Washing Feet for Racial Reconciliation

As a conservative Black man I've nonetheless had to oppose racism from bigots from both major ideologies, including now involving refusal to honor my contract by elite liberals at my old job. Unlike some on the Right who say anti Black bias doesn't exist or ended decades ago, I know otherwise. 

As such I have quite a perspective from which to view endless efforts at reform or ruin, in the wake of George Floyd's death.

One practice emerged which has raised eye brows-and blood pressure-in acute cases. It is White Americans washing the feet of Black people as symbolic racial reconciliation. Similar to kneeling in opposition to police brutality, this act is considered a slap in the face by White Americans, among others, who feel they don't have racism from which to repent.

I'm leery of all elite liberal schemes to address racial grievances. They use Black people as bludgeons to beat the conservative White middle and upper class into cultural submission. It's more about furthering this ago old agenda than addressing our angst. I take some minor comfort in sincerity among grassroots leftists to right past wrong but remain wary of overlords lurking in the background.

Elite liberals, however, aren't the only ones working to realize racial reconciliation. The Southern Baptist Convention, a conservative Christian denomination, has been engaged in historic self examination and relationship building with Black residents for years. 

From repairing inner city homes, cleaning up blighted urban areas and working with community champions, Southern Baptists show America that racial reconciliation isn't

only a liberal priority. I take this as a very encouraging sign because the Right must visibly weigh in on behalf of traditional Americans honestly concerned about injustice based upon ethnicity. Otherwise, we get only one version of redress, favoreyd by political arsonists and statue smashers.

White conservatives must aggressively combat the narrative that they aren't actively involved in racial reconciliation. That's a difficult request as some are repulsed at the thought of kneeling or washing feet to show they aren't racists. This is not an easy time for conservatives of any color watching destructive drama explode before our very eyes.

I feel washing feet for racial reconciliation is up to the individual. If at all, it should be done to build brotherhood not tear down one ethnicity in favor of another.

It's also not the only way to initiate racial reconciliation and people shouldn't face public shaming or threats for not doing so.

Cap Black.