I don’t know how many times I’ve been in this conversation. I’m in a gathering of largely ‘white’ folk, and the conversation veers over to Jesus being for all nations and multiculturalism…
Someone usually mentions how they believe that every culture has something unique to offer to the body of Christ…
Since I’m avoiding eye contact at this moment, though it’s probably not true, I feel like every eyeball starts honing in on me.
There’s a lot of conversation that needs to happen about multiculturalism and the church and how to go about it all, but before that I’ve had a sense of having to get my own cultural story straight.
I hear lots about the roots of the reformation in Europe, liberation theology out of latin america, the oppression shaped narrative from African American brothers and sisters… but what about them Asians?
What do Asians uniquely bring to the table?
How does being Asian shape your understanding of Christ?
If God is the redemptive creator of all cultures, why’d he make you, what you are? (and yes, I know you’re so much more than your ethnic/cultural heritage)
From people I’ve asked so far… 2 people said “they work hard”, one person said “Good or bad, they have a high regard for authority”… and the Chinese house church movement gets mentioned a lot when people are looking for good news about Christianity…
In Dreams of my Father, Barack Obama talks about not wanting to associate with the one other black classmate because it would only remind them further of their isolation. I feel that way sometimes when I’m surrounded by Asians.
Asians are rarely included in the black-white race discussions
I’ve heard people say where black and white are on the extremes, yellow and brown are ‘just right’.
Along with the color remarks, I’ve heard people use the term ‘banana’ for Asians that act white. I’ve always wondered if there was something similar for Asians acting ‘black’. Beef patty is the closest thing I can think of, yellow pastry on the outside, dark on the inside?
Labels are rarely helpful, but where else would we start?
When Asians are mentioned in conversations on reconciliation it seems to be merely for the sake of inclusion, not that there might be some form of weight behind it.
Being Asian typically carries more stereotypes behind it than an actual narrative
Many of the circles I travel in, from old-school pastoral gatherings to emergent networks, I’m the only Asian dude.
I wonder if I help validate the movement of Christ to all people when I show up.
Truth is, I long for a truly multi-cultural church as well
At my wife’s school, there’s typically only one token white kid in her classroom.
With the Chinese ethnic church booming over the past decade, black and white pastors have asked me, when will the Chinese church begin reaching back out to them?
We as a church need to have a better theology of the human person and of diversity.
God’s not colorblind, and when we avoid the discussions as we do in Canada, we’re negating a part of who God created us to be.
Is there affirmative action happening in our churches? Is that a good thing?
Guest blogger Zaya Kuyena is back with a reflective piece
Black Tuesdays
The end of a Tuesday last month led me to escape work on a taxi driven by a calmly mid-aged Indian who had me listen to the reports of the newly elected president, Barack Obama on Punjabi radio station. All I was hearing was the names Barack Obama and John McCain repeated rapidly as the graceful driver was leading me home while giving me update to date translations. As the taxi cab rolled around the circle where meets all three buildings contextually similar in design and aesthetic, my disregard for the elevator and my raps ascension on the stairs showed my electric excitement to watch history unfold on the télé just before the clock hit midnight.
I was greeted by my mother who didn’t allow me to take off my shoes until she hugged me and said with a Belgian-French accent,
“Nous avons la victoire!”.
By that exclamation without getting too political, until this day I’m still reflecting on her comment.
Who won?
America?
The West?
Black people?
The Arab world?
Colored folk?
Liberals?
Moderates?
Christians?
Muslims?
Yet, I’m still uncovering the layers of what my parent’s yearning and thoughts as post-colonial immigrants/Canadian citizens as they witness the first African-American president of the United-States. They had told me that just a half an hour ago when it was Wolf Blitzer had first stated his all too familiar “CNN predicts that…’ with an emotionally-embracing “…Sen. Barack Obama to be the next 44th President of the United-States of America”, all three buildings at Willowridge Road had people jump outside their balcony shouting exuberated shouts of joy, and statements like ‘Thank you Jesus’, ‘Subhan-Allah’ and ‘F*** yeah, first Black President’ filtered the air in between the high risers.
The experience left my family united throughout the night like an ending episode of the good old Cosby Show.
Just one month later on another Tuesday, but there was no taxi driving me home. Neither was there an English translation of a Punjabi radio news station. It was simply the regular 1 hour 2 bus drive home after work, waiting no excitement at the front door, and all balconies closed shut from the breeze. Yet at the beginning of this Tuesday, I was led to find police cars all around the same buildings I inhabit, blocking the passage way for the bus to station itself; along with officers signaling directions for arriving residences and cars. It seems like the only people who had better access were the media reporters. I was just hoping it didn’t involve any of the multitudes of youth that populate the Willowridge neighbourhood. Especially any black teens.
