seen evidence of a growing militia presence in conservative and (ostensibly) Bible-believing and Confessional communities. Are the militia groups all racist? Not necessarily, but there's plenty of overlap and the vigilantist principles are the same – and must be equally rejected.