To my disappointment, it was. Only one. But one to many.
After making my round of inquiries trying to dodge one of the country’s major television company, I was initially told that a young boy was shot in the head afterwards threw out the balcony down 14 floors to his death. Such are the scenes we enjoy to see on the latest crime movies.
Yet this wasn’t a re-run of CSI.
After getting final reviews of the matter, the factual statement made out by the police was that the adolescent slipped while trying to jump from one balcony to the other attempting to escape what seemed to be the apprehension by the police on the scene after getting a call about a break-in. This is the only time, which I really had hoped that the police and apprehended him, even forcefully. But he was only caught by the hard concrete that awaited him below. Residents at that height of our buildings can catch a view of the CN Tower, but only he could see his surmountable downfall from such high peak.
That early morning Tuesday compressed a feeling of exasperation, deep sorrow and restlessness. It seemed like my sleep was being held hostage. I stayed up until the body left the scene around 3 o’clock that morning. I was wrestling with thoughts all morning, especially since I’ve work at organization that serves the poor which brings a whole different dimension of weight on my psyche, I had to end my night with the clearly disturbing view of a body soaked in cold blood on a freezing Canadian winter night. This time I avoided any news reports on the tube about the fate of a young boy. I primarily desired to be active in listening to the voice of the people in my community. But unlike the annoyingly-ever-knowing newscasters, sometimes the voices of my ‘hood takes more time to express themselves and even trust to whom they speak with whether you’re someone with a badge or a backpack.
As philosopher Cornel West evokes, “there will be a black face in a high place” exerting the rise of President-elect Obama,; it didn’t seem to deter the sorrowful fate and fall of another young black boy. Two drastically different Tuesdays; separated by month, season, feelings, fates and meaning.
But the same ol’ neighbourhood.
And as I overheard an cynical young woman utter in the in the elevator the very next morning, “it’s the same ol’ story…and he deserved it”.
My prayer is that the next time I attempt to take a leap of faith whether t I hope I land where history an be recreated which could uplift and arouse the community with new hope and not the ever-lurking presence of darkness that is all too familiar around these neck of the ‘hoods like outdated scene from Wes Craven. But growing up I never enjoyed watching scary movies, maybe caused by my post-traumatic tendencies that has me watching front stage horror realities all my life; whether it be on the t.v. sets, over their balconies, out their windows or even worse, inside myself.
I make a tribute to the young boy, the Willowridge community with this song by a good friend and musician Shad K. As I weakly creep into another Tuesday, I keep watching.
If you’ve been following Barack Obamamania, you may have seen Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s latest speech. I think he’s quite the communicator and offers some profound insights, but I can’t say I quite agree with a lot of what he says, or the arrogance he sometimes projects.
What caught my attention was his discourse on Black liberation theology. Wright’s passion, and the narrative behind it is quite powerful. Which of course makes me wonder if there is any type of corresponding Asian theology that we can speak of with such pride???
The Chinese immigrant church has been booming in Toronto that past decade. I’ve had ‘white’ pastors tell me a number of times how enamored they are with the life they find in the growing Chinese church. They also ask when the Chinese church will start reaching back out to the rest of culture.
All the while, I know many 2nd generation Chinese Jesus-followers are a bit embarrassed by the mostly ‘ethnic’ church that they’re a part of. They’d love to reach out to others, but can’t get passed the initial ethnic barriers. Is there a story in the Chinese or Asian context with which we can uniquely proclaim as the Black church does?
I know there must be one, my seminary even offers courses specifically on Chinese theology and spirituality. I can’t say I’ve heard much in my time in Chinese church circles though.
I do know that when great oppression meets the liberating Gospel of Christ, revivals are often stoked. This of course is a huge part of the narrative in the black church. It’s also an integral part of the church in China that is exploding, which everyone seems to be raving about these days.
As for Chinese or Asian Christians in the west, I can’t say I hear a unifying story being shouted from the rooftops.
I’m sure part of it is due to a cultural inferiority complex along with some model minority issues, but someone please educate me on this one before I make something up… is there a uniquely Asian theology we should be cherishing? Or is there really a need for one?
The Toronto District School Board has approved a proposal for opening Afrocentric schools this year.
The hopes are to help remedy the 40 percent drop out rate amongst black youth.
The African-centred school would teach students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8. It would have more black teachers and mentors, a focus on students’ heritage and more parent involvement.
Students would attend by their own volition. Further articles here and here.
What do you think? Is this a massive step backwards, or a new way forward?
